For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  John 1:12

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8,9

For God sent not his Son into the world to comdemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  John 3:17

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  John 3:36

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  I John 5:11-13

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 10:32

But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shat be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10:8-10

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  Romans 5:12

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

Moreover, Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;  I Corinthians 15:1-4

Thomas a Kempis(1379-1471) was born Thomas Hammerken von Kempen in Germany.  He went to the Netherlands as a youth to become an Augustinian monk.  Throughout the rest of his life, he devoted himself to the copying of manuscripts and the training of other monks.  His devotional book Of the Imitation of Christ has had unequaled influence for a book of its kind through the centuries.  Using simple language and style, Thomas a Kempis advocates a spiritual rather than a materialistic life and seeks to clarify the rewards of the Christ-centered life.

He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, says the Lord (John 8:12)

These are the words of Christ, by which we are urged to imitate His life and virtues, if we wish to be truly enlightened and freed from all blindness of heart.

Therefore, let it be our chief business to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ.

The teaching of Christ excels all the teachings of the saints; and if a man have His spirit, he shall find therin a hidden manna.

But it so happens that many hear the Gospel frequently and are liffle affected, because they lack the spirit of Christ.

If you would understand Christ’s words fully and taste them truly, you must strive to form your whole life after His pattern.

What good do you get by disputing learnedly about the Trinity, if you be lacking in humility and are therefore displeasing to the Trinity?

Verily, sublime words do not make a man holy and just; it is a virtuous life that makes him dear to God.

I would rather feel compunction than know how to define it.

If you knew the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would all that profit you without the love of God and His grace?

Vanity of vanities and all is vanity (Ecclesiastes1:2), except loving God and serving Him only.

This is the highest wisdom: to despise the world and aim at the kingdom of Heaven.

It is vanity therefore toseek perishable riches and to rely on them.

It is vanity also to pursue honours and raise yourself to a high dignity.

It is vanity to follow the lusts of the flesh and to desire that which hereafter will bring grievous punishment.

It is vanity to wish for a long life and care little about a good life.

It is vanity to attend only to the present life, and not to look ahead to the future life.

It is vanity to love what quickly passes away, and not to be hastening thither where abides everylasting joy.

Often call to mind the proverb: The eye is not sated with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing (Ecclesiastes 1:8)

Study therefore to wean your heart from the love of visible things, and to attend rather to things invisible.  For the man who indulges his sensual nature, sullies his conscience and loses the grace of God.

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Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (conflict) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (KJV)-

-(this is the gigantic conflict between God and the evil one, a struggle that is played out in the hearts and history of mankind.  In crushing the head of the serpent is Christ’s victory of Satan.)

This verse is called the protoevangelium or the “first gospel” because it was the original proclamation of the promise of God’s plan for the whole world.

New Testament Fulfillment:  Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:14

SEE Romans 16:20–And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Ever since mankind has been watching and waiting for this coming “Seed.”

Righteousness

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  II Corinthians 5:21

But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  I Corinthians 1:30

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Philippians 3:9

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to hiim for righteousness.  know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  Galatians 3:6,7

Even the righteousness of god which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.  Romans 3:22

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:  that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  Romans 3:24-26

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  Romans 4:5

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:17

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Romans 8:3,4

What shall we say then?  That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  Romans 9:30

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteosuness.  Romans 8:10

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  Romans 8:29,30