Psalms 143:1,13

...My God and King,... Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. (NRSV)

Luke 10:20

[Jesus said] ...If it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. (NRSV)

Luke 17:20,21

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you.” (TEV)

Matthew 5:3

How blest are those who know their need of God; the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. (NEB)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NRSV)

Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (NASB/TEV)

The right time has come and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News! (TEV)

[See "the Ten Commandments" (Exodus 20:3-17 & Deuteronomy 5:7-21)]

1. Have no other gods. 2. Do not make idols. 3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath day. 5. Honor your parents. 6. Do not kill. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not falsely accuse. 10. Do not covet.

[See "the Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew, chapters 5,6, & 7)]

*The beatitudes; *salt and light; *teaching about the law, anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation; *love for enemies; *teaching about charity, prayer, fasting; *treasure in heaven; *the light of the body; *God and posessions and cares; *judging others; *ask, seek, knock; *the narrow gate; *a tree and its fruit; *I never knew you; *the two house builders and the two foundations.

[See "the Sermon on the Plain" (Luk 6:20-49)]

*Happiness and sorrow; *love for enemies; *judging others; *a tree and its fruit; *the two house builders.

Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (NASB/TEV) -- standards for thought, word, and action:

• The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17, Deuteronomy 5:7-21): 1. Have no other gods. 2. Do not make idols. 3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath day. 5. Honor your parents. 6. Do not kill. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not falsely accuse. 10. Do not covet.
• The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,&7): *The beatitudes; *salt and light; *teaching about the law, anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation; *love for enemies; *teaching about charity, prayer, fasting; *treasure in heaven; *the light of the body; *God and posessions and cares; *judging others; *ask, seek, knock; *the narrow gate; *a tree and its fruit; *I never knew you; *the two house builders and the two foundations.

• The Sermon on the Plain (Luk 6:20-49): *Happiness and sorrow; *love for enemies; *judging others; *a tree and its fruit; *the two house builders.

Proverbs 28:13

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (KJV)

You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you. (TEV)

Psalms 51:1-3,10

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions:.. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (KJV)

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin! I recognize my faults; I am always conscious of my sins... Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. (TEV)

Matthew 5:23-26

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (NRSV)

So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute with him while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, he will hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine. (TEV)

1John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)

If we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. (TEV)

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See also S&H, page 448:17-23

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Try to leave on every student's mind ... a high sense of the moral and spiritual qualifications requisite for healing, well knowing it to be impossible for error, evil, and hate to accomplish the grand results of Truth and Love.

See also S&H, page 461:23

...To recognize your sin, aids in destroying it.

To explore Bible dictionary definitions of sin, browse:

http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/sin.htm

 

Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (NASB/TEV)

Luke 9:23

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (NRSV)

Ephesians 4:22-24

Get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to--the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. (TEV)

Romans 8:1-9

There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free from the law of sin and death. What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like man's sinful nature, to do away with sin. God did this so that the righteous demands of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature. Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. And so a person becomes an enemy of God when he is controlled by his human nature; for he does not obey God's law, and in fact he cannot obey it. Those who obey their human nature cannot please God. But you do not live as your human nature tells you to; instead, you live as the Spirit tells you to -- if, in fact, God's Spirit lives in you. (TEV)

Romans 12:2

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. (TEV)

1 Corinthians 15:22,45-49

...Just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ... For the scripture says, "The first man, Adam, was created a living being"; but the last Adam is the life-giving Spirit. It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first Adam, made of earth, came from the earth; the second Adam came from heaven. Those who belong to the earth are like the one who was made of earth; those who are of heaven are like the one who came from heaven. Just as we wear the likeness of the man made of earth, so we will wear the likeness of the Man from heaven. (TEV)

Note also: To further explore "Man (Gen 1:26,27) and Christ as the image of God," browse http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/image.htm and http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/soul.htm.

1 John 3:1-3

See what love the Father has given 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. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (NRSV)

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See also S&H, page 91:16

Absorbed in material selfhood we discern and reflect but faintly the substance of Life or Mind. The denial of material selfhood aids the discernment of man's spiritual and eternal individuality, and destroys the erroneous knowledge gained from matter or through what are termed the material senses.

See also S&H, page 316:3-7

The real man being linked by Science to his Maker, mortals need only turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood to find Christ, the real man and his relation to God, and to recognize the divine sonship.

