A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Jesus as the "I AM"

We have been talking about how God revealed Himself to Moses using the name “I AM.” And since Jesus Christ IS God, then He is also entitled to refer to Himself by the name “I AM”. Even though He entered our world, being born to the Virgin Mary, He had previously existed with the Father since eternity past, long before the creation of the world. The apostle John calls Christ the Word of God in the first verse of his gospel, and tells us in John 1:1—In the beginning was the word…and the Word was God. So not only did the Father exist from eternity past, but the Word of God existed from eternity past. And that is the point that Jesus is making here in this confrontation with the Pharisees. Let me set the scene for you because it is a long exchange, and we’re gonna come in on the tail end of it. The debate was over whether Jesus was a credible witness on His own behalf. According to OT Law, two or three witnesses were required to establish something as being true (see Deuteronomy 19:15). But Jesus makes the point that He did not speak on His own behalf, and He did not come to earth of His own accord, but the Father is still with Him and the Father, therefore, is bearing witness of Him by remaining with Him. (For more on the "I AM" statements of Christ, see Permalink here)


And He lets them know, in no uncertain terms, that anyone who continues in sin is a slave to sin, and is of their father, the devil. That’s when everything goes kablooey. The Pharisees go off the rails and go running to Abraham for their safety and cling to fact that they are physical descendants of Abraham, and they cry out “We have Abraham for our father!” (John 8:39). But Jesus lets them know that their physical descent from Abraham, along with a dollar, will get them a cup of coffee. Jesus then brings up the fact that Abraham is dead—his body is dead, that is—but that anyone who follows Christ will never see death. And this is where we’re going to pick it up.


John 8:52-53--52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” Real quick. Remember last week, Jesus told us that God IS the God of Abraham, God IS the God of Isaac and God IS the God of Jacob. Even after Abraham’s body was put in a grave, God IS still the God of Abraham. It was only Abraham’s body that died. So they’ve already got it wrong, and Jesus is about to let them know it. John 8:54-58--54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” If you get that knock on the door from folks who claim to be witnesses announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom, they will whip out that little pamphlet called “Should You Believe in the Trinity” and they will jump through all kinds of hoops and twist themselves into a linguistic pretzel to make it sound like Jesus did not say what He said. There’s even a section entitled “I AM”—question mark. It should be “I AM”—exclamation point!


It’s not a question of whether Jesus is “I AM.” It’s a fact. Today we’re going to go through the places where Jesus makes this statement, and to do this I want to mention one more time the quote from the commentary by Keil and Delitzsch on what happened at the burning bush in Exodus 3:

“God would manifest in deeds the nature expressed in His name. God therefore told Moses His name, or, to speak more correctly, He explained the name יהוה [YHVH]…in this way, אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה [hayah asher hayah], “I am that I am,” and designated Himself by this name as the absolute God of the fathers.”

Now, when we see Jesus using the title “I AM” in the gospel of John, that’s the literal way to read it. The Greek is εγω ειμι (ego eimi)—first person, singular, present tense. “I”—first person, singular. “AM”—present tense. Now, the Jehovah's Witnesses will stand there and say that Jesus was simply stating that He had been alive before Abraham was born. They of course teach that Jesus was nothing more than a glorified angel—Michael the archangel to be exact. Well, there are a whole lot of flaws in their thinking.


First of all, look in verse 59, and what are the Pharisees getting ready to do? John 8:59--Then they took up stones to throw at Him. If He were simply claiming to be a couple thousand years old, they would have simply laughed Him to scorn. BUT—they would not take up stones to stone Him just for making such a claim. The fact that they were ready to stone Him is a very strong indicator that Jesus was referring to Himself as “I AM.” Jesus says, in John 10:30—“I and My Father are One.” Was He claiming that He and YHVH have one mindset? That He and Elohim are One in agreement? Is He saying that His beliefs and those of The Holy One of Israel are one and the same? NO! Because again, we see the same response from the Pharisees, in John 10:31—Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. For what? John 10:32-33—32 Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." The reason these Jews get so angry with Christ saying that He and the Father are “One” I believe is because Jesus is making a reference to Deuteronomy 6:4—Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One. This is one of the most sacred—if not THE most sacred—passages in all the Hebrew Scriptures concerning God being the only God. For Jesus to say that He and the Father are ONE—as Deuteronomy 6:4 says that God is One—He was not beating around the bush. He was letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that He was, indeed, God, and that this most cherished text was actually talking about Him. We’ll look at both of those passages when we get to Deuteronomy 6.


