You know the generous grace 

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Though he was rich,

yet for your sakes he became poor,

so that by his poverty

he could make you rich. 

2 Corinthians 8:9

So we are Christ’s ambassadors;

God is making his appeal through us.

We speak for Christ when we plead,

“Come back to God!”

2 Corinthians 5:20

He died for everyone

so that those who receive his new life

will no longer live for themselves.

Instead,

they will live for Christ,

who died and was raised for them.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ

has become a new person.

The old life is gone;

a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:15, 17

For God says,

“At just the right time,

I heard you.

On the day of salvation,

I helped you.”

Indeed,

the “right time” is now.

Today is the day of salvation. 

2 Corinthians 6:2

“Sovereign Lord,

now let your servant die in peace,

as you have promised.

 I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Luke 2:29-32

“Praise the Lord,

the God of Israel,

because he has visited and redeemed his people.

He has sent us a mighty Savior

from the royal line of his servant David,

just as he promised

through his holy prophets long ago.”

Luke 1:68-70

Then John testified,

“I saw the Holy Spirit 

descending like a dove from heaven

and resting upon him.

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.’

I saw this happen to Jesus,

so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

John 1:32-34

“Then who are you?…”

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”

The next day 

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,

“Look!

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 1:22-23, 29

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.

John 1:14

He came into the very world he created,

but the world didn’t recognize him.

He came to his own people,

and even they rejected him.

But to all who believed him and accepted him,

he gave the right to become children of God.

They are reborn—

not with a physical birth 

resulting from human passion or plan,

but a birth that comes from God.

John 1:10-13