Personal Responsibility

When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.[1]

Viktor Frankl has more credibility to me than just about any other in the same field. The simple fact is that his theories were tested under the most heinous circumstances and proved legitimate. The quotes above are all from Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. It appears clear from Frankl’s writing that people need to be responsible and exercise their right to choose. The choices we make in life eventually define who we are.

As an old man, Joshua summoned the people of Israel, their elders and leaders. He reminded them of all the good thing God had done for them. He assured the people that God would fight for them as long as they remained faithful. He called on Israel to make a choice:

Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.[2]

On that day the people chose to serve God.

The presence of Jesus compelled his contemporaries to make a choice as to who he was. People at that time were divided in what they though; he was a good man, he was a deceiver, the Messiah, not the Messiah, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. His disciples recognized him as, “…the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”[3]

And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, "He is a good man," others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowd."[4]

Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."[5]

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?[6]

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."[7]

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."[8]

There were other reasons why the religious elite did not accept Jesus for who he claimed he was, but the clincher came from scripture –he came from Galilee. The Jewish leaders publicized their decision to reject Jesus on their assumption he was born in Galilee. I have wondered why Jesus didn’t tell them he was born in Bethlehem. I expect he knew that where he was from wasn’t the real reason they rejected him. In reality Jesus was a threat to their position politically, and a window into their hypocrisy. Any one of the leaders could at any time have gone to Jesus’ home town synagogue and verified the place of his birth.

The most important choice humans face is whether to believe Jesus was/is the Son of God. It doesn’t matter what you choose as your political position. It doesn’t matter what a person chooses as life’s vocation. It doesn’t matter what one believes about any number of things, but it matters what you choose to believe about Jesus. People at the time when Jesus lived on earth held different opinions about him. Today, there are still many opinions. To believe Jesus is who said he was, is a choice. Options from long ago recorded in scripture are: he was a good man, he was a deceiver, the Messiah, not the Messiah, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Currently a choice that appeals to some is to be an agnostic.  An agnostic is, “a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.”[9] Another modern choice is atheism. An atheist is, “a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.”[10] Some people prefer humanism. Humanism is, a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism and empiricism) over acceptance of dogma or superstition.[11] I suppose pantheism should be included since it is the motivation behind much of the climate change propaganda. Pantheism is, “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.”[12] There is a long list of alternate choices to believing Jesus is God’s Son. Many people believe that everything came from nothing –evolution. Some scientists would have people believe that evolution is undeniable, but that’s a lie. Evolution is a hypothesis founded on the belief that, out of nothing, the entire universe with all of its intricacies and order, just happened. Evolution is a faith-based philosophy that can no more be proven, than I can prove the existence of God.

Whether we want to or not we will choose either to believe in Jesus, or to reject him. I have chosen to believe that Jesus was/is the Son of God. He came to earth to establish the kingdom of God on earth. He gave his life as a sacrifice for sin, through which we can be saved by believing in him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[13]

---

[1] Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

[2] Jos 24:14, 15

[3] Mat 16:18

[4] Joh 7:12 

[5] Joh 7:26, 27

[6] Joh 7:40,41

[7] Joh 7:50-52

[8] Mat 16:13-16

[9] Oxford Dictionaries

[10] Ibid

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org

[12] https://www.merriam-webster.com

[13] Joh 3:16-18

Walk Just as Jesus Walked

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked.[1]

A poignant reminder that we are human, and as such we will sin. Along with the warning that we will sin comes the basis of hope, that Jesus is our advocate, pleading our case before the Father. Not only is Jesus our advocate, he is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Our relationship with Jesus is manifest in our obedience to his commands, this is evidenced in our lives, that we walk just as he walked. Looking at the Christian religion in the present day, one does not see believers walking as Jesus walked, but generally representing one denomination or another. The kingdom of God is not fragmented, the family of God is not divided by conflict. The Church on the other hand is fragmented and in conflict, it does not represent the kingdom or the family of God. Believers do represent Jesus. In the simplicity of John’s instruction, we see the love of God toward humanity; he knows we will sin, and has paid the price of redemption in his Son’s sacrifice. We can see ourselves in the impetuous act of Peter as he walked toward Jesus on the water. Like Peter, we lose focus at times, and like Peter we have to call out to Jesus to save us.

