God’s Law Reveals Our Sin (Romans 7:4-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
4    So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.
5    When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
6    But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
7    Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
8    But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
9    At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,
10  and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.
11  Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.
12  But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
13  But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
4    That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the Law is concerned, you also have died because you are part of the body of Christ; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of God. 
5    For when we lived according to our human nature, the sinful desires stirred up by the Law were at work in our bodies, and all we did ended in death. 
6    Now, however, we are free from the Law, because we died to that which once held us prisoners. No longer do we serve in the old way of a written law, but in the new way of the Spirit. 
7    Shall we say, then, that the Law itself is sinful? Of course not! But it was the Law that made me know what sin is. If the Law had not said, “Do not desire what belongs to someone else,” I would not have known such a desire. 
8    But by means of that commandment sin found its chance to stir up all kinds of selfish desires in me. Apart from law, sin is a dead thing. 
9    I myself was once alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life, 
10  and I died. And the commandment which was meant to bring life, in my case brought death. 
11  Sin found its chance, and by means of the commandment it deceived me and killed me.
12  So then, the Law itself is holy, and the commandment is holy, right, and good. 
13  But does this mean that what is good caused my death? By no means! It was sin that did it; by using what is good, sin brought death to me, in order that its true nature as sin might be revealed. And so, by means of the commandment sin is shown to be even more terribly sinful.

The Wages Of Sin Is Death (Romans 6:15-23) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
15  Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
16  Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
17  Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.
18  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
19  Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
20  When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.
21  And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.
22  But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
15  What, then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under God's grace? By no means! 
16  Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey—either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 
17  But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 
18  You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 
19  (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.
20  When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 
21  What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 
22  But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 
23  For sin pays its wage—death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Adam and Christ (Romans 5:12-21) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 

13  Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 

14  Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 

15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 

16  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 

17  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18  Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 

19  Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

20  God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 

21  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned. 
13  There was sin in the world before the Law was given; but where there is no law, no account is kept of sins. 
14  But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, death ruled over all human beings, even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God's command.
Adam was a figure of the one who was to come. 
15  But the two are not the same, because God's free gift is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 
16  And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of “Guilty”; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of “Not guilty!” 
17  It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ.
18  So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. 
19  And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.
20  Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God's grace increased much more. 
21  So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ Took Our Punishment (Romans 3:21-31) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

21  But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 

22  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

24  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 

25  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 

26  for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

27  Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 

28  So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

29  After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 

30  There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.

31  Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

21  But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. 
22  God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: 
23  everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. 
24  But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. 
25-26  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.
27  What, then, can we boast about? Nothing! And what is the reason for this? Is it that we obey the Law? No, but that we believe. 
28  For we conclude that a person is put right with God only through faith, and not by doing what the Law commands. 
29  Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles also? Of course he is. 
30  God is one, and he will put the Jews right with himself on the basis of their faith, and will put the Gentiles right through their faith. 
31  Does this mean that by this faith we do away with the Law? No, not at all; instead, we uphold the Law.

The Law Makes Man Know He Has Sinned (Romans 3:9-20) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

9    Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 

10  As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.

11  No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

12  All have turned away; all have become useless.  No one does good, not a single one.”

13  “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.  Their tongues are filled with lies.”  “Snake venom drips from their lips.”

14  “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15  “They rush to commit murder.

16  Destruction and misery always follow them.

17  They don’t know where to find peace.”

18  “They have no fear of God at all.”

19  Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 

20  For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

9    Well then, are we Jews in any better condition than the Gentiles? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 
10  As the Scriptures say:  “There is no one who is righteous,
11  no one who is wise or who worships God.
12  All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one.
13  Their words are full of deadly deceit; wicked lies roll off their tongues, and dangerous threats, like snake's poison, from their lips;
14  their speech is filled with bitter curses.
15  They are quick to hurt and kill;
16   they leave ruin and destruction wherever they go.
17  They have not known the path of peace,
18  nor have they learned reverence for God.”
19  Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God's judgment. 
20  For no one is put right in God's sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned.

Jesus Is Taken Up To Heaven (Acts 1:3-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

3    During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4    Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 

5    John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

6    So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7    He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 

8    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9    After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 

10  As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 

11  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

3    For forty days after his death he appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive. They saw him, and he talked with them about the Kingdom of God. 

