What God Wants

 

1. Heart of Obedience

 

From the Old Testament into the New Testament and continuing today, the living God of Heaven has commanded our wholehearted love and obedience to Him as LORD with a humble and repentant heart andloving others with holy and true lives more than any rituals, ceremonies, or sacrifices. The Holy Bible teaches that the living God of Heaven does not delight in our legalistic offerings, rituals, ceremonies, feast days, and sacrifices, but He delights in our dedicated love, with faithful obedience to Him and His commands (laws) as our LORD and King, and doing His will with kindness, fairness, truth, and love toward others.^[1] Notably, the Holy Bible sees rebellion and disobedience against the living God of Heaven and His commands as evil of idolatry (worshipping other gods) and as wicked and dark as divination, witchcraft, sorcery, pride and arrogance, which all lead to God’s wrath of disease, depression, and death.^[2]

 

The living God of Heaven wants ALL PEOPLE as His creation to have a true and pure heart of full devotion and obedience that is loyal, humble, and faithful to Him as our only LORD and King.^[3] Only as we wholeheartedly seek and love with trust and obedience with purity of heart to the living God of Heaven and forsake following Satan’s evil deeds and selfish living do we find true life, victory, blessings, divine peace, and light from heaven.^[4] Faithful obedience to the living God of Heaven and His commands is the key to a long and blessed life with divine wisdom and revelation, and reveals that we are truly followers of God.^[5] In other words, the Holy Bible not only commands everyone to listen to God’s teachings, but also to submit and surrender to the living God of Heaven by obeying and doing what the Holy Bible teaches and commands.^[6]The living God of Heaven is close and near to those with forgiveness, restoration, blessings, and His Holy Spirit, who comes to Him with a repentant and humble heart of obedience that turns from and forsakes Satan’s evil deeds of darkness.^[7]

 

The living God of Heaven wants a heart attitude of wholehearted love with obedience and devotion to Him and His commands (voice), and Christ Jesus our Lord continued this same message and teaching in the New Testament.^[8] Continually obeying and following Satan’s sinful, dark, and selfish living makes all your fasting, religious rituals, feasts, sacrifices, tithes, and ceremonies worthless to the living God of Heaven.^[9] However, the living God of Heaven promises that seeking Him first and always doing what is good and right with a commitment to live a holy and blameless life leads to His blessings, peace, and an abundant life.^[10] The moral character, integrity, and conduct of a person and not the number of their religious activities are most important to the living God of Heaven.^[11]

 

2. Holy and Righteous Living

 

Holy and righteous living are woven throughout the Holy Bible storyline. The living God of Heaven is described as holy, righteous, and good because holiness and goodness are God’s very nature, name, and character.^[12]Christ Jesus taught His disciples that when praying to His Father, they should always keep His Father’s name holy (hallowed) with respect and honor.^[13] The ways and thoughts of the living God of Heaven are always holy, good, and faithful.^[14] Following Satan’s sinful and wicked living separates one from God’s goodness and holiness, leading to death.^[15] From the Old Testament into the New Testament, the living God of Heaven has called and commanded His people to live and follow His holy ways with good fruits of love, truth, mercy, forgiveness, and peace towards one another.^[16] Notably, the book of Revelation teaches that those who will be invited to the joyous wedding banquet of Jesus the Lamb in the new heavens and earth will be God’s holy people (the bride of Christ) wearing the fine linen, bright and clean of the righteous and good deeds.^[17]

 

The living God of Heaven commanded all people to be wholeheartedly and totally consecrated as holy, which means dedicated and set apart with obedience to Him as their LORD and King, and their holiness and faithfulness were to be expressed in their daily lives with a harvest of good deeds, good actions, and good fruits which lead to divine blessings and healing.^[18] In other words, the living God of Heaven stated in Genesis and throughout the Holy Bible that He wants our wholehearted love, truth, faithfulness, mercy, humility, obedience, and goodness toward Him and others more than our rituals, fasts, offerings, ceremonies, and sacrifices.^[19] The living God of Heaven wants a heart of faithfulness and obedience to Him that is fully committed and faithful as our King and LORD! 