See also S&H, page 475:7

The Scriptures inform us that man is made in the image and likeness of God... Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is ... that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker.

See also Retrospection and Introspection, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 21:13-24, 22:1,17

It is well to know, dear reader, that our material, mortal history is but the record of dreams, not of man's real existence, and the dream has no place in the Science of being. It is "as a tale that is told," and "as the shadow when it declineth." The heavenly intent of earth's shadows is to chasten the affections, to rebuke human consciousness and turn it gladly from a material, false sense of life and happiness, to spiritual joy and true estimate of being. The awakening from a false sense of life, substance, and mind in matter, is as yet imperfect; but for those lucid and enduring lessons of Love which tend to this result, I bless God.

The human history needs to be revised, and the material record expunged... God is over all. He alone is our origin, aim, and being. The real man is not of the dust, nor is he ever created through the flesh; for his father and mother are the one Spirit, and his brethren are all the children of one parent, the eternal good.

 

(2.d.3.a.) Preach/live: "REBUKE"

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Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (NASB/TEV)

Luke 17:3,4

If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in one day, and each time he comes to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him. (TEV)

John 8:11

Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again. (TEV)

2 Timothy 4:2,3

Convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires... (NRSV)

Convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience. The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. (TEV)

Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (KJV)

My brothers, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too. (TEV)

Note also 1Co 15:33

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (NRSV)

Do not be fooled. "Bad companions ruin good character." (TEV)

Summary of 2.d.3 from the Church Manual, by Mary Baker Eddy and the meaning of "Thy kingdom come" explained in a "Daily Prayer"

In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. (An excerpt from "A Rule for Motives and Acts," Man 40:7-11)

It should be noted that Eddy used relevant modern terms and analogies to enable today's readers to better understand and appreciate biblical teachings, just as did early Christian writers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Athenagorus, Theophilus, Tertullian, and Origen did. For instance, when she used the term divine Science or simply Science (with an uppercase S), she was referring to the biblical term, the Holy Spirit, which the Gospel of John also refers to as "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13) and as "the Comforter" (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7; variously translated as the Advocate, the Counselor, the Paraclete, the Defense Attorney). In light of this, a "Christian Scientist" may be considered to be anyone whose practice of Christianity and Christian healing includes methodically following Christ in thinking, speaking, and acting as instructed and directed by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. In this sense being a Christian Scientist is a way of life and is in no way defined by or limited to any denominational affiliation. Thus, when reading Eddy's writings, one can understand the intended biblical concept by silently substituting the phrase "Holy Spirit" wherever one reads "Science" or "divine Science" -- or in many cases where one reads "Christian Science." In the same way wherever one reads, "Christian Scientist," one can silently substitute, "one who is a methodical disciple of Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit." To Eddy, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, was the basis of Christian practice and Christian demonstration as described by Paul (1Co 2:4):

4 My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

"Thy kingdom come;" let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them! ("Daily Prayer," Man 41:21)

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See G.B. Caird's Saint Luke (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1963, page 104. See more complete excerpt at http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-c.htm.)

The men who were bidden to love their enemies were living in enemy-occupied territory, where resentment was natural and provocation frequent. They were not just to submit to aggression, but to rob it of its sting by voluntarily going beyond its demands. To those who believe in standing up for their individual or national rights this teaching has always seemed idealistic, if not actually immoral. But those who are concerned with the victory of the kingdom of God over the kingdom of Satan can see that it is the only realism. He who retaliates thinks that he is manfully resisting aggression; in fact, he is making an unconditional surrender to evil. Where before there was one under the control of evil, now there are two. Evil propagates by contagion. It can be contained and defeated only when hatred, insult, and injury are absorbed and neutralized by Love...

See also S&H, page 6:23-24

Jesus uncovered and rebuked sin before he cast it out.

See also S&H, page 452:12

When error confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explanation which destroys error. Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it. Better is the frugal intellectual repast with contentment and virtue, than the luxury of learning with egotism and vice.

See also S&H, page 447:20-27

Expose and denounce the claims of evil and disease in all their forms, but realize no reality in them. A sinner is not reformed merely by assuring him that he cannot be a sinner because there is no sin. To put down the claim of sin, you must detect it, remove the mask, point out the illusion, and thus get the victory over sin and so prove its unreality.