Now, we mentioned earlier that when God uses the title “I AM” that it’s not simply a tag He places on Himself—as if He just woke up one day and said, “Hey, I think I'll call myself "I AM". Rather, "I AM" is God’s way of letting us know that everything that is righteous, just, loving, patient, hopeful, faithful, and so forth all exist because God IS those things—when we use those words to talk about God, they're not really adjectives. That is, they're not simply ways of describing God, but rather they are more like nouns, which act as a way of pointing out what God is. To kinda make it a little clearer, think of it this way: What is righteousness? God is! What is lovingkindness and patience? God is! What is faithfulness and truth? God is! And we can take that same idea and apply it to the times when Jesus referred to Himself as "I AM". And we’re really just gonna skim the surface on these, because we could spend weeks on each one.


John 6:35--And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." Background: the day before, He had fed the 5000 with 2 smoked salmon and 5 loaves of pita bread. All their bellies were full, and everybody was happy! So, the next day, the same people go looking for Jesus and they see Him walking around and they run up and they want to hear more of the wonderful teachings He gave them! Right? Well, maybe not so much. John 6:26-27--26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” The food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give us is Himself—He IS that bread. Jesus does not simply give us eternal life—He IS eternal life. John 1:4—In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 1st John 5:20—And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. And we see this a little more clearly in John 11.


Lazarus is dying; Jesus has heard the news that Lazarus is dying. (NOTE--This is NOT the same Lazarus as in the story Jesus recounts in Luke 16:19-31). But He doesn’t go running to the house of Lazarus and Mary and Martha. Why? Wouldn’t you want to see your friend before he died? Well, we see the answer in John 11:4--When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now, in verses 14-15, Jesus says something that doesn’t quite make sense to a lot of people. John 11:14-15--14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” That kinda flies in the face of most people’s thinking. Almost sounds like Jesus is saying, “Boy, I'm sure glad he’s dead.” But Jesus WAS glad that Lazarus was dead because now He can show the world—both His disciples AND those who opposed Him so viciously—that He IS Life. John 11:23-25--23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." Lazarus’ body was dead. BUT Christ not only HAD the power to raise Him to life, He IS the power to raise dead men to life. What better way to show that than with a man who has been dead for four days.


But the greatest miracle of all—not only does He raise physically dead men to physical life; He raises spiritually dead men to everlasting life. Ephesians 2:1-5—1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. Were it not for Christ Jesus, the Son of God, coming to earth and bringing life to dead men, we would still be estranged from God, and we would have no hope for anything.


Which brings us to our next passage, John 14:3-6--"3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." We could spend a month on this one. This goes back to what we were talking about earlier, that not only is God righteous—He is righteousness. Not only is God just—He is justice. So, Christ being God in the flesh, not only does Christ show us the way—He is the way. Not only is He true—He is the truth. Not only does He give life—He is the life. If Christ had not come to earth—if the Son of God had not left His throne in glory to walk among us filthy, dirty humans, we would have had no way of being reconciled to God. If God the Son had not clothed Himself in flesh, we would have no advocate, no mediator with God. We would have been left alone to find our own way to God—something that everyone all around the world is seeking to do. That’s something that hasn’t changed since Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin with fig leaves when God required death. And when you tell people that Christ is the only way to God, you will get one of two responses. God will either open their eyes and draw them to Himself, so that they can accept that truth and love that truth and be saved by that truth—or they will reject it, turn away form it, call you all kinds of names because of that truth. Nothing has really changed in 2000 years. As one fellow put it, “The enemies of God still hate God. And they don’t care for you either.”


