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Бог на мира възкреси от смъртта Добрия Пастир от Gospel Translations Bulgarian By John Piper About Jesus Christ Translation by Desiring God А Бог на мира, Който чрез кръвта на единия вечен завет е въздигнал от мъртвите великия Пастир на овцете, нашия Господ Исус, дано ви усъвършенства във всяко добро нещо, за да вършите Неговата воля, като изработва във вас това, което е угодно пред Него, чрез Исус Христос, на Когото да бъде славата във вечни векове. Амин. Още преди създаването на света, Бог е предвидил вие, аз и всички хора, от най-великия до най-малкия да бъдем винаги овце. Неговата цел от самото начало и за вечни времена е всички човешки същества да бъдат винаги овце, които се нуждаят от Овчар. Никога не е възнамерявал само за кратко време да бъдем овце и след това да станем по-малко нуждаещи се и по-малко зависими хора. Божието намерение е ние винаги да бъдем овце. Тези, които са щастливи да бъдат овце, които чуват гласа на Великия Овчар да ги призовава, които Го следват като единствена своя надежда и вярват, че Неговата жертва е в тяхна полза, още от сега са и ще бъдат винаги нещо повече от овце. Те са деца на Бога (1 Йоан 3:1), наследници на вселената (Римляни 8:6; 1 Коринтяни 3:20-23), царуващи заедно с Царя на царете (Откровение 3:21), невястата на Христос (Йоан 3:29; Откровение 21:9), като слънцето в царството на Отца си (Матей 13:43). Винаги овце Винаги повече от овце. Обаче винаги овце, нуждаещи се от Овчар. Независимо колко е славна съдбата ни като деца на Бога, като бъдещи съдии, които един ден ще съдят ангели (1 Коринтяни 6:3), ние никога няма да надраснем нашата нужда от Овчар. Когато някой се роди отново и стане последовател на Исус Христос, ето как апостол Петър описва завръщането му у дома: „Който Сам понесе в тялото Си нашите грехове на дървото, така че, като сме умрели за греховете, да живеем за правдата; с Чиято рана вие оздравяхте. Защото като овце блуждаехте, но сега се върнахте при Пастира и Епископа на душите ви.” (1 Петър 2:24,25) Ние сме блуждаели като овце, загубени в страната на неверието, но новорождението ни е пробудило и върнало при Овчаря на нашите души. Душата ни е създадена така, че да има нужда от Овчар. Спасението означава завръщане при Овчаря на нашата душа. Ето какво означава да бъдем християни: ние сме овце и имаме верен Овчар на душите си. Винаги Нашият Велик Овчар Един ден (може би скоро) Исус Христос ще дойде за втори път. Петър описва това в 1 Петър 5:4: „И когато се яви Пастиреначалникът, ще приемете за венец, който не увяхва, славата.” Когато Исус дойде, Той ще дойде като Овчар. Безспорно, Той ще бъде повече от Овчар. Ще бъде Цар на царете (Откровение 17:14; 19:16); ще бъде войник (Откровение 19:11); ще бъде слуга (Лука 12:37); ще бъде младоженец (Матей 25:5); ще бъде приятел Йоан 15:13); ще бъде Бог над всички, благословен завинаги (Римляни 9:5). Но ще бъде винаги Овчар. След второто Му идване, в бъдещия свят, времето ще тече неспирно хилядолетие след хилядолетие и, както пише в Откровение 7:16,17 Исус все още ще бъде Овчар. „Няма да огладнеят вече, нито да ожаднеят, нито ще ги удари слънцето, нито някой пек; защото Агнето, Което е сред престола, ще им бъде пастир и ще ги заведе при извори с жива вода; и Бог ще обърше всяка сълза от очите им.” Агнето в средата на трона ще бъде нашия Овчар. Така е определено да бъде. Ние винаги ще бъдем овце. Винаги ще се нуждаем от Овчар. Исус винаги ще бъде нашия Велик Овчар. Четири основни въпроса Знаейки това, имам четири основни въпроса: 1) Кой е Великия Овчар? 2) Как е възможно Той да е наш Овчар днес и завинаги? 3) Какво означава за нас да имаме такъв Овчар? 4) Защо Бог е решил ние винаги да имаме нужда от Овчар? Тези въпроси намират отговор в Евреи 13:20,21. Кой е Великия Овчар? Нашият велик Овчар е Господ Исус. Стих 20: „А Бога на мира, Който чрез кръвта на единия вечен завет е въздигнал от мъртвите великия Пастир на овцете…” Исус е нашия Овчар днес и завинаги. И Той е велик – велик Овчар. За да стане ясно колко важно е това за Божиите цели, помислете, че Бог винаги е призовавал мъже (хора) да бъдат овчари на народа Му. В Стария Завет водачите на народа се наричаха овчари. В Новия Завет призованите мъже са наричат пастири и учители. Думата пастир означава овчар (Ефесяни 4:11). Този е начина да се подчертае Исус като нашия Велик Пастир – като видим колко не велики са хората пастири и колко ужасно се провалят. Понякога се страхувам да отворя вестника за да не видя, че поредният пастор е нанесъл срам и лоша слава върху името на Исус. Тогава поглеждам в огледалото и разсъждавам върху собствените си недостатъци и върху това колко съм се отдалечил от Христовото пастируване и грижа за овцете. Някои от вас, които сте тук сега, са напълно разочаровани от християнските пастири. Те са злоупотребявали, подвеждали, обсебвали, развратничели, отричали вярата и вие не искате да имате нищо общо с тях и тяхното християнство. Това, което искам да видите и за което може би не сте