 

3. Heroes of the Faith

 

The heroes of the Holy Bible like Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, and Samuel understood the importance of wholehearted faithfulness and obedience to the living God of Heaven’s commands, and they instructed everyone to have a heart of love, obedience, and commitment to the living God of Heaven and His holy commands as instructed in the Holy Scriptures.^[20] Significantly, King David from the Old Testament understood that the key to a right relationship and closeness with the living God of Heaven was not through sacrifices, ceremonies, offerings, and rituals but through honor and loving obedience to God and His commands from a humble, dependent, and devoted heart by faith.^[21] King David’s heart was always faithful and obedient to the living God of Heaven, and he obeyed the commands and ways of the living God of Heaven, except in the shameful affair concerning Uriah and his wife Bathsheba, where he later repented for his sins against God.^[22] Significantly, King David had a humble thirst and desire for righteousness and knowing the ways of God, and he encouraged everyone to always trust in the LORD.^[23] Because of King David’s heart of obedience and faithfulness, the living God of Heaven blessed King David with an eternal kingdom and blessings, which came through King David’s descendant, Christ Jesus our Lord.^[24] Notably, Christ Jesus our Lord, like King David, wholeheartedly followed the ways and commands of the living God of Heaven, and He never sinned and was perfect in all His ways, and He calls everyone to follow His example for holy living.^[25]

 

4. New Testament Teaching on Obedience and Sacrifices

 

In the New Testament, Christ Jesus our Lord affirmed and continued His Holy Father’s teaching. Christ Jesus proclaimed that His Holy Father, who is the living God of Heaven, wants our faithful obedience and love to Him from our pure hearts and doing His will with love, fairness, and mercy towards others, particularly the helpless, poor, and widows, more than any offerings, sacrifices, fasts, feasts, and religious rituals.^[26] Significantly, Christ Jesus’ prayers and His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount, His Sermon on the Plain (Plateau), and throughout the New Testament were teaching His disciples to live like Kingdom citizens in the world with the good fruits of love and peace and to lead everyone to worship and obey the Covenant King - the living God of Heaven.^[27] Christ Jesus taught that everyone who follows and obeys His Holy Father and His commands also does the will of God and becomes His fellow brother and sister inside the Kingdom of God.^[28] Moreover, Christ Jesus our Lord taught that our faithful obedience to Him and His Holy Father’s commands and teachings helps us establish a strong and firm foundation (rock) with God that weathers the storms and troubles of life.^[29]

 

Here is the Good News: Christ Jesus taught His disciples that they can always pray and ask His Holy Father for help with everything and anything, including obeying His Holy Father’s commands and receiving divine wisdom.^[30] Christ Jesus promised that His Holy Father blesses His disciples with every good gift, including the good gift of the Holy Spirit of God to empower, teach, and help them live holy and pure lives as He and His Holy Father command.^[31] Furthermore, Christ Jesus our Lord promises to make and declare believers in Him holy (sanctified) and righteous through repentance with faithful obedience to Him and His teaching.^[32] Christ Jesus is God with us, and He promises to be forever present with His disciples so that they are never alone and helpless.^[33] Everything is possible for those who trust and believe by faith in Christ Jesus as Lord.^[34]

 

This is not to say that offerings, tithes, sacrifices, fasting, ceremonies, various feasts, and rituals are not important to the living God of Heaven because He first created them in the Old Testament.^[35] However, the living God of Heaven makes the sacrifices and offerings for sins given in the Old Testament obsolete and set aside because He sent His Son Christ Jesus by His grace to serve as the final ransom, sacrifice, and payment to cleanse and atone for sin (past, present, and future) as the Passover Lamb of God and to provide salvation and redemption to the world when Christ Jesus died and freely gave His life on Calvary’s Cross.^[36] Christ Jesus’s perfect life and sinless blood now purifies and cleanses us from ALL sin, darkness, and shame through repentance (turning from Satan’s evil and selfish living) and faithful obedience to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.^[37] Christ Jesus (Messiah Yeshua) is our forever Lord and Savior.^[38]

 

