Salvation
Our sin separates us from God, and this means that when we die we won’t be able to be with God in Heaven. Jesus took the punishment for our sin when
He died on the cross. When we believe in Jesus, we are saved and we receive eternal life (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8).
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Faith
Having trust and confidence in God, believing in something even though we cannot see it (Hebrews 11:1).
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Grace
Even though we deserve punishment from God, He loves us and gives us forgiveness and healing (Romans 5:8).
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Sin
Any wrong thoughts, words or actions against God, others or ourselves (Romans 3:23, 6:23).
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Repentance
Changing from going our own way to going God’s way, changing our thinking and behaviour (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
(9) yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
(10) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
(10) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Righteous
Being right with God, having a good relationship with God (Romans 3:22, James 2:23).
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
Prayer
Conversation with God (Matthew 6:5-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
(5) “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
(6) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(7) And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
(8) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
(9) “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
(10) your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
(11) Give us today our daily bread.
(12) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
(13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
pray continually,
Water Baptism
Being immersed in water as an outward, public sign of the inward, personal change of believing in Jesus and becoming a Christian (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-4).
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(3) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
(4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
(4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Church
People meeting together to encourage each other and praise God (Matthew 18:20, Hebrews 10:25).
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Trinity
A unity of three-in-one. There is only one God. There are three distinct persons of God: the Father; the Son (Jesus); and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Resurrection
Three days after Jesus was killed He came back to life (Mark 16:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12-32).
(1) When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
(2) Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
(3) and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
(4) But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
(5) As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
(6) “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
(7) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
(8) Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
(2) Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
(3) and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
(4) But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
(5) As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
(6) “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
(7) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
(8) Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
(12) But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
(13) If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
(14) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
(15) More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
(16) For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
(17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
(18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
(19) If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
(20) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(21) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
(22) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
(23) But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
(24) Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
(25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
(26) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
(27) For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
(28) When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
(29) Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
(30) And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
(31) I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(32) If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
(13) If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
(14) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
(15) More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
(16) For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
(17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
(18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
(19) If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
(20) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(21) For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
(22) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
(23) But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
(24) Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
(25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
(26) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
(27) For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
(28) When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
(29) Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
(30) And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
(31) I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(32) If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
Easter
Usually in March or April, Easter is the remembrance and celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection and what it achieved for us (Matthew 26:1-28).
(1) When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,
(2) “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
(3) Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
(4) and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
(5) “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
(6) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
(7) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
(8) When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
(9) “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
(10) Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
(11) The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
(12) When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
(13) Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
(14) Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
(15) and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
(16) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
(17) On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
(18) He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
(19) So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
(20) When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
(21) And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
(22) They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
(23) Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
(24) The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
(25) Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
(26) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
(27) Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
(28) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
(2) “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
(3) Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
(4) and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
(5) “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
(6) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
(7) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
(8) When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.
(9) “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
(10) Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
(11) The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
(12) When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
(13) Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
(14) Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
(15) and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
(16) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
(17) On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
(18) He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”
(19) So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
(20) When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
(21) And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
(22) They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
(23) Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
(24) The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
(25) Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
(26) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
(27) Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
(28) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Christmas
December 25th, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and that God became a person like us (Luke 1:26-80, 2:1-40).
(26) In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
(27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
(28) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
(29) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
(30) But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
(31) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
(32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
(33) and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
(34) “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
(35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
(36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
(37) For no word from God will ever fail.”
(38) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
(39) At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
(40) where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
(41) When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(42) In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
(43) But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(44) As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
(45) Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
(46) And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
(47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
(48) for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
(49) for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
(50) His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
(51) He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
(52) He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
(53) He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
(54) He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
(55) to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
(56) Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
(57) When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
(58) Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
(59) On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
(60) but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
(61) They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
(62) Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
(63) He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
(64) Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
(65) All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
(66) Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
(67) His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
(68) “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
(69) He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(70) (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
(71) salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
(72) to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
(73) the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
(74) to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
(75) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
(76) And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
(77) to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
(78) because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
(79) to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
(80) And the child grew and became strong in spirit[c]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
(27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
(28) The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
(29) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
(30) But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
(31) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
(32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
(33) and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
(34) “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
(35) The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
(36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
(37) For no word from God will ever fail.”
(38) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
(39) At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
(40) where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
(41) When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(42) In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
(43) But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(44) As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
(45) Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
(46) And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
(47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
(48) for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
(49) for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
(50) His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
(51) He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
(52) He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
(53) He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
(54) He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
(55) to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
(56) Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
(57) When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
(58) Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
(59) On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
(60) but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
(61) They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
(62) Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
(63) He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
(64) Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
(65) All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
(66) Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
(67) His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
(68) “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
(69) He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
(70) (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
(71) salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
(72) to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
(73) the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
(74) to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
(75) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
(76) And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
(77) to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
(78) because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
(79) to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
(80) And the child grew and became strong in spirit[c]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.
(1) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
(2) (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
(3) And everyone went to their own town to register.
(4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
(5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
(6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
(7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
(8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
(9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
(10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
(11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
(12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
(13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
(14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
(16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
(17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
(18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
(19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
(20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(21) On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
(22) When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(23) (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
(24) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
(25) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
(26) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
(27) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
(28) Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
(29) “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
(30) For my eyes have seen your salvation,
(31) which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
(32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
(33) The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
(34) Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
(35) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
(36) There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
(37) and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (38) Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
(39) When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
(40) And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
(2) (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
(3) And everyone went to their own town to register.
(4) So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
(5) He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
(6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
(7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
(8) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
(9) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
(10) But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
(11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
(12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
(13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
(14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
(16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
(17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
(18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
(19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
(20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
(21) On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
(22) When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(23) (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
(24) and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
(25) Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
(26) It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
(27) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
(28) Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
(29) “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
(30) For my eyes have seen your salvation,
(31) which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
(32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
(33) The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
(34) Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
(35) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
(36) There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
(37) and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (38) Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
(39) When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
(40) And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Christian
A follower of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Evangelism
Sharing the good news about Jesus and what He has done for us with other people (Matthew 28:18-20).
(18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
(19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