4    And when they came together, he gave them this order: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised. 

5    John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6    When the apostles met together with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time give the Kingdom back to Israel?”

7    Jesus said to them, “The times and occasions are set by my Father's own authority, and it is not for you to know when they will be. 

8    But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

9    After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10  They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them 

11  and said, “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”

The Work Of The Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

5    “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 

6    Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 

7    But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 

8    And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 

9    The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 

10   Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 

11  Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

12  “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 

13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 

14  He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 

15  All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
5    But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me where I am going. 
6    And now that I have told you, your hearts are full of sadness. 
7    But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you. 
8    And when he comes, he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God's judgment. 
9    They are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me; 
10  they are wrong about what is right, because I am going to the Father and you will not see me any more;
11  and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
12  “I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear. 
13  When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come.
14  He will give me glory, because he will take what I say and tell it to you. 
15  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.

Jesus Promise The Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

15  “If you love me, obey my commandments. 

16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 

17  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 

18  No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 

19  Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 

20  When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

21  Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22  Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23  Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 

24  Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 

25  I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 

26  But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27  “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. 

28  Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 

29  I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30  “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 

31  but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

15  “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 
16  I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever.
17  He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you.
18  “When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. 
19  In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live.
20  When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you.
21  “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”
22  Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “Lord, how can it be that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”
23  Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them. 
24  Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me.
25  “I have told you this while I am still with you. 
26  The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.
27  “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. 
28  You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. 
29  I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 
30  I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,
31  but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me.

Jesus, The True Vine (John 15:1-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1   “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 

2   He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 

3   You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 

4   Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5   “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 

6   Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 

7   But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

8   When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9   “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 

10  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

11  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 

12  This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

13  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

14  You are my friends if you do what I command. 

15  I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 

16  You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 

17  This is my command: Love each other.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 

2    He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. 

3    You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. 

4    Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5    “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. 

6    Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. 

7    If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. 

8    My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. 

9    I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. 

10  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

11  “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12  My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. 

13  The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. 

14  And you are my friends if you do what I command you. 

15  I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. 

16  You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name. 

17  This, then, is what I command you: love one another.

Jesus The Way To The Father (John 14:1-14) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1   “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 

2   There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

3   When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

4    And you know the way to where I am going.”

5   “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6   Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

7   If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8   Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9   Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 

10  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 

11  Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 

13  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 

14  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1   “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe^] in God and believe also in me. 

2   There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 

3   And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 

4   You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.”

5   Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?”

6   Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.

7   Now that you have known me,” he said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him.”

8   Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.”

9   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’? 

10  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. 

11  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. 

12  I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. 

13  And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son.

14  If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus Is Rejected At Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
16  When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.
17  The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,
19  and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
20  He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.
21  Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”
22  Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23  Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 
24  But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
25  “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 
26  Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 
27  And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”
28  When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious.
29  Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,
30  but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.  

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
16  Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures 
17  and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,
18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed
19  and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”
20  Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 
21  as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.”
22  They were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke. They said, “Isn't he the son of Joseph?”
23  He said to them, “I am sure that you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ You will also tell me to do here in my hometown the same things you heard were done in Capernaum. 
24  I tell you this,” Jesus added, “prophets are never welcomed in their hometown. 
25  Listen to me: it is true that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a severe famine spread throughout the whole land. 
26  Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. 
27  And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
28  When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with anger. 
29  They rose up, dragged Jesus out of town, and took him to the top of the hill on which their town was built. They meant to throw him over the cliff, 
30  but he walked through the middle of the crowd and went his way.

Jesus, The Lamb Of God (John 1:29-34) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

30  He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 

31  I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32  Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 

33  I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 

34  I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

29  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! 
30  This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’ 
31  I did not know who he would be, but I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel.”
32  And John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him. 
33  I still did not know that he was the one, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man; he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 
34  I have seen it,” said John, “and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”

Christ, The Eternal Word (John 1:1-18) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1   In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2   He existed in the beginning with God.

3   God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

4   The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

5   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6   God sent a man, John the Baptist,

7   to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 

8   John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 

9   The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10  He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 

11  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 

12  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 

13  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14  So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

15  John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

16  From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

17  For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 

18  No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1   In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2   From the very beginning the Word was with God. 

3   Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 

4   The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. 

5   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

6   God sent his messenger, a man named John, 

7   who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. 

