BLURRED VISION
By George W. Sinquefield
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By George W. Sinquefield
Mark 8:22 through Mark 8:25 (KJV)
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
The Bible gives us the record of six different blind people that Jesus restored to sight. It is said that the dust in the atmosphere in the Holy Land, the brightness of the sun, and many small insects which bring disease to the eyes of people, has caused a larger percent of blindness in that area of the world than anywhere else.
After Jesus first touched the eyes of this blind man, he said, "I see men, as trees, walking." Now men do not look like trees and trees do not walk. His problem was blurred vision. He was seeing things out of focus. After Jesus touched his eyes the second time he saw clearly. The spiritual vision of so many is blurred. They see so many of the truths in the Bible out of focus.
1 Cor. 2:14 (KJV)
It is only after one is saved that he can see clearly and understand the great doctrines of the Word of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except a man is born again (born of the Spirit from above) he cannot "see" the kingdom of God (John 3:3). The saved person is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19) and He teaches and reveals truth to that person.
John 16:12 through John 16:13 (KJV)
I. Humanity's Real Problem
There is a story about a man who went to his doctor complaining about terrible neck pains, throbbing headaches and recurring dizzy spells. The doctor examined him and said, "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. You have only six months to live."
The doomed man decided he would spend his remaining time on earth enjoying himself. He quit his job, bought a sports car, and a closet full of new suits and shows. Then he went to get himself a dozen tailored shirts. He went to the finest shirt shop he could find. The tailor measured him and wrote down, "size 16 neck." "Wait a moment," the man interrupted. "I always wear a size 14 neck, and that is what I want." "I'd be glad to do it for you, sir," the tailor replied. "However, if you wear a size 14 neck I can guarantee you that you're going to have terrible neck pains, throbbing headaches and recurring dizzy spells."
The tailor had unknowingly unmasked this man's real problem. Real problems require real solutions. Consider man's basic problem. There is something wrong at the very heart of humanity. Something sick, something twisted, something perverted. The Bible calls it sin and sin leads to death.
Rom. 6:23 (KJV)
James 1:15 (KJV)
The solution to man's greatest problem is Christian conversion. Man needs to be born again, to be put in a right relationship with God.
The first birth was natural, the second is spiritual. The first birth was from below, the second is from above. The first birth made you a member of a fallen race, the second birth makes you a member of a redeemed race. The first birth gave you a corrupt and sinful nature as one of Adam's race, the new birth gives you a new life, making you a partaker of the divine nature. By your first birth you were born a sinner, by your second birth you are born a saint. The two are forever separate and distinct. The old nature is the nature of death and must ultimately die; the new nature has eternal life because it is the life of God imparted by the Holy Spirit through faith in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In our world today our Educational leaders are very much disturbed about "School Drop-Outs." This is a very alarming thing, but the most alarming thing to me is the spiritual drop-outs in our churches today! Take a close look at the records of your church, and you will find that many people who were once active, are not anymore.
Many ran well for a while, but now do not participate in any religious circles or activities. Just spiritual drop-outs. Many would say these people have not had "Christian Conversion," and we can find some authority for this statement.
1 John 2:19 (KJV)
The American Commentary -- "They had taken the Christian name, but never had the Christian nature." (Needed Christian conversion). Could this be the reason for so many spiritual drop-outs? Many of these people have proven in some very effective ways that they have had some kind of a conversion experience." Yes, many have experienced some kind of conversion but often it is not real Christian conversion. There are, at least, three different kinds of conversion.
Matt. 13:3 through Matt. 13:9 (KJV)
I ask you to notice very carefully verses 5 and 6. The word sown was the Word of God. Some would hear and receive it immediately without counting the cost. Their commitment was very shallow and they soon fell away. They were hot but soon became cold.
A lady used to attend every revival service. She would cry and pray and make all kinds of decisions to serve the Lord but after a few weeks she was not to be seen. That is emotional conversion. We must never belittle or down play emotions. I fear that often we refuse to let our emotions reveal who we feel. The Holy Spirit often leads us to express our feelings and we fail to do so. We are told to "quench not the Holy Spirit." Our concern now is for those who substitute emotions for real Christian conversion.
Eph. 2:8 through Eph. 2:9 (KJV)
Titus 3:5 (KJV)
Pastor and author H. A. Ironside told about a new convert who gave his testimony during a church service. With joy in his heart, the man related how he had been delivered from a life of sin. He gave the Lord all the glory, making it clear that he had done nothing to earn salvation.
