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Bruce Marchiano is best known for his portrayals of Jesus Christ in the Visual Bible film series.   Probably not, and that's because no one really knows exactly what a Christian looks like. Christians can be young, old, tall, short, male, female, Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Native … well, I think you get the idea. A Christian can be anyone. Since we can't tell who is and who isn't a Christian by how they look, can you tell me what a Christian is? “A Christian is someone who reads the Bible, believes in God and goes to church.” “I was born a Christian, and I have been one all my life.” “Christians are people who try to tell everyone else how to live and what to believe.” “Conservative Americans. Conservative Americans are Christians.” Well, actually, all of these answers are wrong. Again, a Christian can be anyone. So just how do we tell who is and who isn't a Christian? I'll tell you. Are you ready? The answer is … we don't. It isn't our responsibility to say who is and who isn't a Christian. That responsibility belongs to God and no one else – with one exception. Ourselves. We can take a simple test, ten short questions, and we will be able to know if we are or are not a Christian. Take the test. What have you got to lose? Here are the questions: 1. Do you verbally confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, God Incarnate? 1 John 2:23-25 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us —eternal life.  2. Is your life changed? By that I mean your attitude, your character, your behavior. Have these things changed since you became a Christian? John 15:1-8 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 3. Do you live to actively serve Jesus? John 15:9-11 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  4. Do you love other Christians just as Jesus loved us? With an active sacrificial kind of love? John 15:12-17 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 5. Do you harbor a persistent hate in your heart toward anyone? 1 John 2:7-11 7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  6. Have you placed Jesus and serving Him at the top of your list of life priorities, or, do you still have worldly things and pursuits in your life that are still your top priority? 1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 7. Do you actively pursue and practice righteousness? 1 John 2:29 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 8. Do you face troubles from unbelievers because you are a Christian? (If not, do they know you are a Christian?) John 15:18-25 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’  9. Do you live a life patterned by sin? 1 John 3:4-10 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 10. Do you admit and confess that you are a sinner? 1 John 1:5-10 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. If after taking this short test of the heart you have seen that you are not truly a Christian – realized that you really do not have any kind of real salvation and are doomed to hell, take heart, there is still time. Jesus does love you and He does not want you to perish in hell. What is necessary for salvation? Well, actually, it is pretty simple really. Someone once asked me about the “Thief on the Cross” (Luke 23:33-43), and how could he have been saved without saying the “Sinner's Prayer.” I gave a two part answer. Part one was that is exactly what he did. Romans 10:9-10 says, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” This is all that is necessary for salvation. Just two things. 1. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. 2. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Do those two things and you will be saved. Now, back to the thief on the cross. He said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) In that statement the thief did two things. 1. He confessed with his mouth that Jesus is Lord. He did this when he acknowledged that Jesus was coming into His kingdom. (A note on the use of the word “Lord.” The Greek word used here is Kurios (koo'-ree-os), and refers to a sovereign, one who possesses sole ownership. A master. It was used by the apostle Thomas in John 20:28 when he recognized that Jesus was and is God. After that usage, with the exception of only Acts 10:4, and Revelation 7:14, there is no record of any believer ever using the word kurios to address anyone other than God and Jesus.) 2. He believed in his heart that God would raise Jesus from the dead. By making the statement he made, the thief knew with complete certainty that Jesus would not just die and stay dead, but that God would raise Him up and He would enter His kingdom. That's it. That is all that is necessary for salvation. Now on to part two. PART TWO: I need to point out that no where in the Bible will you find “The Sinner's Prayer.” No where in the Bible will you read a verse or passage that says, “Ask Jesus into your heart and you will be saved.” I am not saying they are not true, and I am not saying they are necessarily wrong, but, some people believe that if you say a prayer or “ask Jesus into their heart,” then by doing these “things” they will have salvation, and that just is not Biblical. If, however, when they pray the “Sinner's Prayer,” or “Ask Jesus into their heart” they are truly confessing/sincerely believing aloud that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, God Incarnate; and if they truly and sincerely believe in the resurrection of Jesus, then they will be saved. You see, it is not so much the words that are said as it is the sincerity of your heart. Salvation is not some form of “fire insurance” that you get just to avoid hell. Salvation is a commitment to God. A commitment to live for Him, to obey Him, to love Him. So don't go into it without first knowing what it truly is. Also, if one truly and sincerely believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, God Incarnate, and truly and sincerely believes in the resurrection of Jesus, then they will experience a change in their way of thinking, their way of living. They will repent of their sin, they will obey the Word of God, they will obey Jesus, they will live for Jesus. Now, naturally, the thief on the cross did not have either the time or ability to do all of this, however, he did repent. You see, the word repentance, in Greek, is metanoeó which means to change one's mind. With regard to becoming a Christian, it refers to changing your mind about Jesus. This is what the thief did. He changed his mind and no longer thought of Jesus as just another man or teacher or religious person. He changed his mind and thought of, or more accurately knew, that Jesus was/is the Messiah.  All Scripture used is from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Many people believe that if they are good enough, they will go to heaven, but the Bible says... 
So why won't our good deeds and good behavior get us to heaven? Because the sin of the first man, Adam, has been handed down to each and every one of us. 
Because of that sin that we are each guilty of, we are condemned to an eternal death. But, God has provided a way to change that. His Son, Jesus Christ. 
