remem.me

value of the old testament

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

the gospel

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

purpose of speaking in tongues

In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

company you keep

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

doing good

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

eternal security

If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

persecution & suffering

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

rewards

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

forgiveness

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

worldliness

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

salvation

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

love & obedience

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

holiness

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

deity of Jesus Christ

who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;

evangelism

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

humility

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

obedience and rebellion

Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He has also rejected you from being king.”

judging

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

building up believers

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

obey & appreciate leaders

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

importance of prayer

pray without ceasing;

prayer

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

role of women & men in ministry

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.

Christ is the only way to God/heaven

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

working hard for the Lord

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

examining ourselves

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

money

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

contentment

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

humbling yourself

Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.

humbling yourself

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

satan's deception

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

pressure in the ministry

I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

examining ourselves

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

suffering for Christ

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Christian's judgement

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

non-believer's judgment

dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

association

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

evangelism/boldness

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

building up believers

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

company you keep

Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

worldliness

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

persecution & suffering

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

value of all scripture

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

sound doctrine

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

evangelism

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

evangelism

And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

forgiveness

Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

God's forgiveness and cleansing

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

no free will in people

and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

God's forgiveness and cleansing

and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

no free will in people

and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

salvation

They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

shepherding the flock

Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Christ is the only way to God/heaven

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

obedience to God over other authorities

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

obedience to God over other authorities

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

importance of prayer

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

God's forgiveness & cleansing

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

deity of Jesus Christ

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

working hard for the Lord

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

God's testing of people

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.

eternal security

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

predestination

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

salvation

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

evangelism

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

words of your mouth

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

eternal security

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

use of time and wisdom

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

be Spirit-filled/Christ controlled

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

resisting Satan

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

prayer

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Balanced and logical living

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

the gospel

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

faith vs. works

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

the Law

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

doing good

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

eternal security

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

trusting in God

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

discipline

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

obey & appreciate leaders

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

unbelief and encouragement

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

purpose of speaking in tongues

That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.

God's ways higher

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

trails

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

motives

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

worldliness

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

resisting Satan

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

boasting

Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

right attitude toward God

He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

right attitude toward God

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

God's discipline

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

deity of Jesus Christ

I and the Father are one.”

The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

salvation

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

service to God

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

no free will in people

For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”

dangers if being liked

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;

Jesus is Savior & Messiah

He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

salvation

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

deity of Jesus Christ

Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

be Spirit-filled/Christ controlled

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

salvation

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

worship

But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus is Savior and Messiah

and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”

deity of Jesus Christ

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

predestination

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

judging

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

obeying God's word

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

for or against

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

rejoicing

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

obeying God's word

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

greed

Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

cost of discipleship

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

Faithfulness

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

service to God

So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

rebuke&forgive

3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

cost of discipleship

Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You." And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."

cost of being a believer

But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name.

dangers of being liked

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

false prophets

And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him;
for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

reporting to your discipler

The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.

family conflict

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.

for or against

He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

importance of prayer

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

love

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

importance of prayer

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

evangelism

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

possessions

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

worry

Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

humility

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

heaven

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

God's sufficiency

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

rejoicing

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

words of your mouth

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.

being corrected

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is stupid.

bad association

Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

pride

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

motives

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the Lord weighs the motives.

pride

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

words of your mouth

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

self-control

Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

being corrected

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

self-control

A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.

fear of the Lord

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

doing good

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it.

trusting in God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

cost of immorality

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey
And smoother than oil is her speech;
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.

fear of the Lord

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.

the blessed person

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

God our defense & refuge

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

desire for God

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.

humility

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

God our defense & refuge

Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah.

desire for God

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

use of time and wisdom

So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

first love

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

lukewarm/carnal Christians

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

Christians not under the Law

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

eternal security

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

evangelism

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.

grace

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

universal knowledge of God

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

dedication to God

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

obey governing authority

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

building up believers

So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

others centered

It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

others centered

Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

value of the old testament

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

no non-Christian is/does good

as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”

salvation

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

salvation

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

salvation

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

grace

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

salvation

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christians not under the law

But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

suffering for Christ

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

eternal security

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

non-Christians can't do good.

because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

salvation

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,