The person leading the service didn't fully appreciate the truth that salvation is by grace through faith alone, apart from works. So he responded, "You seem to indicate that God did everything when He saved you. Didn't you do your part before God did His?" The new Christian jumped to his feet and said, "Oh, yes, I did. For more than 30 years I ran away from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God took out after me and ran me down. That was His par."
We are saved by grace, and by grace alone (Rom. 3:24). We can do nothing to earn it. Our redemption is a gift from God. Our part is to acknowledge our sinfulness and inability to save ourselves. We must place our trust in Jesus, believing that He died on the cross for our sins. God has provided salvation for you -- that's His part. Receiving it by faith -- that's yours. Have you done your part?
Salvation is what we receive when we put our trust in Jesus and not what we achieve by any works.
One writer says,"God's grace is unique among religions. It is not found in any of the world's cults or religion, nor in much of what poses for Christianity. From the Pharisees' stress on deeds to the mystics focus on meditation, all religions emphasize human achievement. They are all bilateral -- God does part and we do part. But the God of Christianity is a God of unilateral action. God acted on His own making a unilateral declaration of grace."
I like what John Wesley said and it would be good if we all followed his advice. "Do all the good you can by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the time you can, to all the people you can, and as long as you can." Yes, I like that and I can heartily recommend it but we must never expect our good works to save us.
II. When one views conversion from a negative view, his vision is blurred.
Several years ago, two country comedians, Homer and Jethro, had a popular song that went like this. "We don't smoke and we don't chew, And we don't go with the girls that do, We ain't got no girl friends." Many define the Christian life in terms of the things that a Christian doesn't do. If you don't smoke, drink, use pot, steal, lie, gamble, curse, commit adultery, rob, etc. you are probably a Christian.
Gerald Kennedy once put it this way: We tend to define Christianity as a negative thing. A Christian person is one who pays strict attention to not doing a good many things. I remember a professor of mine who told of one who did not do this and did not do that and did not do the other things. he asked if this was a Christian, and we agreed he had most of the characteristics. The professor said, "I have been describing my neighbor's dog."
III. Some feel they inherit salvation from their parents. Their vision is blurred.
The new husband watched his wife prepare her first ham and noticed that she cut off a few inches from the end. It seemed senseless so he asked, "Why?" She replied, "I really don't know ,but my mother always did it that way." They both puzzled over the fact that there must be a reason for what she had watched her mother do so many times. She decided to call and find out. Her mother replied, "My mother always did it that way, and I just do it because she did, I guess." So they phoned Grandma. "Oh," said the elderly one, "I had to always cut off a bit of the end because my pan was too small."
Grandma had a good reason for what se did. The others had done it for no reason at all except "I saw my mother do it." How true of many religious people. They blindly follow the parents in religious matters without ever giving any thought to whether or not it is the proper thing to do. Asked why they do certain things, they usually answer, "My parents believed that way" or "If it was good enough for my mother it is good enough for me" or "I was just brought up that way." If you are like that, please do some investigating.
There is something very suspect about a faith that is simply Mom's faith or Dad's faith. One fellow asked another, "Why are you a Republican?" The other answered, "Because my father was a Republican and my grandfather was a Republican." The first fellow said, "How dumb! What if your father and grandfather had been donkeys. Would you be a donkey, too?" "Then," he answered smugly, "I would be a Democrat."
These have blurred vision and are in dire need for Jesus to touch their eyes, not once but twice so that they can see clearly. Salvation is a personal matter. Each one must experience salvation for himself. Each one must repent of sin and trust Jesus as Savior and no one can do that for anyone else.
IV. Some have blurred vision when they think they can buy their way into heaven.
I was helping put the roof on a new church building when a man of another denomination came by. He said, "I've already go my ticket to heaven bought." I've often wished I had asked him several questions. From whom did you buy it? How much did it cost you? Do you have a receipt which guarantees that you'll go there when you leave this world? Now if this man was sincere, his vision was badly blurred. It would be very difficult to name the things money can buy but one thing is certain, it will never buy one's salvation. The Bible is very clear on this matter. Our salvation was bought and oh, what a price was paid for it. It was bought by Jesus as He died on the cruel cross.
1 Cor. 6:20 (KJV)
1 Pet. 1:18 through 1 Pet. 1:19 (KJV)
Dr. R. G. Lee says, "The cross is more than a text for a sermon, more than a theme for a song, more than an adornment for a church, more than an emblem to wear about the neck, but an experience to change the heart." Jesus paid it all and offers salvation free to all who desire it.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Rom. 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 4:10 (KJV)
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Rom. 3:24 (KJV)
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Even the faith by which we are saved is a gift of God.
