God’s Gift of Salvation

In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

But God's mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him too rule with him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Be merciful to me, O God,

because of your constant

love.

Because of your great mercy

wipe away my sin!

Wash away all my evil

and make me clean for my

sin!

I recognize my faults;

I am always conscious of my

sin.

I have sinned against you--- only

against you---

and done what you consider

evil.

So you are right in judging me;

you are justified in condemning

me.

I have been evil from the day I

was born;

from the time I was conceived,

I have been sinful.

Sincerity and truth are what you

require;

fill my mind with your wisdom.

Remove my sin, and I will be

clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter

than snow.

Let me hear the sounds of joy

and gladness;

and though you have crushed

me and broken me,

I will be happy once again.

Close your eyes to my sins

and wipe out all my evil.

Create a pure heart in me, O God,

and put a new and loyal spirit

in me.

Do not banish me from your

presence;

do not take your holy spirit

away from me.

Give me again the joy that comes

from your salvation,

and make me willing to obey

you.

Then I will teach sinners your

commands,

and they will turn back to you.

I waited patiently for the

LORD 's help;

Then he listened to me and

heard my cry.

He pulled me out of a dangerous

pit,

out of the deadly quicksand.

He set me safely on a rock

and made me secure.

He taught me to sing a new song,

a song of praise to our God.

Many who see this will take

warning

and will put their trust in the

LORD.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the assembly of all your

people, Lord,

I told the good news that you

save us.

You know that I will never

stop telling it.

I have not kept the news of

salvation to myself;

I have always spoken of your

faithfulness and help.

In the assembly of all your

People I have not been silent

about your loyalty and

constant love.

Lord, I know you will never stop

being merciful to me.

Your love and loyalty will

always keep me safe.