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"[2]

It can be noticed that John offers no remedy other than Jesus. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe in the sacrament of penance.

Christians are therefore advised to reclaim the beauty of the Sacramental confession. Why sacraments do not change us in that we bring nothing to them. Every sacrament of the Church has the power to change people for good and bring salvation to their steps. Every sacrament is a door to the sacred. Let us use the opportunity God gives us in the Sacrament of reconciliation well. The Three Acts of a Penitent in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.[3]

These Churches have formalized sacraments. Other Churches have various rituals offering the same result. All of which are unnecessary. John was clear that our advocate is Jesus. No sacraments, no traditions, and no hocus pocus, only Jesus.

Many of us are not prepared to walk just as Jesus walked. A cursory reading of the gospels offers a view of Jesus’ life. He did not align himself with any of the Jewish groups. Jesus obeyed the Law. He taught in synagogues. He represented God in all that he did. Jesus was the message, his life exemplified God’s love and grace. Disciples of Jesus are required to represent him –to walk just as he walked. It is sad, but most Churches do not provide the support or encouragement disciples need, they are engrossed in the institutional priorities of being a Church. If you are able in your church to walk just as Jesus walked, that is a good thing. As a member of a church or not, the requirement is the same. Our relationship to God through Jesus is personal. Each disciple is a citizen of the kingdom, each disciple is a child of God. Each disciple has the responsibility to walk as Jesus walked.

---

[1] 1Jn 2:1-6

[2] Mat 14:28-31

[3] Rev. Fr Emeasoba Gabriel

Only Jesus

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.[1]    

There is no doubt God determined that the path to life is through his son. Jesus of Nazareth is the, path, the way, the door, to life. Nothing could be simpler, yet man has taken upon himself to embellish and modify that simplicity, encumbering disciples of Jesus with doctrines, traditions, and churches. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees…

…for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.^[2]

Through the prophet Jeremiah God announced that the new covenant would be written on human hearts.[3] Look around, do you see believers wearing the helmet of salvation[4], or as Paul told the Thessalonians, “…let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[5] What you may see, is people on their way to their particular church, to listen to its preaching and follow its rules. Christianity today is represented by institutional groups, rather than the way God planned. As Jesus was the representative of God, believers are to represent Jesus, not through a church, doctrine, or tradition. As an old hymn said, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all his wonderful passion and purity…” That would be a good starting place.

In the old system, the temple and the synagogue were not to set rules –the law was preeminent. Isaiah ptophecied the time would come when religious leaders would usurp the law’s authority, taking upon themselves the right to set rules. It was those rules which Jesus denounced. From the institutionalization of Christianity under Constantine, the Church has taken on itself authority it has no right to. Jesus is the only avenue through which people can approach God. When a church functions to support individuals as they walk with Jesus it provides a much needed service. When a church establishes programs and mission activities, organizing religious life for members, it has gone too far. The church is not the path to life, only Jesus holds that position. The church is not a vehicle delivering believers to God. Whenever the church takes upon itself any priority role to act as a medium between a believer and God, it becomes a hindrance to that believer. Church organizations are at best social clubs, but most times, they are much worse than clubs. The reason for this is, they teach believers that joining the church and following its rules is the way to life. Church programs are not the same as living for Jesus. Preachers aren’t paid to live godly lives; they live godly lives, and are paid to work with a church, to preach and teach in that locality.

"What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."[6]

There are many believers who attend churches and yet maintain their individuality in serving Jesus. Christian unity exists, despite divisions and rancor among churches. “…God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’”[7] thank goodness, it is through Jesus we come to God. There is no church that has everything right. As someone said, “we can’t all be right, but we can all be wrong.”

Our focus should be on Jesus –only Jesus.

---

[1] Joh 5:19-29

[2] Mat 15:6-9

[3] Jer 31:33

[4] Eph 6:17

[5] 1Th 5:8, 9

[6] Joh 6:28, 29

[7] 2Ti 2:19  

"Behold, the Man!"

Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is himself the way.[1]

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.[2]

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,[3]

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[4]

"Behold, the Man!"[5]

Much has been written on the phrase “Behold the Man”, some better than others. My choice to use the phrase has nothing to do with what others have written. To me the phrase is a clarion call, to see, to hear, and to follow, Jesus the man, who was God’s Son. As Pilate uttered the words "Behold, the Man!” God’s Son stood silently; condemned by the religious elite, forsaken by those he came to save. The scene, not unlike a wounded lion surrounded by a pack of mangy curs, snarling, snapping and frothing at the mouth, cowardly dogs waiting for life to ebb before moving in for the kill. Priests, and members of the Sanhedrin, together conspired against the Son of God. Jesus stood before all as the most abject and pitiful of men. But, there was no pity in the hearts his accusers, only jealous hatred. The parable Jesus told of the tenants recorded in Matthew, was understood by his adversaries; “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.”[6] Instead of changing their ways, they killed him. God’s representative on earth, Jesus the man, was and is, the only path leading to God. There is no way to circumvent Jesus, his is the only way leading to God. Religious bodies which claim access to God, but do not accept Jesus as the one and only Saviour, delude themselves and defraud their followers.  Any Church or religion that minimizes Jesus, or claims to have access to God without going through Jesus is idolatrous and godless. The scriptures are replete with statements saying that Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life. “The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.”[7]

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.[8]

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.[9]

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.[10]

While Jesus was in the world he was the light, the heavenly light that illuminated the path to God. Jesus told his disciples they were the light of the world. The disciples were commissioned to take the word throughout the world at that time. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “…be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”[11] As the apostles taught people about Jesus, they passed on the torch so that each believer became a light of influence in his or her environment. That torch has been passed on to all believers. The light of Jesus shines from his disciples in every age, a light in darkness.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.[12]

“I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”[13]

God’s love was revealed in Jesus. The love of the Father passed through the Son to his disciples; his disciples were to demonstrate God’s love in their lives. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”[14] Those with whom the apostles shared the gospel were to practice God’s love in their lives. God’s love flowed through Jesus to the first disciples, from the disciples to people around them. Disciples of Jesus have a duty to reflect the Master’s love. I don’t believe that it is an accident that Jesus is the only path to God. As Jesus said in his conversation of the shepherd and the sheep, “I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved…” It abundantly evident the Jesus lived as an ambassador for his Father. As disciples of Jesus, believers have a similar responsibility to represent Jesus in their lives and actions.

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.[15]

Jesus was God’s living message, communicating God’s love and grace. All believers take upon themselves the attitude of Jesus as their own. As Jesus represented his Lord, we represent Jesus. When we are witnesses of the love of Jesus, and our behaviour draws attention to him, we are living in him and he is living in us. Our lives become the message that other people see and hear. Whether you are involved in church or not, you are responsible for the message that emanates from you. We are to let the love of Jesus be our life’s prime message.

Icons also lift up our minds from earthly things to the heavenly.  St. John of Damascus wrote, "we are led by perceptible Icons to the contemplation of the divine and spiritual".  And by keeping their memory before us through the Icons, we are also inspired to imitate the holiness of those therein depicted.[16] 

I understand that icons are very important to Orthodox Christians, but I cannot accept that they are anything other than idolatry. I read that to Orthodox believers there is a difference between veneration and worship, but once again it is idolatry in the guise of reverence. It is written that Hezekiah

…did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.[17]

Nehushtan, meaning “the brass thing”.[18] The Orthodox Information Center suggests that a primary reason for icons is to teach the illiterate and children. That is a faulty reason. “…faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” God has given the responsibility of spiritual education of children to the father[19]. There is no excuse for veneration of icons no matter what they are, or what purpose is used to justify them. Jesus is the message from God –the only message. Faith in God is an absolute requirement, not a second hand acceptance of God through veneration of artifacts or dead people. There is something wrong with “faith” if it has to be initiated or maintained by artificial props. The veneration of icons would suggest that the teaching of James ought to be modified to include icons; faith and action are not enough. There were many illiterate people and children when James wrote, and he did not recommend acceptance of icons. I believe that anything used as a prop for lagging faith, or anything we offer veneration other than Jesus is absolutely wrong. Salvation is through believing in Jesus. There is no need for anything else, God sent Jesus as his message. “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”[20] Faith based on artifacts and icons is false faith, it demeans the risen Lord. Why focus on dead things and people, when we are called to honour the living Son of God.

