2016

2016 has certainly been an interesting year. If I could largely sum up what’s been going on with me this past year, I’d say God’s been giving me an increasing sense of the seriousness and importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the lives of people (myself included).

So, without further ado, here’s a collection of some Bible verses that have really stuck out to me throughout the last year:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” — Ro 1:16-17 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. — Ro 8:1-2 (NKJV)

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. — 1 Ti 2:4-6 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. — 2 Pe 3:9 (ESV)

save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. — Jud 23 (ESV)

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. — 1 Co 2:2 (ESV)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. — Php 1:21 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Ro 12:1-2 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. — Php 4:8 (ESV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Co 10:5 (NIV)

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. — Ro 12:3 (ESV)

Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Co 3:5-6 (NRSV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. — Eph 4:29 (ESV)

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. — Jas 1:19-21 (NRSV)

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. — Eph 3:16-21 (NRSV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Php 4:6-7 (ESV)

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Col 3:15-17 (ESV)

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. — 1 Th 5:15-24 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. — Heb 11:1 (ESV)

in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began — Tt 1:2 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. — Jas 1:17 (ESV)

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: — Php 1:6 (KJV)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. — Heb 10:23 (ESV)

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; — Heb 12:28 (NRSV)

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. — Jud 24-25 (ESV)

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. — Jas 1:14-15 (ESV)

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. — Jas 1:27 (NRSV)

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? — Jas 2:15-16 (ESV)

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. — Jas 4:17 (ESV)

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. — 1 Jn 4:17-18 (ESV)

We love because he first loved us. — 1 Jn 4:19 (ESV)

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. — Re 3:19-20 (ESV)

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. — 2 Ti 3:15-17 (ESV)

who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. — 1 Ti 4:3-5 (ESV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?” — Heb 13:5-6 (NRSV)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. — Eph 2:10 (ESV)

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. — Heb 10:24-25 (ESV)

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. — 1 Jn 2:28 (KJV)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” — Re 21:1-5 (ESV)

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. — Re 21:22-23 (ESV)


Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Scripture quotations contained herein and marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version, which is in the public domain.

God Loves You

A lot of this blog will probably cover programming/game development, but today I’m writing about a much more important topic: God and his love and desires for us.

God created everything (Genesis 1-2, John 1:3), including us (individual human beings).  That in and of itself is amazing, especially when you think about the harmony that exists to make the universe actually work.

Unfortunately, we sinned (Genesis 3,  Romans 3:23).  The natural consequence of this sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Despite this rebellion against God and his intended design for us, he has continued to pursue us throughout the history of the Israelites and into today.

In fact, God even came to earth as the man Jesus Christ (John 1:14).  Why did he come to earth?  To give us abundant life:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:10 (KJV)

Why did he want to come to earth?  He loves us and doesn’t want us to die:

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 (KJV)

Christ died on the cross even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), giving us forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28).  His resurrection gives us birth into a new life (1 Peter 1:3).

That does not mean that life will be easy, but it does mean that we can go through it with the overcomer (John 16:33) and experience eternity with him.  And it is good news that nothing can separate us from that (Romans 8:38-39).

Isn’t it wonderful how we can have a relationship with the perfect and loving Creator?  God desires for you to have the best life possible, from now and into eternity.  If you do not know God through Jesus Christ, I encourage you to seek him, and feel free to contact me for questions or discussion.  There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, John 8:11), but he does call us to repent from our sins (Luke 5:32).

Posted in God.