holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”
O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.