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Chinese (traditional)Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock? God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last. Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.Next verse!With image