Sinful man still wants to find his own way to God. But there is only one door that leads to Heaven. And that is Christ. He says that in John 10:7-10--7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Used to be that if you wanted to get into the city of Oak Ridge, there were a few gates you could enter through. That’s it. And you weren’t getting into Oak Ridge unless you belonged there. If you didn’t belong there, and you were caught trying to sneak in some other way, you were shot on sight, no questions asked. Now, getting into Heaven is a process that is quite a bit more peaceful than that. But it’s the same principle—if you want to get into Heaven, there is only ONE way—that is Christ. You either go through Him, or you ain't getting in. Period, paragraph, end of story. Saying this to someone today will have them telling you that you're a bigot, that you're a simpleton, and mostly they will say that you're narrow-minded. That’s when we say “Yes, I am narrow-minded. I've got my mind on the narrow way!” Matthew 7:13-14—"13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Don’t listen to anyone who says that “All roads lead to Heaven” or something like “Well, everybody’s going to Heaven, they just have to find their own way.” Christ did not die on a cross so people could worship a false God and be allowed into the presence of the Father. The cross is the only way that anybody’s getting into Heaven, and if they don’t like it then they're lost! One door, one way, one gate.


Finally, Jesus shows us that He is the One who will lead us on that Way, through that door, through that gate. John 10:11--"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." Psalm 23, how does it start? You could ask 100 people to quote a passage of Scripture, and most of them would probably quote Psalm 23. They may not know what it means, but they know what it says. Most people who don’t know Christ think of it as some kind of secret password that helps get you out of some kind of jam they're in. But it’s more than that. Many times in the Scripture, those who belong to God are referred to as “sheep.” Leave a bunch of sheep by themselves, and they won’t last a day. Why? Because sheep are dumb. We’re sheep. I think you can do the math on that one. Sheep are dumb and they need a shepherd. And if we are sheep, then we need a shepherd. A shepherd does not hate his sheep. He nurtures them, takes care of the, feeds them, waters them, and drives off any kind of animal that would try to attack them. Jesus is our Shepherd. I think you can do the math on that one.


Let’s finish up with what Jesus said about His role as our shepherd. John 10:11-18--“11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” The Lord—Jesus—is our Shepherd. He leads us by still waters, He feeds us the bread which leads to eternal life. And He is that bread. He is the way to the Father, He is our resurrection. He is all these things because HE IS.


Jesus is Lord
Amen.

Permalink: Jesus IS Lord--The Series

Jesus IS Lord in The Gospels
Jesus IS Lord in Acts
Jesus IS Lord in Romans
Jesus IS Lord in 1st Corinthians
Jesus IS Lord in 2nd Corinthians and Galatians
Jesus IS Lord in Ephesians and Philippians
Jesus IS Lord in Colossians and 1st & 2nd Thessalonians
Jesus IS Lord in 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews
Jesus IS Lord in James, 1st & 2nd Peter, 2nd John, and Jude
Jesus IS Lord in Revelation

Jesus IS Lord in Revelation

Revelation 1:8--“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:10--I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.

Revelation 11:8--And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Revelation 14:13--Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Revelation 17:14--"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

Revelation 19:15-16--Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 22:20-21--He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Jesus IS Lord in James, 1st & 2nd Peter, 2nd John, and Jude

James 1:1--James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

James 1:6-7--But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:12--Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 2:1--My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

James 4:10--Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

James 5:7-8--Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:14-15--Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

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1st Peter 1:3--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1st Peter 2:1-3--Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1st Peter 2:13--Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake...

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2nd Peter 1:1-2--Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2nd Peter 1:8-16--For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ...be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

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2nd Peter 2:9-11--The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority...They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2nd Peter 3:1-2--Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

2nd Peter 3:8-10--But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

2nd Peter 3:15--...and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.

2nd Peter 3:18--but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

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2nd John 1:1-3--The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

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Jude 1:4--For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:17--But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:20-21--But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jesus IS Lord in 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews

1st Timothy 1:1-2—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st Timothy 1:12-14—And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer…And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

1st Timothy 5:21—I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

1st Timothy 6:3-4—If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing…

1st Timothy 6:13-15—I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing , which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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2nd Timothy 1:1-2—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2nd Timothy 1:8—Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.

2nd Timothy 1:16-18—The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

2nd Timothy 2:7—Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

2nd Timothy 2:14—Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

2nd Timothy 2:19-24—Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity”…Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart…a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient…

2nd Timothy 3:10-11—But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

2nd Timothy 4:14-22—Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works…But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!...The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

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Titus 1:4—To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

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Philemon 1:1-5—Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints.

