Be Strong-

On By Rev. Dan DannoIn FaithLeave a comment

Ephesians 6:10-20 LSB


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, [15] and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. [16] In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, [17] also receive THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, [19] as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel— [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains—so that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1 John 3

On By Rev. Dan DannoIn FaithLeave a comment

1 John 3:11-24 GW


The message that you have heard from the beginning is to love each other. [12] Don’t be like Cain. He was a child of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain murder his brother? Because the things Cain did were evil and the things his brother did had God’s approval. [13] Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death. [15] Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn’t have eternal life. [16] We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.

[17] Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer? [18] Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words. [19] This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence. [20] Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything. [21] Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we can boldly look to God [22] and receive from him anything we ask. We receive it because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. [23] This is his commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us. [24] Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit.

Salvation by Grace

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Ephesians 2:1-22 NIV


As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. [4] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. [11] Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— [12] remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. [19] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.