“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:6-7 NIV)

In kindness, He saved us

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titis 3:4-7 NIV)

Therefore…

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”(Col. 3:12 NIV)

“In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11 NASB)

Joy defined: Happiness, pleasure, delight, gladness, merriment, felicity, and enjoyment. The words joy and rejoice are the words used most often to translate the Bible’s Hebrew and Greek words into English. By the way, joy is found over 150 times in the Bible. If such words as “joyous” and “joyful” are included, the number comes to over 200. The verb rejoice appears well over 200 times.

Good news of great joy

“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10 ESV)

Your joy will be complete

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24 NIV)

God’s approval brings joy

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Eccles. 9:7

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

The kind of love God gives is defined below

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5 NIV)

God is love

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

Because God loved us first, we love

“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NIV)

Therefore…

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Heb. 4:16 NLT)

Confident access

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” (Eph. 3:12 ESV) 

Access with one Spirit

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Eph. 2:18 ESV)

By the blood of Christ

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13 ESV) 

By faith into grace

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:2 ESV) 

Draw near with a true heart in full assurance

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:19:22 ESV)

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

You have peace in Him

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

Perfect peace

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3 ESV) 

Let God’s peace rule

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15 ESV)

Even your enemies are at peace with you

“When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Prov. 16:7 ESV)

“You alone are the LORD You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.” (Neh. 9:6 NASB) 

“I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate.” (1 Tim. 6:13 NASB)

The breath of life is from God 

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Gen. 2:7 ESV) 

He grants life with lovingkindness

“'You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12 NASB)

In Jesus is life and light

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (John 1:3-4 NASB)

“Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17:25 NASB)

God provides food for the season

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalms 145:15-16 ESV) 

God provides for the birds and you are more valuable to Him

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24 ESV)

God withholds no good thing

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”  (Matt. 6:31 ESV)

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 4:29 ESV)

Your faith is tested by fire

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7 ESV)

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with Fire 

“John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16 ESV)

His word is like fire

“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29 ESV)

The foundation of your work will be tested through fire

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15 ESV)

“For each will have to bear his own load.” (Gal. 6:5 ESV)

Adam blamed both Eve and God

“The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." (Gen.  3:12 ESV)

Eve blamed the serpent

“Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen. 3:13 NIV)

We must all stand before the judgement seat for our own sins

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor. 5:10 ESV)

Confess and forsake your transgressions

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)