| Romans
1:16 (ESV) 16 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. Ephesians 1:3-10 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he
predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has
blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which
he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the
mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in
heaven and things on earth. Acts 2:22-47 (ESV) 22 “Men of Israel, hear these
words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and
wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves
know 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and
foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible
for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord
always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell
in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One
see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make
me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with
confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and
his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing
that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his
descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of
the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see
corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from
the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you
yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the
heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’ 36 Let all the house of
Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ,
this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to
the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what
shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you
will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and
for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God
calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued
to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So
those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day
about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And
awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through
the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in
common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and
distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. |
