Leviticus 19:17-18, 33-34 Love is not optional. Love is covenant obedience grounded in the Lord's own character. We, as image-bearers of the triune God, and that great Creator-creature distinction, as we bear His image, this is what we must reflect to the world and back to the triune God, this love that the scriptures talk about over and over again, love for our neighbors, love for even our enemies.
Matthew 5:43-48 The sons of God are known by their likeness to their Father, who loves His enemies. In other words, because believers are covenant children, covenant children of the Father through Christ, we're called to reflect His perfect, gracious love even toward our enemies by loving, praying, and doing good to them as our Father in heaven does.
John 3:14-16 John 3:16 is a summary of the whole gospel being presented in Bible, which means it masterly summarizes the full gospel, and it gives you a glimpse of exactly what is the love of God.
Matthew 5:38-42 Do you trust God's justice enough to love your enemies? Because believers are united to Christ, the mediator of the covenant who fulfilled the law through love, we must restrain retaliation, reflect Christ's mercy, and reveal our Father's covenant heart to the world.
Matthew 10:16-17 When you speak about Jesus to lost, needy souls, you might, but most likely will, face some sort of persecution and hardship. But as you honor Jesus and his gospel before others, he shall honor you before his Father in heaven because of your kingdom service.
Matthew 5:33-37 Believers are bound by covenant to the God of truth. They must reflect His faithfulness in their words, living with integrity before God and men.
Matthew 10:16-23 When you speak about Jesus to lost, needy souls, you might, but most likely will, face some sort of persecution and hardship. But as you honor Jesus and his gospel before others, he shall honor you before his Father in heaven because of your kingdom service.
Matthew 5:33-37 Words are not cheap. They are sacred instruments that reveal the condition of one's heart. Every promise we make and every truth we speak or conceal reflects what we believe about God Himself.
Malachi 2:13-16 God calls His covenant people to reflect His own faithfulness by living faithfully in marriage, for marriage is His covenant design.
Matthew 5:31-32 As Christ never forsakes His bride, so we are called to live in covenant faithfulness in marriage and all of life.
Proverbs 6:20-35 Because God has bound His people in covenant holiness, we must pursue radical purity of hearts by putting to death the old man’s sin, through the Spirit, as we rest in the finished work of Christ our Lord.
Matthew 5:27-30 Because Christ calls his people to radical holiness, believers must pursue purity of heart through mortification of sin by the Spirit, resting in Christ's finished work.
Isaiah 1:10-20 True covenant worship demands reconciled hearts, cleansed from sin, reconciled to neighbor, and restored by grace.
Matthew 5:21-26 Christ reveals that the covenant demands not only the restraint of outward violence, but the reconciliation of hearts, for only reconciled people can offer true worship to the God who reconciles himself to sinners.
Matthew 10:5-15 When you speak about Jesus to lost, needy souls, you might, but most likely you will, face some sort of persecution and hardship. But as you honor Jesus and his gospel before others, he will honor you before his Father in heaven because of your kingdom service.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Because Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, believers rest in His forgiveness, receive His Spirit, and rejoice in His law written on their hearts.
Matthew 5:17-20 Because Christ has fulfilled the law and the prophets, the believer must rest in His righteousness, revere His word, and reflect His righteousness in daily life.
Matthew 5:13-16 Because believers are united to Christ in the covenant of grace, they are called to live out their covenant identity as salt and light, preserving truth, shining in holiness, and displaying the glory of God.
Isaiah 66:1-5 Because God dwells with the humble who tremble at his word, his persecuted people can endorse suffering with joy for the Kingdom of Heaven is already theirs.
Matthew 5:10 Persecution isn’t proof that you’ve lost the kingdom, persecution is proof you belong to it. Those who endure persecution for covenant faithfulness to Christ, show themselves to be heirs of the Kingdom of heaven.