Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 96:1 – 5 (KJV)
Psa 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 96:2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1John 4:7 – 15 (NASB)
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1Jn 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
1Jn 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1Jn 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) The reality of the fact that there is only “one God” is the basis of faith and the obvious truth which is consistent with the evidence of the creation; which is why the Bible teaches “Monotheism”; meaning this very thing; that anything else professing to be “god” is in reality an idol, just as the Psalmist reveals in Psalms 96:5, that the “gods of the nations” (Gentiles) are idols.
2) The “Tri-Unity” of God is expressed in the composition of our humanity, in that like God, we are comprised of “Body Soul, and Spirit” because we were created in the image of God, Who utilized this design to render perfect salvation to everyone who believes in His Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ! (Messiah)
3) True love is the process and motivation of all the operations of believers and is modeled by God through His willingness to offer up His Only Begotten Son to not only prove His love for all mankind, but also to be the very means by which perfect salvation has been made available through Jesus Christ alone, making those who are His disciples life-long students of B.I.B.L.E. (Becoming, Increasingly, Better, Lovers, Everyday)