John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

1. Jesus has ____________ to ____________ you unconditionally.

2. God loves to ___________, not to ____________.

3. Obedience to Jesus is a ____________ of those He has chosen to love, not a ____________.

Scripture Readings
Acts 10:34-48
1 John 5:1-8
John 15:9-17

Take It With You!

Here are some further thoughts to help you contemplate and celebrate Christ's Easter victory over sin, death, and the devil!

The Pure Teaching of the Christian Churches concerning Good Works:

6. Accordingly, we also believe, teach, and confess that when it is said: The regenerate do good works from a free spirit, this is not to be understood as though it is at the option of the regenerate man to do or to forbear doing good when he wishes, and that he can nevertheless retain faith if he intentionally perseveres in sin.

7. Yet this is not to be understood otherwise than as the Lord Christ and His apostles themselves declare, namely, regarding the liberated spirit, that it does not do this from fear of punishment, like a servant, but from love of righteousness, like children, Rom. 8:15.

8. Although this voluntariness [liberty of spirit] in the elect children of God is not perfect, but burdened with great weakness, as St. Paul complains concerning himself, Rom. 7:14-25; Gal. 5:17;

9. Nevertheless, for the sake of the Lord Christ, the Lord does not impute this weakness to His elect, as it is written: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1.

10. We believe, teach, and confess also that not works maintain faith and salvation in us, but the Spirit of God alone, through faith, of whose presence and indwelling good work are evidences.

The Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: On Good Works