Eph. 2:8 (KJV)
God declares that salvation is free.
Rev. 21:6 (KJV)
Rev. 22:17 (KJV)
V. Those who feel that joining a church and attending regularly will save them have blurred vision.
A large sign between Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama says, "Go to church on Sunday or the devil will get you." That is such a lie that I could almost believe that the devil himself put that sign up. Every pastor desires that the church be filled with people who need to hear the gospel and be saved, but the church never saved anyone. Notice these Scriptures that deal with the work of the devil.
Eph. 6:11 (KJV)
2 Tim. 2:26 (KJV)
1 Tim. 3:7 (KJV)
1 Pet. 5:8 (KJV)
Rev. 20:10 (KJV)
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and deliver those who are in his power.
1 John 3:8 (KJV)
Heb. 2:14 (KJV)
The New Testament church is a body of baptized believers and no one can be a member of it until he becomes a believer and is saved. The Lord Jesus saves and not the church. I knew a lost man in Ohio who was asked by a church of a different denomination, to just sign a card and by so doing he would become a member of that church. He knew that was not right and he refused to sign. If he had signed it, his name would have been put on the church roll but it would not have been written in the Book of Life in heaven. He knew that just having his name on the church roll would not save him. And I tell you the truth, that church's vision was so blurred that it direly needed the second touch of Jesus so that it could see clearly.
VI. What is real Christian conversion?
It is being born from above, born of the Holy Spirit. It is the work of God and not of man. It is the conversion (the change) of the inner man, the heart, by which he receives the divine nature.
2 Pet. 1:4 (KJV)
I do not know Hebrew or Greek but I learn from those who do. Conversion, in a Biblical sense, means a change of direction. In the old Testament, it is SHUBH, meaning "to return" or "turn back." The verb form of that word appears over 1,000 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament we have EPISTREPHO and METANOEO both of which also have to do with a change of direction. Change is what conversion is about.
The Bible says that "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come."
Notice that a saved or converted person is a new creation. Only God can create. To create means to make something out of nothing. It means to bring into existance something that never existed before. man can make things out of what God has created, but man cannot create anything. The new birth is the work of God. It is super natural. It is the work of the Holy Spirit whereby the child of the devil becomes a child of God.
Dr. J. C. Ryle stated, "The changes which our Lord here declares needful is evidently no slight or superficial one. It is not merely reformation, or amendment or more change or outward alteration of life, it is a thorough change of heart, will and character. It is passing from death to life (John 5:24). It is the implanting in our dead hearts of a new principle from above. It is calling into existence of a new creature. With a new nature, new habits of life, new tastes, new desires, new appetites, new judgments, new opinions, new hopes and new fears, all this and nothing less that this is implied when our Lord declared that we all need a new birth.
Real Christian conversion changes a person and every saved one can testify to that. Notice the testimony of others. Paul was the greatest Christian other than our Lord, this world has ever known. He was also the greatest servant of our Lord. Let us look at his life before and after his conversion. Paul is not proud of his past life, but he tells us about it in order to magnify the grace of God.
Acts 22:3 through Acts 22:5 (KJV)
Acts 26:9 through Acts 26:12 (KJV)
1 Cor. 15:9 through 1 Cor. 15:10 (KJV)
Time and again he tells us about his conversion experience and again he does it to praise God for His love and grace.
Acts 22:6 through Acts 22:10 (KJV)
Acts 26:12 through Acts 26:16 (KJV)
What effect did conversion make in the life of Paul? He will rejoice for the priviledge of sharing it with us.
Gal. 1:20 through Gal. 1:24 (KJV)
Rom. 1:14 through Rom. 1:16 (KJV)
Eph. 3:8 through Eph. 3:9 (KJV)
Everyone who has experienced real Christian conversion is a new, a different person. There was a man who was saved by grace from liquor. He was seen one day by the bartender, whomm he knew only too well, carrying a sewing machine to his wife. "Come and have a drink," called the bartender. "It will strengthen you." "No, no," replied the former customer. "I've seen the day when I could not carry a dollar past your door, but since God saved me I can carry a whole sewing machine."
In My Conversion, Leo Tolstov wrote, "Five years ago faith came to me: I believed in Jesus Christ, and all my life suddenly changed. I ceased to desire that which previously I had desired, and on the other hand, I took to desiring what I had never desired before. That which formerly used to appear good in my eyes appeared evil and that which used to appear evil appeared good." Before his conversion, Tolstov had acquired fame and fortune through his great writings. But he was unsatisfied. "I fought duels," he wrote. "I gambled, I wasted my substance wrung from the sweat of peasants and deceived men. Lying, robbery, adultery of all kinds, drunkenness was my life." His conversion, one of the most dramatic of modern times, gave his life a new purpose and meaning and, he affirmed, an abiding satisfaction.