8   He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. 

9   This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 

11  He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. 

12  Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. 

13  They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.

14  The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.

15  John spoke about him. He cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.’”

16  Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. 

17  God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

18  No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Jesus Begins His Work In Galilee (Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 2:35-39 & Luke 4:14-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

Matthew 4:12-17

12  When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 

13  He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 

14  This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

15  “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,

16  the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.  And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”

17  From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Mark 2:35-39

35  Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 

36  Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 

37  When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38  But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” 

39  So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Luke 4:14-15

14  Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 

15  He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

Matthew 4:12-17

12  When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee. 
13  He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 
14  This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said,
15  “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles!
16  The people who live in darkness will see a great light.  On those who live in the dark land of death

    the light will shine.”

17  From that time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

Mark 2:35-39

35  Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where he prayed. 
36  But Simon and his companions went out searching for him, 
37  and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38  But Jesus answered, “We must go on to the other villages around here. I have to preach in them also, because that is why I came.”
39  So he traveled all over Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.
Luke 4:14-15
14  Then Jesus returned to Galilee, and the power of the Holy Spirit was with him. The news about him spread throughout all that territory. 
15  He taught in the synagogues and was praised by everyone.

The Temptation Of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Matthew 4:1-11

1   Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 

2   For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

3   During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4   But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5   Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 

6    and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

7   Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

8   Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

9   “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10  “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God

    and serve only him.’”

11  Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Luke 4:1-13

1   Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 

2   where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

3   Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

4   But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

5   Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 

6   “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 

7   I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

8   Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

9   Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 

10  For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.

11  And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

12  Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

13  When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

Matthew 4:1-11

1   Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 

2   After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. 

3   Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread.”

4   But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’”

5   Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, the Holy City, set him on the highest point of the Temple, 

6   and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for the scripture says, ‘God will give orders to his angels about you; they will hold you up with their hands, so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’”

7   Jesus answered, “But the scripture also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8   Then the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their greatness. 

9   “All this I will give you,” the Devil said, “if you kneel down and worship me.”

10  Then Jesus answered, “Go away, Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”

11  Then the Devil left Jesus; and angels came and helped him.

Luke 4:1-13

1   Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, 

2   where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.

3   The Devil said to him, “If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread.”

4   But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone.’”

5   Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. 

6   “I will give you all this power and all this wealth,” the Devil told him. “It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. 

7   All this will be yours, then, if you worship me.”

8   Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”

9   Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. 

10  For the scripture says, ‘God will order his angels to take good care of you.’ 

11  It also says, ‘They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’”

12  But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13  When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.

The Baptism Of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-13 & Luke 3:21-22) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Matthew 3:13-17

13  Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 

14  But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15  But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

16  After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 

17  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Mark 1:9-13

9   One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 

10  As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 

11  And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

12  The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 

13  where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.

Luke 3:21-22
21  One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 
22  and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
Matthew 3:13-17
13  At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 
14  But John tried to make him change his mind. “I ought to be baptized by you,” John said, “and yet you have come to me!”
15  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now. For in this way we shall do all that God requires.” So John agreed.
16  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. Then heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and lighting on him. 
17  Then a voice said from heaven, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased.”
Mark 1:9-13
9   Not long afterward Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 
10  As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 
11  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”
12  At once the Spirit made him go into the desert, 
13  where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped him.
Luke 3:21-22
21  After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened,
22  and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”

The Escape And Return to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14  That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 

15  and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

16  Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 

17  Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18  “A cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning.  Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”

19  When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 

20  “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

21  So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 

22  But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 

23  So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” 

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
13  After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, “Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.”
14  Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left during the night for Egypt, 
15  where he stayed until Herod died. This was done to make come true what the Lord had said through the prophet, “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
16  When Herod realized that the visitors from the East had tricked him, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its neighborhood who were two years old and younger—this was done in accordance with what he had learned from the visitors about the time when the star had appeared.
17  In this way what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true:
18  “A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of bitter weeping.  Rachel is crying for her children; she refuses to be comforted, for they are dead.”

19  After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 

20 and said , “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go back to the land of Israel, because those who tried to kill the child are dead.”

21  So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went back to Israel.

22  But when Joseph heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go there. He was given more instructions in a dream, so he went to the province of Galilee 

23  and made his home in a town named Nazareth. And so what the prophets had said came true: “He will be called a Nazarene.”