It is difficult for our finite minds to relate to the infinite God. It just might be that Jesus serves as the link between humans and God, because of his humanity. He is the Saviour, he is the Mediator, he is the Advocate, and while on earth, he was human. The acceptance of the humanity of Jesus cannot be underestimated. Jesus is the most important link we have to God.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[21]

We glorify God by being disciples of Jesus. We can relate to Jesus the person, because he was human like we are. The Word, the message of God lived as a person, and shared our human traits. Through the written word we can hear Jesus speak, we can reflect on how he interacted with others, and we can experience his love. And, Jesus set the pattern for disciples to follow.

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.[22]

The last phrase of Jesus’ answer made it clear that seeing him was the same as seeing the Father. The scripture says, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…”[23] The pattern for disciples is to project the nature and likeness of Jesus through our lives. There’s nothing wrong in going to church, but that’s not what this means. Our everyday lives have to be where this takes place, at home, at work, or at play. There is not a moment of the day when we can step back from our duty to represent Jesus. Paul speaks to the change that takes place when people are in Christ, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view…”[24] As a disciple of Jesus we live as a new person. Living for Jesus is not the same as being religious, it has nothing to do with how often we go to church, or how many scriptures we have memorized. Living for Jesus isn’t being a missionary, or a preacher. Living for Jesus doesn’t preclude the fore mentioned. Those are aspects and choices of our personal lives, not to be confused with living the message. We get a hint of what this means from Jesus teaching;

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'[25]

As the function of the synagogue was to support people to live as God wanted them to, the role of the church is to support the people of God to live the message of Jesus. Commitment to a church or a religion is not what God wants, it’s your life that is required. A total commitment to God through Jesus. A life seen by the world as the message of God through Jesus.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[26]

The world has become a dark place; now is the time for followers of Jesus to shine. It is not our place to condemn the world, but to be a glimmer of hope in our communities, a gentle light radiating God’s love through Jesus. This is a lifestyle not a religion. The purpose of church fellowship is to encourage believers as they live each day for Jesus. As followers of Jesus our duty and privilege is to honour the Saviour. Jesus has to be Lord of our lives. We have to grow and mature as disciples to the point where we can echo Paul’s words, “…I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”[27] I would advocate a generic church. Titles and names are exclusive and divisive. There is only one name by which we can be saved –Jesus. As citizens of the kingdom we have but one king –Jesus. As the redeemed we have but one Saviour –Jesus.

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.[28]

Living as a representative of Jesus has to be our priority. It doesn’t come easy or without some learning. We have many conflicting plans and a number of ideas how best to serve Jesus: There is church and its demands. There is employment and everything it requires, and there is home life and family, leisure time and recreation all requiring our attention. We must have balance in our lives. Jesus doesn’t call us to give up these things. He requires that whatever we do, we do to his glory[29]. The difficulty that we face is that Jesus hasn’t given us a list of do’s and don’ts –he wants us to assume his nature. Our lives are to become his personal message. My understanding of scripture leads me to conclude that Jesus is more important than any cause, he is more important than church, and he has to be the most important person to each of us. We can’t accept Jesus’ divinity without accepting his humanity. And, it is his humanity we look to, to shape our lives. We need to be able to hear his voice in scripture, to acknowledge his role as leader. We have to accept him as our master, and learn from him. All scripture centers on Jesus. The gospels give an up close and personal view of Jesus as a man, as well as, the Son of God. Since we are to imitate Jesus, and represent him, we have to know him. We need to become familiar with Jesus –the way he approached his mission, and the way he communicated God’s word, so that we can become like him.

---

[1] Karl Barth

[2] Act 4:12 

[3] Heb 1:1-3

[4] Heb 12:1, 2

[5] Joh 19:5 (NASV)

[6] Mat 21:45

[7] Joh 3:35, 36

[8] Joh 8:12 

[9] Joh 9:5 

[10] Mat 5:14-16

[11] Php 2:15 

[12] 1Jn 4:7-11

[13] Joh 17:26 

[14] Joh 15:12 

[15] 2Co 3:2, 3

[16] Orthodox Christian Information Center

[17] 2Ki 18:3, 4

[18] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

[19] Eph 6:4

[20] Luke 24:5 

[21] Php 2:5-11

[22] Joh 14:8, 9

[23] Heb 1:3 

[24] 2Co 5:16  (NRSV)

[25] Mat 7:21-23

[26] Joh 3:14-18

[27] 2Ti 1:12 

[28] Joh 20:30, 31

[29] Col 3:17