PSALMS 27:5

Romans #67

(Presenting a living sacrifice)

Sunday February 20, 2000

ROMANS 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, (I implore you, therefore brethren, I urgently request, therefore brethren)) by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. Let's pray…

Last week we began to examine this verse of scripture and we found in it a truly deep well of living water, which bounds forth with life giving substance. We examined only the first part of this verse where Paul spoke of presenting our bodies. He said, Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. As I mentioned there are 6 things we shall look into which make up the whole of this statement.

1. Present your Bodies.

2. Living Sacrifice

3. Holy

4. Acceptable

5. Reasonable

6. Service

1. Present your Bodies.

The first thing we examined is the presentation which Paul speaks of here. He said, Present your bodies…So we first examined this approach that he was speaking of. Paul is suggesting that we each have a sacrifice to be made to God, and our approach is very important. We are to lay this sacrifice at the feet of the Almighty. And it is to be done in a spirit of free will offering, from our heart, openly and without regret. It is a present, therefore, what we are doing is a gift to God. Not an obligation, not a penalty, but a free will gift. One that you are not under penalty to perform, but one in which you want to, you desire to do.

BELIEVEST THOU THIS? 50-0716 E-81 It's your approach to a Divine gift what brings the results. It's the way you come to it. Isn't that right? The way you approach anything...

MINISTRY OF CHRIST 53-0607 E-62 But, brother, let me tell you something now. It's your attitude towards any Divine gift, your approach to that attitude determines what you're going to get out of it.

PROVING HIS WORD 65-0426 31 It's your approach. The attitude is what it takes. And that's what it is tonight, dear friend; it takes the attitude. We are, and believe that we are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, but it's your attitude that brings the results. The mechanics is here and so is the dynamics. If you can just get started, God will do the rest.

So, even in the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our attitude and our approach to God that will determine whether we get anything out of His Presence or not.

Now, this week I would like to examine further this most notable and quotable verse of scripture, and we shall look next at point number 2. a living sacrifice, Paul said, I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice.

Now, once we have the approach right. We can enter into the holiest of holies and present the article of sacrifice. LAW OR GRACE 54-1006 127 Now, the high priest, being anointed, going in, he had to take the blood of an animal with him or he would die. And another thing, about his garment. Did you know, at the end of that garment, did you ever know what was on the end of it? He had something on the end of it. And every... It was a little thing hanged down at the end of the border of his garment, and it was a pomegranate and a bell, and a pomegranate and a bell. And he had to walk a certain way when he went in. He couldn't make hisself just any way. He had to walk a certain way. For every time he made a step, them bells had to play, bumping against the pomegranates, "Holy, holy, holy unto the Lord." Then the Lord heard him on the approach. Amen. Hallelujah. There it is. God hears you if you're coming God's provided way on your approach, for you're coming, crying from your heart, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." There you're entering though, when you come seeking for the Holy Spirit. See? "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." 131And then, the congregation, the only way they knowed... Now, if you went in there not dressed exactly that way, he'd a died in the--in the door. He never come out no more. He died in there, if he didn't go in dressed and anointed to go in. Now, the only way the congregation knowed whether he was right or not... Oh, my. The only way the waiting congregation knowed whether the high priest was right or not, they heard the noise of them bells. There was a noise in there, and that's the way they knowed whether he was right or not. I wonder if that same thing works today. If you go by a church, and everything is just dead and still, I don't know. But he makes a noise, you know; he lets the people know that God's still on the throne, God answers prayer, people still have the Holy Spirit, shouting the praises of God, glorifying God, making a lot of noise. The congregation say, "Well, He must be around here. This is a live place." When we go into the holiest of holies and claim to be Christians, there's got to be some noise made. And I don't mean some--a lot of nonsense. I mean some real, true noise. That's right. Now, watch here. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way,... (not the old law)... when he has reconciled for the... through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw nigh with a true heart and with full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from... evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that has promised.)

Notice, the only way that they knew there was life in there is by the noise. And as long as we got the right noise being made, then we no we are alive and walking in the presence of the Lord. Now, notice, brother Branham said, not a bunch of nonsense, but a noise based upon truth.

HEBREWS 10:19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Boldness = parrhesia {par-rhay-see'-ah} -- boldness (8) confidence (6) 1) freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech; openly, frankly, i.e without concealment; without ambiguity or circumlocution; without the use of figures and comparison 2) free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance 3) the deportment by which one becomes conspicuous or secures publicity

That's the right kind of noise, having a freedom in speaking the word, unreservedness of speech. That's Malachi 3:16 But not just talking the Word, but getting into the Word until the Word gets into you.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

