“He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36

The Apostle John here summarizes the core message of the Bible: The one who places His faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world (cf. John 1:29; 3:14-18), is forgiven and has eternal life. The one who does not trust in Jesus Christ is not pardoned and forgiven and will never see eternal life; “the wrath of God remains on him”!

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that I trust in You and Your cross that I might be pardoned and forgiven and have eternal life and not remain under God’s wrath and condemnation for my sins. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18

How can we be forgiven and righteous before God? How can we have eternal life? Through faith in Jesus Christ — Period. Those who trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross have God’s pardon and forgiveness. Those who do not believe stand condemned already because, apart from faith in Christ, there is no forgiveness, and there is no eternal life!

O gracious God, grant me faith in Christ Jesus that I might have Your pardon, forgiveness, and life eternal. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved. ]

“Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25

When, by the working of God’s Spirit through the Word, we repent of our sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus and His cross, we trust that all our sinful affections and desires were crucified on the cross of Christ and that He paid the full penalty for all our sins. Since it is by the Spirit of God that we are now alive to God through faith in Christ, we also live our lives in the strength of the Holy Spirit and according to His leading, putting to death the desires of the flesh and living our lives in accord with the counsel of God’s Spirit through the Word.

O gracious Holy Spirit, grant that I regard myself dead to sin but alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus, my Savior, and walk in accord with the counsel of Your Word and not in accord with my own sinful passions and desires. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

The Holy Spirit, through the hearing of God’s Word, moves us to repent of our sins and trust in Christ Jesus as our Savior. He also regenerates us, making us alive to God through faith in Christ and producing in us the fruits of faith – “love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.” The law forbids none of these things. In fact, they are necessary for the keeping of God’s commandments.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]

“Now the works of the flesh are revealed, which are these: adultery, sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, selfishness, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I previously warned you, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Many who claim to be Christians fail to see that continuing impenitently in the works of the flesh leads to eternal ruin. As the apostle writes, “Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Those who repent of their sinful ways and trust in Christ for pardon are forgiven and led by the Spirit of God to put to death the works and desires of the flesh.

Grant that I continue in the true faith, O Lord God, acknowledging my sins and looking to Christ for pardon and forgiveness, and seeking the help and aid of the Holy Spirit to amend my ways and resist the longings of my old sinful nature. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]