The Apostle Paul picks up on the Old Testament theme of sacrifices when he encourages believers of Christ Jesus to offer their lives and bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the living God of Heaven as our true and proper worship and service in view of God’s tender mercy and blessings given through His Son, Christ Jesus.^[39] In his teaching, the Apostle Paul taught believers in Christ Jesus not to provide merely external rituals and ceremonies to the living God of Heaven, but to live good, loving, and holy lives with morality and integrity, wholeheartedly devoted in worship and obedient service by faith to the living God of Heaven.^[40] Our grateful worship and praise to the living God of Heaven with thanksgiving and good works for Him and His glory are our “sacrifices” and “offerings” that please Him.^[41]

 

Importantly, the living God of Heaven, along with His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, and the holy prophet, taught that various offerings, tithes, sacrifices, ceremonies, fasting, and feasts are worthless without first repentance and a right heart relationship of loving obedience and faithfulness towards the living God of Heaven, and love with mercy, forgiveness, and goodness toward others.^[42] No sacrifice, offering, fasting, ceremonies, rituals, and feasts are significant for forgiveness or salvation without first a repentant and humble heart to the living God of Heaven that turns from selfish (sinful) living and also lovingkindness with forgiveness and kindness towards others.^[43]

 

5. What Makes a Person Unholy in God’s Eyes

 

The living Sovereign LORD God of heaven and earth revealed His moral and ethical character for everyone to follow and obey at Mount Sinai with His eternal covenant, which included the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament.^[44] Christ Jesus our Lord continued His Holy Father’s moral and ethical teaching on the Sermon on the Mount and His Sermon on the Plain (Plateus) in the New Testament for everyone to follow and obey who wish to live in a covenant relationship with Him and His Holy Father.^[45]

 

Notably in the New Testament, Christ Jesus taught that evil words that come out of a person’s mouth come from within the heart, and these evil words defile and make a person unholy to Him and His Holy Father.^[46]Christ Jesus taught that out of one’s heart come bad and evil thoughts of murder, adultery, fornication, sexual immorality, theft, hatred (mean looks), lewdness, quarreling and strife, false testimony with lies, deceit, pride and arrogance, blasphemy, covetousness (greed, envy), slander, gossip, hypocrisy, revenge, unforgiveness, and other foolishness, and these evil words and dark fruits pollute and make a person unholy and also brings God’s wrath from heaven.^[47] According to Christ Jesus our Lord, these evil words and wicked deeds of Satan violate the eternal commandments and teachings of Him and His Holy Father and also separate one from God’s Kingdom, which leads to divine wrath and punishment from heaven.^[48]

 

Instead, Christ Jesus our Lord and His faithful disciples commanded and encouraged everyone to repent and rid oneself of all Satan’s dark fruits and deeds of sexual immorality, fraud, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, malice, lies, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander of every kind and instead seek the living God with the good fruits of love, forgiveness, truth, patience, compassion, kindness, and goodness towards others so they can live godly lives with blessings and also one day see the living God of Heaven.^[49]

 

6. Conclusion

 

In conclusion, let EVERYONE repent and come with a surrendered and humble heart to the living God of Heaven and His Son Christ Jesus our Lord and find blessings and oneness with the God of Heaven because this is what God wants. The living God of Heaven wants everyone to embrace and love Him and His Son Christ Jesus from our whole hearts with faithful obedience and also love one another with forgiveness and kindness more than any rituals.^[50] Even more, Christ Jesus wants everyone to sin no more and lead holy and good lives for His Holy Father’s glory and honor.^[51] Jesus is Lord!

 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear and honor God and keep His commandments, for this is humankind’s all and duty. For God will bring every word and deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

 

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^[1] 1 Samuel 15:22; see also Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16-17; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Zechariah 7:9-10; Zechariah 8:16-17, 19; cf. Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Psalm 37:31; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 31:33. 

^[2] 1 Samuel 15:23; see also Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:10-14.

^[3] See e.g., Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:17-19; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Amos 5:4, 6; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 6:33; Acts 15:9-11; 1 Peter 1:15-16, 22. 