се замисляли е, че Бог знае за човешките пастири и е много ядосан заради това, което вършат. Той е планирал много отдавна съществуването на съвършен Пастир, който никога не се проваля, никога не мами, никога не подвежда, никога не развращава, никога не злоупотребява, никога не отрича вярата. Чуйте обвинението на Бога към пастирите на Израел и какво Той обещава. Еремия 23:1,2: „Горко на пастирите, които погубват и разпръсват овцете на паството Ми! – казва Господ. Затова така говори Господ, Израилевият Бог, на пастирите, които пасат народа Ми: Вие разпръснахте овцете Ми и не ги посетихте…” Езекиил 34:4,5: „Не подкрепихте немощната, нито изцелихте болната, не превързахте ранената, не докарахте заблудилата се, нито потърсите изгубената; но с насилие и строгост властвахте над тях.” И тогава дава тези обещания. Когато Михей пророкува, че Месията ще се роди във Витлеем (Михей 5:2-4), той добавя: „И Той ще стои и ще пасе стадото Си чрез силата Господня, чрез великото име на Господа, Своя Бог; И те ще живеят в сигурност, защото тогава Той ще бъде велик до краищата на земята.” (Виж Езекиил 34:23,24) Исая също се присъединява към хора на надеждата: „Той ще пасе стадото Си като овчар, ще събере агнетата с мищцата Си, ще ги носи в пазвата Си и ще води полека дойките.” (Исая 40:11). Така че, когато Исус дойде, Той дойде за да изпълни тези обещания. Той каза: „Аз съм добрият пастир…и Аз давам живота Си за овцете. И други овце имам, които не са от тая кошара, и тях трябва да доведа; и ще чуят гласа Ми; и ще станат едно стадо с един пастир.” (Йоан 10:14-16) Има един Пастир, който никога няма да ни изостави. Той даде живота си за нас. Ако Го приемем, смъртта Му ще бъде гаранция, че ще се грижи за нас винаги. Кой е Великия Пастир? Това не съм аз или който и да е друг пастир – овчар. Това е Исус, единствено Исус. Твоята душа е създадена да бъде водена от Исус. Как е възможно Той да е нашия пастир? Как е възможно това? Той умря и ние сме недостойни грешници. Тогава, как е възможно да бъде нашия Пастир? Евреи 13:20: „А Бог на мира, Който чрез кръвта на единия вечен завет е въздигнал от мъртвите великия Пастир на овцете, нашия Господ Исус…” Прочете това отново, бавно: „А Бог на мира, Който…е въздигнал от мъртвите (ето възкресението!) чрез кръвта на единия вечен завет (ето кръвта на вечния завет).” Вечният завет е новия завет, за който Исус споменава вечерта преди смъртта си когато казва по време на Господната вечеря: „…Тази чаша е новият завет в Моята кръв, която за вас се пролива.” (Лука 22:20) Новият завет както го описва Еремия ( Еремия 31:31-33) е Божието задължение да прости и да закриля народа Си. Това стана възможно, защото кръвта на Исус така съвършено осигурява вечния завет на прошка и преобразяване за Неговия народ, че Бог почете този подвиг като Го издигна от смъртта. (Римляни 4:25) Ето защо в стих 20 се казва, че Той го възкреси „чрез кръвта на вечния завет.” И така, как днес Исус може да бъде нашия Пастир? Той живя преди 2000 години, умря и ние не сме достойни за Него. Отговор: Бог на мира го възкреси от смъртта. Днес Той е жив. Днес Той е Великия Пастир. Бог направи това защото Христос плати с кръвта си за вечен завет на прошка за всички, които Го приемат. Той е жив и събира недостойните си овце от всички народи по света. „И други овце имам, които не са от тази кошара, и тях трябва да доведа; и ще чуят гласа Ми; и ще станат едно стадо с един пастир.”(Йоан 10: 15,16) Ако Го приемем, вярваме Му и Го следваме, значи имаме Велик Пастир. Какво означава за нас да имаме Пастир? Какво означава това за нас? Нашият текст споменава две неща. Евреи 13:20,21: „А Бог на мира, който възкреси от смъртта нашия Господ Исус, великият Пастир на овцете, чрез кръвта на вечния завет, (това е първото нещо, което означава за вас) да ни снабди с всичко добро за да вършим волята Му (това е второто) като изработва в нас това, което Му е угодно (ето така знаем, че това е работа на вашия Пастир) чрез Исус Христос.” Бог на мира прави две неща за нас чрез нашия Пастир. Първо, Той ни снабдява с всичко добро за да можем да вършим Неговата воля. Това не означава, че имаме всичко, което ни е необходимо за да бъдем богати, известни, здрави и красиви. Това означава, че имаме всичко, от което се нуждаем за да вършим волята Му. Ако ви призовава да извършите нещо, Той ще ви даде всичко необходимо за това. Нашият Пастир не ни е обещал да ни направи богати в този свят. Обещал ни е да ни даде необходимото за да вършим волята Му. Ето защо Исус каза: „Но първо търсете Божието царство и Неговата правда; и всичко това ще ви се прибави.” (Матей 6:33) Вие ще имате всичко за да изпълните волята Му за вашия живот. Това включва всичко, от което се нуждаете за да умрете достойно за Неговата слава. Второ, в стих 21 се казва, че чрез нашия Велик Пастир, Бог „изработва във вас това, което е угодно пред Него…” Нашият Велик Пастир не ни дава само зелени пасища и тихи води, от които се нуждаем. Той ни дава и вътрешната сила, която ни е нужна. Така Той пази вярата ни