TOKEN THE 63-0901M 35-3 Notice, they were not just yet come together to talk about the message. They come together to apply the blood, to apply the token. That's what you must do. it's time that we laid aside all the foolishness of the world, time we laid aside everything else. We've seen enough now, that we're positive, sure, and the Token must be applied. Without it, you're going to perish; you must perish. That is the only thing. Oh, don't come together, say, "I believe it." Get beneath it. Get into it. How to do it? By one Spirit we're baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ. Everybody believe with all your heart. See? He was not responsible for any out from beneath it. But you believe. Get beneath it. Israel didn't come together to say, "Let's all go over to Goshen today. We'll drive up to Goshen. You get on your camel, and we'll take the ox cart, and we'll take the Joneses over here, and so forth, and the Goldbergs, and we'll all go up to Goshen. And you know what? Moses is going to speak today." That wasn't it. No, sir, brother. It's to get beneath that blood. Yes, indeed. Not to talk about it, get into it. One of them say, "You know, Mr. Goldberg, I actually know that's the truth. Yes, brother, I believe it is the truth. I know that it is the truth."

Now, we are talking about presenting a living sacrifice to God, not a dead one. But one that has been made alive! And just talking the Word will not do. We must enter into that Word.

I JOHN 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 ¶ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and ttruth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

You can't just talk it, you've got to walk in it, and that means a commitment. Talk is cheap, but John said here, if you WALK in it, that means you will FELLOWSHIP in it, and that means you will share it and partake of it, and live it. Talk is the first part, you come together to talk the word but that is not all of it. That is only the beginning, the walk is the what follows.

koinonia {koy-nohn-ee'-ah} FELLOWSHIP -- communion (4)

-- communication (1)

-- distribution (1)

-- contribution (1)

-- to communicate (1) [20]

1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse

2) the share which one has in anything, participation

3) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy: the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)

4) a benefaction jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship

And if you are not fellowshipping with one another , you are not walking in the light. Brother Branham said fellowship is two fellows in one ship, and when two fellows are stuck in the same boat they are sharing the same state or conditions of the other. What happens to the one is happening to the other, You're in sink with the other person, no pun intended.

If we have no place for fellowship with one another, we are not walking in the light, because that is part of it. That is what walking in the light will produce. Not a secluded life, but an open life. Not a life that hides away from others, because it is afraid of having there weaknesses exposed, that is not a healthy life. A healthy life, that is walking in the light is like Brother Branham was to us. He had no skeletons in his closet, because he had no closet.

How many believe he was our example? And yet he told us his sins. He told us how he had Meda lie to the Lawyer and say he was out and then before she could say it he walked out so as to make her words right. He told us how he had intended to kill those boys when he was young and had it not been for the grace of God he would have shot them all, but God kept the bullets from shooting, until after those boys were out of range.

He wasn't afraid of reality, Because he knew that if you confess your faults one to another, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all your sins.

JAMES 5:14 Is any sick among you? 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: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

ROMANS 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…. A living sacrifice, one that is alive…

CORINTHIANS 15:21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. And what does it mean to be made alive? What is this living sacrifice? This is the Greek word, ZAO and it means zao {dzah'-o} -- live -- be alive (9)

1) to live, to breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)

2) to enjoy real life --to be active, blessed in the manner of the living and acting;

3) living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul

4) to be in full vigour; to be fresh, strong, efficient, to be active, powerful, efficacious (effective)

And what produces this life?

MATTHEW 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

JOHN 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

JOHN 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

MATTHEW 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

JOHN 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

JOHN 7:37 ¶ In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

JOHN 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

JOHN 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

ACTS 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

ROMANS 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

ROMANS 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

ROMANS 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (MAKER ALIVE) your (MORTAL) bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

II COR 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men 3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;

II COR 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;( it causes us to do things we would not do by our own nature), because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Now, I realize sometimes when we do get together we sometimes say things we should not, or we hear things we wish had not been said, and that is not right that we talk about others. We have all been guilty in our lives of doing such. And I don’t think the motives is always a wrong motive either. Sometimes out of hurt we want someone to join in with our hurt, and that is no different than when we are blessed we want to share in our blessing. But we should not pull back from fellowship when this happens, what we need to do rather is to pray for that person. If a person is negative and goes on and on about a hurt, let's be sensitive enough to stop what we are doing and ask that person if they need prayer for that hurt, and when we pray we should pray not only for the one hurting, but for the one who might have hurt. No man is an island to themselves, and none of us will make it on our own. God rebuked Elijah for even thinking those thoughts. We need each other.

ROMANS 14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

II COR 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

GAL 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

GAL 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

GAL 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

PHIL 1 :21 ¶ For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.

I THESS 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I THESS 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 ¶ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

II TIM 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them];

TITUS 2:9 [Exhort] servants to be obedient unto their own masters, [and] to please [them] well in all [things]; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

HEBREWS 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

HEBREWS 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

HEBREWS 7:24 But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

HEBREWS 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 ¶ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

HEBREWS 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

HEBREWS 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

I PETER 1:3 ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

I PETER 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

I PETER 2:1 ¶ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. 4 ¶ To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

I JOHN 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

REVELATION 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

REVELATION 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

REVELATION 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.