Philemon 1:15-16—For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon 1:19-20—I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

Philemon 1:23-25—Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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Hebrews 1:8-10--But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands."

• Notice that even the Father calls Jesus "Lord" (not that Christ is the Father's Lord, but that Jesus is LORD)

Hebrews 7:12-14--For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

Hebrews 13:20-21--Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus IS Lord in Colossians, and 1st & 2nd Thessalonians

Colossians 1:1-3—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.

Colossians 2:6—As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

Colossians 3:16-24—Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord…And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 4:7—Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

Colossians 4:17—And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

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1st Thessalonians 1-8—Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction…from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place.

1st Thessalonians 2:14-15—You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men.

1st Thessalonians 2:19—For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

1st Thessalonians 3:8-13—For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God…Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

1st Thessalonians 4:1-6—Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

1st Thessalonians 4:15-17—For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1st Thessalonians 5:2—You yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

1st Thessalonians 5:9-12—For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you

1st Thessalonians 5:23-28—Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

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2nd Thessalonians 1:1-2—Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2nd Thessalonians 1:7-12—…and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power…Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling…that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-2—Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

2nd Thessalonians 2:8—And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

2nd Thessalonians 2:13-17—But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ…Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

2nd Thessalonians 3:1-6—Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

2nd Thessalonians 3:12—Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

2nd Thessalonians 3:16-18—Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Jesus IS Lord in Ephesians and Philippians

Ephesians 1:1-3—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

Ephesians 1:15-17—Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Ephesians 3:11-15—According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Ephesians 4:1-5—I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

Ephesians 4:17—This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.

Ephesians 5:8-10—For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:17-22—Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:28-29—So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Ephesians 6:1-4—Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-10—Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh…with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Ephesians 6:21-24—But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Philippians 1:2—Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:12-14—But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel...and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Philippians 2:9-11—Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:19—But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

Philippians 2:24—But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

Philippians 2:29—Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem.

Philippians 3:1—Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

Philippians 3:8—Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Philippians 3:20—For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:1-5—Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:10—But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:23—The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Jesus IS Lord in 2nd Corinthians and Galatians

2nd Corinthians 1:1-3—Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

2nd Corinthians 1:13-14—For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2nd Corinthians 2:12-13—Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

2nd Corinthians 3:16-18—Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2nd Corinthians 4:5—For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

2nd Corinthians 4:10—Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2nd Corinthians 4:13-14—And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

2nd Corinthians 5:6-8—So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2nd Corinthians 8:9—For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2nd Corinthians 8:18-21—And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself...not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

2nd Corinthians 10:8—For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed.

2nd Corinthians 10:17-18—But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

2nd Corinthians 11:17—What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

2nd Corinthians 11:31—The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

2nd Corinthians 12:1—It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2nd Corinthians 12:8—Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2nd Corinthians 13:10—Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

2nd Corinthians 13:14—The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

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Galatians 1:1-3—Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:18-19—Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

Galatians 5:10—I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Galatians 6:14—But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians 6:17-18—From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Must a person confess Christ as Lord?

Well, yes. I have put together a couple videos, based on Romans 10:9-10, to show that if one desires to be saved, then confessing Christ as Lord is a necessary requirement.

Romans 10:8-10--8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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PART 2:

Jesus IS Lord in 1st Corinthians

1st Corinthians 1:1-3—Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1st Corinthians 1:4-10—I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him…so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1st Corinthians 2:7-8—But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1st Corinthians 3:5—Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

1st Corinthians 4:4-5—For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.

1st Corinthians 4:17-19—For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church…I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

1st Corinthians 5:4-5—In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1st Corinthians 6:11-17—But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God…the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power…do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

1st Corinthians 7:10-12—Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband…But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her…

1st Corinthians 7:17-22—But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches…he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.

1st Corinthians 7:25-39—Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy…He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife…The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction…A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

1st Corinthians 8:5-6—For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

1st Corinthians 9:1-5—Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

1st Corinthians 10:21-22—You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

1st Corinthians 11:11—Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

1st Corinthians 11:20-32—Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk…Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

1st Corinthians 12:3-5—Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

1st Corinthians 15:31—I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1st Corinthians 15:47—The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

1st Corinthians 15:56-58—The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1st Corinthians 16:19-23—The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house…If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. Maranatha, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.