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Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
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2 Corinthians 2 14-2 Corinthians 2 16
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.Our lives are a Christ like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
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Philippians 3:3
For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,
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Hebrews 2:17
Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.
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Romans 4:2
If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.
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2 Corinthians 7 4
I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
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2 Corinthians 12 11-2 Corinthians 12 21
You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these“ super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have— I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery.But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you?When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
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2 Corinthians 11 16-2 Corinthians 11 30
Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too“ weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about— I’m talking like a fool again— I dare to boast about it, too.Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty nine lashes.Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
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2 Corinthians 3 4-2 Corinthians 3 6
We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
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2 Corinthians 12 1
This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.
