1 John 5

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 
There is some comfort knowing that I don't need to work for eternal life. It's been given to me from God and it is guaranteed in scripture. This doesn't matter if i'm going through a spiritually dry season, as long as my conscious declares that i'm actively pursuing him every day and verify it against scripture I am saved.

1 John 4

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
If someone claims to come from God, test his/words teachings and lifestyles against scripture since this world loves encouraging what makes it happy.

5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
False teachers are popular with the world because just like false prophets of the Old Testament, they tell people what they want to hear. If a preacher or teaching becomes too popular, it might be wise to search for theological errors.

1 John 3

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
Of course I'll continue to sin because I've already been tainted since birth, but when I do sin I would express sincere remorse about my wrongdoing. An indicator of my salvation is that I try to avoid certain scenarios that would trigger me into lustful thoughts, however I don't try hard enough to have truthful fellowship with the Body. 

1 John 2

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
As we continue to study and practise our faith we'll learn to discern questionable teachings against scriptural verification. No truth will ever contradict the teachings in the Bible. 

1 John 1

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
True confessions involves not just a commitment in our deeds but also in our heart. This is especially applicable to me when I beg God for self control but all my mind wants to do is indulge myself in pagan views of women.

2 Peter 3

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position
No matter how disciplined or mature I am in my relationship with God, there will always be temptations whether it be of pride or lust. I still have so much to learn and develop upon and sometimes I can experience periods of relapses. Personally this makes me realise how important fellowship really is, people to rebuke each other and keep in line. Irony is that the few people I open up to aren't in my lifegroup.

2 Peter 2

21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
I can feel a heavy heart sometimes for those who leave the Church or even faith. They who spend their entire lives living for themselves, discovering the only way of their salvation and walking away from it. Whether it be our Cheil's failure to be welcoming to newcomers or our failure to provide the needs of our outcasts, when they leave they are still held accountable. That to me seems to be the biggest tragedy. 

2 Peter 1

 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
My salvation does not depend on my good actions, however if we do love God and accept him then our gratitude with translate into actions. I'm reminded how much I neglect selflessness as I'm especially numb to my workmates as some of them disgust me with their actions as well as they are disappointed in my poor comprehension and teamwork skills. James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
A true Christ centred leader makes sure that followers priorities scripture over him.

1 Peter 5

2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve
Here Paul describes excellent Christian character, one worthy of leadership. After having been raised by my father, I realise the importance of teaching young ones about their faith in a way that they can understand. However, I can't do this until I have my addictions, language and most importantly my attitude towards Christ reform. I want to be able to lead because of my love and concern for God's people rather than personal accomplishment of Church leadership. God's recognition is worth more than human praise. 

1 Peter 4

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
I am by far the most selfish person I know. Some people who've problems i've listened to can make me cringe because I consider them trivial compared to my experiences. When I offer them advice, guidance and council it is out of total obligation and rarely does it come out of genuine love. I'm not sure if this fake it till you make it mentality is healthy but i'm convinced that scripture tells me to push aside my pride and ego. So i'll do this regardless. 

1 Peter 3

5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 

These women were said to be of Godly character, and yet God still expects them to live in submission to their husbands. How can I expect my wife to submit under me if I'm still resorting to self harm to get my mind off pornography? I reflect on myself and I see nothing but someone who fails consistently in what he knows what is right. Study and practice would doesn't do much, I must be changed and convicted from the heart so my actions will be much more consistent and most importantly, genuine. 

1 Peter 2

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
This year was a transitional period for me, almost like a rebirth. I craved a lasting relationship with God but was also a punch in my face to my social security. I often dwell and become reminiscent of the past and so it can feel as if I go to worship an eternal God with eternal benefits but I desire temporary pleasures. The irony reinstates how much I am in love with my sin.

1 Peter 1

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Still to this day I doubt I love God because of how much I disregard good character in favour of a cheap laugh or a self indulging view of women. More than a inexpressible joy for salvation, I feel shame, embarrassment and misery. This unconditional love for me is so illogical and scandalous so I reckon my mentality might be too hardcore Calvinistic. I also doubt opportunities that God gives me as something dangerous (going up to a newcomer, life group etc) when it could be periods to strengthen my character or bondage with fellow believers.

James 5

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Personally, what i've found to be one of my greatest resources was Christian fellowship. People who rebuke and encourage me help set me in line. However, my ultimate authority should always be God and thus prayer must be my first option of help. 