^[4] See e.g., Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalm 1:1-6; Psalm 37:3-5, 27; Psalm 40:4; Psalm 119:1-3; Isaiah 55:3, 6-7; Amos 5:4, 6; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 16:24-25; John 1:3-5; John 3:16-17, 36; John 10:10; John 14:1, 27; cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. 

^[5] See e.g., Leviticus 26:3-13; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:32; Proverbs 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28; Galatians 6:7-10; 1 Timothy 1:5-10; James 1:22-25; James 2:18-24; 1 John 2:3-5.

^[6] See e.g., 1 Samuel 15:22; Luke 11:28; James 4:7-8.

^[7] See e.g., Leviticus 26:11-12; Psalm 34:8-9, 18; Psalm 51:16-17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1-2; Joel 2:12-15; Micah 7:18-20; John 14:15-17, 21, 23; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:32; 1 John 3:23-24; cf. Exodus 19:5-6. 

^[8] See e.g., Exodus 15:25-26; Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 20:1-17, 23; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Deuteronomy 5:33; Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13-17; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:16-17; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 6:20; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 22:37; Luke 4:8. 

^[9] See e.g., Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 8:13; Amos 5:4, 6, 14-15, 21-24; Luke 3:3, 8-14.

^[10] Deuteronomy 4:39-40; Deuteronomy 6:18-19; see also 2 Kings 18:1-7; 2 Chronicles 15:1-2; Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31; cf. Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:17-19. 

^[11] See e.g., Isaiah 1:11-17, 23.

^[12] See e.g., Exodus 15:11; Psalm 34:5-7; Numbers 14:18; 1 Samuel 2:2; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:8; Isaiah 6:3-5; Isaiah 57:15; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:7; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 15:4. 

^[13] See e.g., Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:1. 

^[14] See e.g., Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 77:13; Psalm 106:1; Psalm 119:68; Lamentations 3:23; 1 Corinthians 1:9. 

^[15] See e.g., Isaiah 59:2; Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Ezekiel 33:8; Romans 6:16, 23.

^[16] See e.g., Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7-8, 26; Leviticus 21:8; Matthew 5:6-8; Matthew 7:12-14; John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Romans 6:12-14, 22; Romans 12:1-2, 9-21; Romans 14:17-19; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Galatians 5:14, 22-23; Ephesians 5:1-2; Philippians 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10, 24; 2 Peter 3:11, 14.

^[17] Revelation 19:7-8, 14; Revelation 21:2-3, 9; see also Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 2:8-10.

^[18] See e.g., Exodus 15:25-26; Exodus 19:5-6, 10; Numbers 15:37-41; Deuteronomy 7:12-15; Psalm 103:3, 17-18; Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; cf. Exodus 20:1-17. 

^[19] See e.g., Genesis 15:6; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:17-19; Exodus 20:1-23:33; Leviticus 17:1-20:27; Deuteronomy 6:1-8, 13-17; Proverbs 1:7; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 22:34-40; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:8-12; cf. Psalm 34:12-16. 

^[20] See e.g., Genesis 6:9; Genesis 15:1-6; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 26:5; Deuteronomy 11:1-2, 26-30; Deuteronomy 31:1-8; Joshua 23:1-16; 1 Samuel 12:1-25; cf. 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6. Read about more heroes of the faith at Hebrews 11:1-40. 

^[21] See e.g., 1 Kings 2:1-4; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 40:6-10; Psalm 51:16-17; cf. Leviticus 18:30; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 16-17, 20-21; Deuteronomy 30:6; Joshua 1:1-8; Isaiah 57:15. 

^[22] See e.g., 1 Kings 11:4; 1 Kings 14:8; 1 Kings 15:5; cf. 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25. 

^[23] 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 27:8, 11; Psalm 37:3-5, 11; see also Isaiah 55:1-2; Matthew 5:5-6.

^[24] See e.g., 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1-2, 6, 16-17; Luke 1:31-35; Romans 1:3-4. 

^[25] See e.g., Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 6:36; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 5:1-2; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:20-24.  