[Note also S&H, page 563:3]

We may well be astonished at sin, sickness, and death. We may well be perplexed at human fear; and still more astounded at hatred, which lifts its hydra head, showing its horns in the many inventions of evil. But why should we stand aghast at nothingness? The great red dragon symbolizes a lie, -- the belief that substance, life, and intelligence can be material. This dragon stands for the sum total of human error. The ten horns of the dragon typify the belief that matter has power of its own, and that by means of an evil mind in matter the Ten Commandments can be broken.

[Note also S&H, page 570:30-14]

Many are willing to open the eyes of the people to the power of good resident in divine Mind, but they are not so willing to point out the evil in human thought, and expose evil's hidden mental ways of accomplishing iniquity. Why this backwardness, since exposure is necessary to ensure the avoidance of the evil? Because people like you better when you tell them their virtues than when you tell them their vices. It requires the spirit of our blessed Master to tell a man his faults, and so risk human displeasure for the sake of doing right and benefiting our race. Who is telling mankind of the foe in ambush? Is the informer one who sees the foe? If so, listen and be wise. Escape from evil, and designate those as unfaithful stewards who have seen the danger and yet have given no warning.

To explore additional references, see "Christian Correction" at http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/christiancorrection.htm.

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Mark 1:23-27

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. (KJV)

Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority. Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are -- you are God's holy messenger!" Jesus ordered the spirit, "Be quiet, and come out of the man!" The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, "What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!" (TEV)

Mark 8:31-33

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. (KJV)

Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. He will be put to death, but three days later he will rise to life." He made this very clear to them. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But Jesus turned around, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter. "Get away from me, Satan," he said. "Your thoughts don't come from God but from man!" (TEV)

Luke 9:51-56

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them,...? But he turned, and rebuked them... And they went to another village. (KJV)

As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him. But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village. (TEV)

John 5:8,9.14

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:... Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (KJV)

Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk." Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking... Afterward, Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "Listen, you are well now; so stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (TEV)

John 8:10,11

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (KJV)

[Jesus] straightened up and said to her, "Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?" "No one, sir," she answered. "Well, then," Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again." (TEV)

 

(2.d.3.b.) Preach/live: "LOVE" / "BE... MERCIFUL"

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Mat 5:44

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (TEV)

Luke 6:27,28,35,36 (see also Luk 6:35, Mat 5:44, 1Jo 4:19)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. (TEV)

 

(2.d.3.c.) Preach/live: "FORGIVE" (see also 4. And forgive us...)

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Mark 11:25

When you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrongs you have done. (TEV)

2Co 2:7

You should forgive him and encourage him, in order to keep him from becoming so sad as to give up completely. And so I beg you to let him know that you really do love him. (TEV)

1Jo 4:19, TEV

We love because God first loved us. (TEV)

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Note also: Rom 8:39

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (TEV)

Note also: 1Co 15:57

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (TEV)

See also '02 19:8-12; Mis 11:31; Mis 124:24, by Mary Baker Eddy

Brethren, even as Jesus forgave, forgive thou. I say it with joy,--no person can commit an offense against me that I cannot forgive…

I would enjoy taking by the hand all who love me not, and saying to them, "I love you, and would not knowingly harm you." Because I thus feel, I say to others: Hate no one; for hatred is a plague-spot that spreads its virus and kills at last. If indulged, it masters us; brings suffering upon suffering to its possessor, throughout time and beyond the grave. If you have been badly wronged, forgive and forget.

The last act of the tragedy on Calvary rent the veil of matter, and unveiled Love's great legacy to mortals: Love forgiving its enemies. This grand act crowned and still crowns Christianity: it manumits mortals; it translates love; it gives to suffering, inspiration; to patience, experience; to experience, hope; to hope, faith; to faith, understanding; and to understanding, Love triumphant

To explore additional texts, see "Forgiving others" at http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/forgivingothers.htm.

Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (NASB/TEV)

Luke 12:32

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (KJV)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (NRSV)

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear... We love because he first loved us. (NRSV)

Isaiah 43:1

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (KJV)

Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine. (TEV)

Zephaniah 3:16,17

Do not be afraid,...! Do not let your hands hang limp! The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you, and in his love he will give you new life. (TEV)

Romans 8:15

The Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, “Father! my Father!” (TEV)

See also "Fear not" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/f.htm#fear-not.