от корабокрушение. Когато плати с кръвта си за вечния завет, ето обещанието, което последва за всичките Му овце: „…и ще сключа с тях вечен завет, че няма да се отвърна от тях и ще им правя добро; и ще вложа в сърцата им страх от Мене, за да не отстъпват от Мене.” (Еремия 32:40) Нашият Велик Пастир изработва в нас неща, които са му угодни. Той изработва в нас вяра и няма да ни остави да бъдем невярващи. Ето какво означава да имаме Велик Пастир. Тогава, какво означава да имаме Исус за наш Велик Пастир? Това означава Той да ни снабдява с всичко необходимо за да вършим волята Му и да изработва в нас вяра за да ни пази до края. Остава последния въпрос: Защо Бог е решил винаги да бъдем овце и да имаме нужда от Пастир? Отговорът е в последното изречение на стих 21: „…на Когото да бъде слава във вечни векове. Амин.” Това може да се отнася за Бог на мира или за нашия Велик Пастир, чрез който той се грижи за нас. И в двата случая положението е едно и също. Слава, хваление, почит, обожание, уважение, удивление; всичко това принадлежи на Бог и на нашия Велик Пастир, а не на нас. Славата на великото пастирско дело е тяхна, а не наша. Грижата е за нас; заплащането е от Него, защото Той полага грижите. Ние сме защитени; Негова е честта да бъде Пастир – защитник. Ние сме водени; Той приема уважението като пастир – водач. Ние имаме всичко необходимо; на Него сме поверени като на пастир - снабдител. Ние печелим радостта да бъдем обичани по такъв начин; Негова е славата. Такъв е Неговият замисъл. На Него принадлежи славата на пастир, а на нас – радостта на овцете. Ние не искаме друго. Слава на Великия Пастир Исус Христос е жив днес. Ако Го приемем, Той ще бъде нашия Пастир – Велик Пастир. Аз ви обещавам, това ще бъде вашата велика радост – да Му дадете славата затова, че е вашия Велик Пастир. Амин. Превод: Юлия Борисова, www.christian-books.hit.bg Английският текст използван с разрешението на автора. Според заръките на автора на проповедта ви молим да я разпространявате безплатно, без да я променяте и да посочите източника.
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Bible Cross References O sword Deuteronomy 32:41 that I will sharpen my flashing sword and see that justice is done. I will take revenge on my enemies and punish those who hate me. Deuteronomy 32:42 My arrows will drip with their blood, and my sword will kill all who oppose me. I will spare no one who fights against me; even the wounded and prisoners will die.' Isaiah 27:1 On that day the LORD will use his powerful and deadly sword to punish Leviathan, that wriggling, twisting dragon, and to kill the monster that lives in the sea. Jeremiah 47:6 You cry out, 'Sword of the LORD! How long will you go on slashing? Go back to your scabbard, stay there and rest!' Ezekiel 21:4 I will use my sword against everyone from south to north. Ezekiel 21:5 Everyone will know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword and that I will not put it away. Ezekiel 21:9 "Mortal man, prophesy. Tell the people what I, the Lord, am saying: A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished. Ezekiel 21:10 It is sharpened to kill, polished to flash like lightning. There can be no rejoicing, for my people have disregarded every warning and punishment. Ezekiel 21:28 "Mortal man, prophesy. Announce what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to the Ammonites, who are insulting Israel. Say to them: 'A sword is ready to destroy; It is polished to kill, to flash like lightning. my shepherd Zechariah 11:4 The LORD my God said to me, "Act the part of the shepherd of a flock of sheep that are going to be butchered. Zechariah 11:7 Those who bought and sold the sheep hired me, and I became the shepherd of the sheep that were going to be butchered. I took two sticks: one I called "Favor" and the other "Unity." And I took care of the flock. Isaiah 40:11 He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers. Ezekiel 34:23 I will give them a king like my servant David to be their one shepherd, and he will take care of them. Ezekiel 34:24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and a king like my servant David will be their ruler. I have spoken. Ezekiel 37:24 A king like my servant David will be their king. They will all be united under one ruler and will obey my laws faithfully. Micah 5:2 The LORD says, "Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times." Micah 5:4 When he comes, he will rule his people with the strength that comes from the LORD and with the majesty of the LORD God himself. His people will live in safety because people all over the earth will acknowledge his greatness, The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life---life in all its fullness. "I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them. There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd. "The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do." Hebrews 13:20 God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of his