^[26] Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 12:29-34; Luke 10:25-37; John 4:34; John 13:34-35; John 14:15-18; John 15:12, 17; see also Hebrews 10:5-9; Hebrews 13:1-6; James 1:22-27; 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6; cf. Exodus 22:21-27; Leviticus 23:22; Isaiah 1:17. 

^[27] Matthew 5:1-7-29; Luke 6:20-49; Luke 11:1-4; John 17:1-26; see also Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-17. 

^[28] See e.g., Mark 3:35; Luke 8:21; Luke 11:28; John 14:21. 

^[29] See e.g., Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49; cf. Matthew 7:21. 

^[30] Matthew 6:9-13; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:1-4; Luke 18:1; see also Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 1:5-7. 

^[31] Luke 11:9-13; John 14:15-18, 26; John 15:26-27; John 16:7-13; see also Psalm 23:1-6; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 94:16-19; Isaiah 40:31; Acts 1:4-5, 9; Acts 2:1-4, 33. 

^[32] See e.g., John 13:10; John 15:3; John 17:17; Romans 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10-11; Hebrews 13:12. 

^[33] Matthew 28:20; see also Matthew 1:23; Matthew 18:20.

^[34] See e.g., Mark 9:23. 

^[35] See e.g., Psalm 66:13-16; Psalm 107:19, 22. 

^[36] See e.g., Matthew 1:21, 23; Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10; John 1:29, 36; John 3:16-18, 36; John 4:42; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:3, 32; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:9-14; Revelation 5:6, 9-10; cf. Isaiah 52:13-53:12. 

^[37] See e.g., Hebrews 9:12-14, 24-28; Hebrews 10:19-22; 1 Peter 2:20-24; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14.

^[38] See e.g., Matthew 1:21, 23; Luke 2:10-11; Acts 10:36; Romans 10:9-13. 

^[39] Romans 12:1-2; see also Romans 6:1-2, 13, 16, 19; Ephesians 4:1; Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Hebrews 12:1-2, 14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Peter 2:1-5, 9-10; cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7-8, 26.

^[40] See e.g., Romans 12:1-2, 9-21; Romans 13:1-14; Galatians 5:14, 22-26; Galatians 6:1-10; Ephesians 4:17-25; Ephesians 5:1-21; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:19-22. 

^[41] See e.g., Matthew 5:14-16; Romans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:18-20; Philippians 2:12-17; Colossians 3:18; Titus 3:8, 14; Hebrews 13:1-10, 15-16, 20-21.

^[42] See e.g., Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; cf. Isaiah 58:1-14; Hosea 12:6; Amos 5:14-15; Micah 6:6-8; Romans 12:9-21. 

^[43] See e.g., Matthew 3:2, 8; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:1-12, 43-48; Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:27-37; Luke 18:9-14; cf. Isaiah 58:3-7.

^[44] Exodus 19:5-6; Exodus 20:1-23:33; see also Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

^[45] Matthew 5:1-7:29; Luke 6:20-49; see also 1 Peter 1:13-17; 1 Peter 2:1-5, 9-10, 24.

^[46] Matthew 12:34-37; Matthew 15:11, 17-18; Mark 7:20; see also Psalm 39:1; James 3:6. 

^[47] Matthew 15:19-20; Mark 7:20-23; see also Proverbs 6:14-15; Romans 1:28-32.

^[48] Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; see also Leviticus 19:1-18; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-5; Zechariah 7:8-10; Zechariah 8:16-17, 19; Matthew 5:1-12, 21-48; Matthew 19:16-21; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 18:18-22; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:25-32; Ephesians 5:1-12; Colossians 3:5-7; Revelation 21:7-8; Revelation 22:14-15.

^[49] Matthew 3:2, 8; Matthew 4:17; Matthew 5:1-7:29; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 23:23; Luke 6:27-36; John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; see also Romans 12:1-2, 9-21; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:1-5, 9-16, 21-24; 1 Peter 3:8-12; Hebrews 12:14; 1 John 3:3-4, 8-12.

^[50] See e.g., Isaiah 1:10-17, 23; Mark 12:29-34; John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:9.

^[51] See e.g., Matthew 5:14-16; John 5:14; John 8:11; cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 1:9-11; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8.