James 4

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Growing up I generally prayed for materialistic comforts such as toys, warmer clothes for winter and food that actually tasted good. I don't think it is a sin to want a pleasurable life but God wasn't my top priority in my mentality, thus I don't think God was really listening to me. However I believe my prayers are Christlike now because I request God to change my ambitions and behaviour so that they correspond according to his will, not my own. Because of this, I'm expecting there to be times of confusion or discomfort and understand them as necessary obstacles for growth.

James 3

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
To be a Youth Leader I have to self disciplined in my actions, habits and especially my speech for the good of myself and teenagers since they tend to imitate what attracts them. At Church my words are decently wholesome with a bit of Western Suburb slang mixed in (which I don't necessarily consider a sin), this could be out of respect for Church ground or me attempting good behaviour when P Matt is present. As soon as I get dropped off at Strathfield my words can either be offensive or could cause another believer to stumble. I wonder how much it should take in order for me to fix my act in genuine attitude before harsher Church Discipline comes into play.

James 2

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
Whoever reads and studies the Bible multiple times over will clearly acknowledge that finding the cure for cancer can't make us righteous with God. While it is true that good deeds aren't needed for salvation, a changed life is an indicator of true genuine faith. Putting trust not in financial security or social hierarchy but in a gift that lasts. Clearly, this verse applies to any Christian who have been convicted to initiate change in their life despite finding no pleasure in it.

James 1

6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
I'm very self reliant and am not sensitive to the gospel. My critical thinking and common sense can become my downfall as I struggle to know where my loyalties lie, the world or scripture. It's frustrating because I want to align my desires with God's interests but my mind wavers because although I'm convinced that God is sufficient, my actions tend to follow what will make me succeed in earthly matters.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
When I am uncomfortable or can become too excited I usually resort to the words I feel the most emotional attachments to. None of these words leave a proper impression of God as I can leave a tainted image of not just myself but also of God.

Hebrews 13

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”

When I fantasise about plastic nose surgery, my mind is telling me that God isn't enough to satisfy me. Materialistic ambitions are always bound to lose the spark that originally made it appealing. This neediness and insecurity leads to the love of money and thus a reliance off God.

Hebrews 12

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
It's a good reminder that I don't struggle alone and I am not the first to struggle with the problems I face. Despite laying on the ground beaten and bloodied, many of Christians around the world still utter the words "praise be to God", others have gone through harder struggles than me.

15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
This attacks my prejudice with Christians. When I cut out God's commandment for fellowship it's somewhat similar to cutting myself from the true vine. Nursing grudges over past disappointments prevents forgiveness.

Hebrews 11

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
As we study scripture, it should come to no surprise that whoever lives for Jesus probably isn't going to live a comfortable life. However, we can take comfort knowing that God is never silent and that he suffers and understands our pain. God has proven over and over that he is faithful, and so knowing of this we should have assurance our salvation has already been bought.

Hebrews 10

(25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
True fellowship is needed in order for the Church and the individual to thrive and so I shouldn't be surprised or ashamed that I still need to grow in areas regardless how abundant they are. 

(34) You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
Recently, I've started to adapt a consumer christianity attitude as I'm talking to a lot more people at Church, I've become entitled. This is especially dangerous since I spent 2months of isolation attempting to get rid of it. This just reminds me again the importance of adapting my attitude into an eternal mindset. I'm all too familiar with studying Romans 5:4 but when it comes to adapting it to my daily choices it is completely absent on some days. 

Hebrews 9

14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

I read my Bible on a daily which i considered impossible 2 years ago. I'm in a community community in which Church authority isn't lame or fake. I'm in a growing fellowship. Even after all these blessings I consistently reflect on life before and the possible enjoyment I might have indulged myself in if I wasn't convicted by the good news. Modern society encourages us to be our own God by following the aspirations that make us "happy" as long is it doesn't harm anyone else. However, sin is contagious and so it consequently hurts everyone. As opposed to me is Paul who was beaten, imprisoned, betrayed and yet he was content with the position God had placed him in. Paul mentality was based on an enteral perspective and thus he knew the free gift of salvation was all he needed.

Hebrews 8

(11) No longer will they teach their neighbour,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
I hope that I can start doing things not out of obligation but out of a willingness to serve Christ. This can be a sign of my heart not being changed. Because of Jesus death and resurrection, a new covenant was made that didn't need and external set of rules to be made righteous. Doing His will with genuine intentions of glorifying God and not myself is what I hope to achieve before i'm married.

Hebrews 7

(18) The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (19) (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
The law was meant to point out my sin rather than make me a better person.  Contributing to Church community or contributing to Cape Town Missionary trip are God honouring although it still cannot give me a right standing with God on my own two feet. However, while we are tainted with sin we still can draw nearer to God by studying and meditating on scripture in addition to making it our highest authority.