A drunkard was converted and he tells us that before this change came into his life his children would run and hide from him. They feared he would be mean to them. Now, he says, they run to meet me and fall into my arms. If a person says he has been converted but his life doesn't show it, then his testimony is false. Paul would like to speak to us again about the change that came into his life.
Gal. 2:20 (KJV)
It would be good if you would take your New Testament and read further what Paul said about his past life and his life now after his conversion. You'll find it in Philippians 3:4-14.
Phil. 1:6 (KJV)
Phil. 2:12 through Phil. 2:13 (KJV)
1 Cor. 1:18 (KJV)
For the word of the cross is to those who are "perishing" foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Please notice that perishing and being saved is in the progressive sense.
Phil. 3:21 (KJV)
In his book Light For Anxious Souls, George Cutting told about a farmer who lacked the assurance of salvation. He foolishly prayed that as an evidence of his acceptance, the Lord would cause 10 sheep of his flock -- and only 10 -- to gather in a certain shed out in the pasture. Later that day, when the farmer anxiously approached the shed, he was relieved to find exactly 10 sheep. That gave him a temporary sense of peace. Doubt returned with the shocking thought that it may have been just a coincidence. So he asked the Lord that 10 different sheep might gather in an opposite corner of the pasture. And they did! When the farmer was asked, "Did this give you assurance?" he said, "No, nothing gave me certainty until I got the sure Word of God for it." Cutting concluded, "He was all in a fog of uncertainty until he planted his foot firmly on the 'Thus saith the Lord.'"
Stonewall Jackson and his sister were crossing a trecherous torrent just below the mighty Niagara Falls. The current so rocked and tossed the boat that the woman became terrified. Jackson took her firmly by the arm and turning to one of the two boatmen said, "How often have you crossed here before?" "Continually, sir, for the past 12 years." "Did you ever meet with an accident?" "Never, sir." "Never capsized and never lost a life?" "Nothing of the kind, sir." Turning to his sister Jackson reassuringly replied, "You heard what the boatman said. Unless you think you can row better than he does, just sit still and trust him as I do."
Similar words of reassurance are what spiritually troubled Christians need to hear when tossed by the billows of doubt and uncertainty. Jesus has never lost a soul entrusted to His care. We are safe in the refuge of God's love, secure for time and eternity because of His grace!
If Christ is our Savior, we will reach harbor no matter how weak our faith or how boisterous the waves of doubt and trouble. Our salvation is His responsibility. Our responsibility is to trust and obey. God begins the good work and has promised to "complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). This gives the trusting child of God a lasting peace and the assurance that he will make it safely to heaven's harbor.
I, like Paul, am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day (II Timothy 1:12). The most important questions you'll ever be asked is: Have you been converted? Have you trusted Jesus for salvation?
On writing of the men who dug the Panama Canal said: "Got any rivers they say isn't crossible? Got any mountains that can't be cut through? We specialize in the wholly impossible. Doing things nobody else could do." I never tire of saying that Jesus is the one and only way to be saved.
John 14:6 (KJV)
The first missionary to the Kiowa Indians was a woman named Miss Reside. After living with the Indians long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian, they began calling her "Aim Day Co." Explaining the significance of this name, Chief Bigtree said, "When we Kiowas see anyone on the wrong trail, we call out, 'Aim day co,' which means 'Turn this way.' Our sister came to us from a far land and found us on the wrong path and in great danger. She stood and called to us and said, 'Turn this way.' and then she showed us the Jesus road. God bless Miss Aim Day Co."
The Lord Jesus declared that there are only two paths to take in life. One is the narrow way that ascends to life eternal. The other is the broad way that descends to the pit of destruction (Matt. 7:13,140. And He said that He is "the way" (John 14:60.
Two friends went for a boat ride. The boat upset. The river was swift and deep. The man to whom the boat belonged had taken two life belts along. He said, "I put one on, but my friend laid his down beside him. When we were thrown into the river, my life belt soon brought me to the top, but my friend never came up again." Christ's death, like the life belt, will not save you unless, bu faith in Him, you put it on, that is, apply it to its intended purpose, which is to rescue you from eternal loss. I urge you -- trust Him now.
John 3:16 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