blood, by which the eternal covenant is sealed. May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases him. And to Christ be the glory forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the glorious crown which will never lose its brightness. the man Isaiah 9:6 A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." Jeremiah 23:5 The LORD says, "The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land. Jeremiah 23:6 When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called 'The LORD Our Salvation.' Their ancestor Jacob struggled with his twin brother Esau while the two of them were still in their mother's womb; when Jacob grew up, he fought against God--- he fought against an angel and won. He wept and asked for a blessing. And at Bethel God came to our ancestor Jacob and spoke with him. This was the LORD God Almighty---the LORD is the name by which he is to be worshiped. Matthew 1:23 "A virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called Immanuel" (which means, "God is with us"). Matthew 11:27 "My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. Jesus answered them, "My Father is always working, and I too must work." This saying made the Jewish authorities all the more determined to kill him; not only had he broken the Sabbath law, but he had said that God was his own Father and in this way had made himself equal with God. so that all will honor the Son in the same way as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. "I am telling you the truth," Jesus replied. "Before Abraham was born, 'I Am'." The Father and I are one." But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, you should at least believe my deeds, in order that you may know once and for all that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father." "Do not be worried and upset," Jesus told them. "Believe in God and believe also in me. Jesus answered, "For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you," Jesus said to his disciples, "do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. All that my Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit will take what I give him and tell it to you. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me. Philippians 2:6 He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Colossians 1:15-19 Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. Hebrews 1:6-12 But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said, "All of God's angels must worship him." But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." About the Son, however, God said: "Your kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever! You rule over your people with justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has chosen you and has given you the joy of an honor far greater than he gave to your companions." He also said, "You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth, and with your own hands you made the heavens. They will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will fold them up like a coat, and they will be changed like clothes. But you are always the same, and your life never ends." Revelation 1:8 "I am the first and the last," says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come. Revelation 1:11 It said, "Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." Revelation 1:17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last. Revelation 2:23 I will also kill her followers, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who knows everyone's thoughts and wishes. I will repay each of you according to what you have done. Revelation 21:6 And he said, "It is done! I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end. To anyone who is thirsty I will give the right to drink from the spring of the water of life without paying for it. Revelation 22:13-16 I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Happy are those who wash their robes clean and so have the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life and to go through the gates into the city. But outside the city are the perverts and those who practice magic, the immoral and the murderers, those who worship idols and those who are liars both in words and deeds. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to announce these things to you in the churches. I am descended from the family of David; I am the bright morning star." smite "But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God. But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved. "He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word. He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die, and no one cared about his fate. He was put to death for the sins of our people. He was placed in a grave with those who are evil, he was buried with the rich, even though he had never committed a crime or ever told a lie." The LORD says, "It was my will that he should suffer; his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. And so he will see his descendants; he will live a long life, and through him my purpose will succeed. "Seven times seventy years is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil. Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated. Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God's chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty-two years, but this will be a time of troubles. And at the end of that time God's chosen leader will be killed unjustly. The city and the Temple will be destroyed by the invading army of a powerful ruler. The end will come like a flood, bringing the war and destruction which God has prepared. The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him. The kings of the earth prepared themselves, and the rulers met together against the Lord and his Messiah.' For indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together in this city with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Jesus, your holy Servant, whom you made Messiah. They gathered to do everything that you by your power and will had already decided would happen. But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus. Romans 4:25 Because of our sins he was given over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God. For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose. It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life! Romans 8:32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son---will he not also freely give us all things? 2 Corinthians 5:21 Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God. Galatians 3:13 But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, "Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse." Colossians 1:19 For it was by God's own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. Colossians 1:20 Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven. For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God: "You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me. You are not pleased with animals burned whole on the altar or with sacrifices to take away sins. Then I said, 'Here I am, to do your will, O God, just as it is written of me in the book of the Law.' First he said, "You neither want nor are you pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burned on the altar and the sacrifices to take away sins." He said this even though all these sacrifices are offered according to the Law. Then he said, "Here I am, O God, to do your will." So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all. For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. 1 Peter 2:24 Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:25 You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, 1 John 2:2 And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone. 1 John 4:9 And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven. Revelation 13:8 All people living on earth will worship it, except those whose names were written before the creation of the world in the book of the living which belongs to the Lamb that was killed. the sheep Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "This very night all of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says, 'God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' Matthew 26:56 But all this has happened in order to make come true what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures." Then all the disciples left him and ran away. Jesus said to them, "All of you will run away and leave me, for the scripture says, 'God will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will all be scattered.' Then all the disciples left him and ran away. The time is coming, and is already here, when all of you will be scattered, each of you to your own home, and I will be left all alone. But I am not really alone, because the Father is with me. I will turn Zechariah 11:7 Those who bought and sold the sheep hired me, and I became the shepherd of the sheep that were going to be butchered. I took two sticks: one I called "Favor" and the other "Unity." And I took care of the flock. Zechariah 11:11 So the covenant was canceled on that day. Those who bought and sold the sheep were watching me, and they knew that the LORD was speaking through what I did. Matthew 10:42 You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward." Matthew 18:10 "See that you don't despise any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven, I tell you, are always in the presence of my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:11 Matthew 18:14 In just the same way your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom. It would be better for him if a large millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. "I have already told you that I am he," Jesus said. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these others go." (He said this so that what he had said might come true: "Father, I have not lost even one of those you gave me.")