How? How can we be saved from an eternal destruction in hell? Scripture says... 
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Perhaps success, perhaps good news, or, perhaps bad news, depression or even death. So don't wait. Don't put off until tomorrow, a tomorrow that may never come, the most important decision of your life.
Pray for forgiveness of your sins -- repent of your sins -- and begin to live for Jesus Christ!  #1. God Loves You!  #2. Man is sinful and separated from God  #3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin    As Abraham was "a friend of God" by his submission and obedience to God, you too can come to know God and experience His mercy, peace, and blessing. Knowing God by truly submitting to Him in trust is the most important experience of life. How wonderful that God reveals Himself to all who seek Him with their whole heart!
If you turn from going your own way and truly submit yourself to God, His Spirit will live in you. Nothing will be able to separate you from His love as you trust His promises and follow Him in obedience. He will be your God, and you will be His own treasured possession. You will discover that He purchased you at great cost, and He wants to have fellowship with you—now and for eternity. Ask God to give you understanding as you study these pages of quotation from God's Word. God inspired godly men to write these words and has miraculously preserved them through the generations in spite of all attempts of Satan to stamp them out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scripture references throughout this article are taken from the Bible: the Law (Torah), the Psalms (Zabur), the writings of the prophets, and the Gospel (Injil). The Bible text used is from the New King James Version 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. Used by permission. THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD "The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." —Deuteronomy 6:4b, 5 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other." —Isaiah 45:18 "That all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other." —1 Kings 8:60 "I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another." —Isaiah 42:8 "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior." —Isaiah 43:10, 11 "Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." —Isaiah 45:22 GOD IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. —Psalm 103:8, 11 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,...and to those, who remember His commandments to do them.. —Psalm 103:17a, 18b Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity. . . because He delights in mercy. —Micah 7:18 Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. —Lamentations 3:22, 23 Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. —Lamentations 3:32 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful. —Psalm 18:25a Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. —1 Chronicles 16:34 "For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving. kindness..." —Jonah 4:2b GOD LOVES YOU The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." —Jeremiah 31:3 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. —Jeremiah 29:11 "I have loved you," says the LORD. —Malachi 1:2a As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. —Psalm 103:13 Indeed it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness; but You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back. —Isaiah 38:17 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. We love Him because He first loved us. —1 John 4:16a, 19 "The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." —Zephaniah 3:17 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! —Psalm 36:7a THE GREATEST THING IN LIFE IS TO KNOW GOD But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. —Daniel 11:32b "But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. —Jeremiah 9:24 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! —Psalm 119:2 "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days." —Deuteronomy 30:19b, 20a For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. —Hosea 6:6 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. —Psalm 42:1 And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." —Exodus 33:14 LIVING INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD IS FATAL "The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." —2 Chronicles 15:2b "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?' —Jeremiah 17:9 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. —Proverbs 16:25 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. —2 Peter 2:4,9 "However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you." —1 Samuel 12:15a "If anyone does not abide In Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." —John 15:6 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. —Psalm 37:38 TO KNOW GOD WE MUST SEEK HIM And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. —Jeremiah 29:13 If you...search...as for hidden treasures; then you will...find the knowledge of God. —Proverbs 2:4, 5 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." —Matthew 7:7 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. —Hebrews 11:6 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me." —Proverbs 8:17 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. —Lamentations 3:25 "And He has made from one blood every nation of men so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." —Acts 17:26a, 27 "But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause." —Job 5:8 GOD WANTS US TO COME TO HIM "For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him." —2 Chronicles 30:9b For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. —Psalm 86:5 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. —James 4:8a The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. —Psalm 145:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."—Isaiah 1:18 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." —Matthew 11:28,29 "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." —John 6:37b "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." —Isaiah 55:1 GOD IS HOLY "Who is like You, O LORD, ...glorious in holiness?" —Exodus 15:11 "There is none holy like the LORD, for there is none besides You." —1 Samuel 2:2a Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. —Job 34:l0b "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" —Isaiah 6:3b For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place." —Isaiah 57:15a "No one is good but One, that is, God." —Mark 10:18b "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy." —Revelation 15:4a Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy. —Psalm 99:3 Exalt the LORD our God,...for the LORD our God is holy. —Psalm 99:9 "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" —Revelation 4:8b GOD'S PEOPLE MUST LIVE HOLY LIVES You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. —James 2:19, 20; 1:22 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him who follows righteous ness. —Proverbs 15:9 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. —1 John 2:4; 3:10 Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. —Hebrews 12:14 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. —1 Peter 1:15 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you. —Amos 5:14a Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. —Psalm 24:3b, 4a THINGS GOD COMMANDS And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? —Micah 6:8b "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." —Leviticus 19:2b "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." —Luke 10:27b "You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,' ‘Do not murder,' ‘Do not steal,' ‘Do not bear false witness,' ‘Do not defraud,' ‘Honor your father and your mother.'" —Mark 10:19 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. —Romans 12:2a "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." —Joshua 1:8 "Have faith in God." —Mark 11:22b "So you shall serve the LORD your God." —Exodus 23:25a THINGS GOD HATES These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. —Proverbs 6: 16-19 "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery." —Isaiah 81:8a "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." —Revelation 21:8 Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. "For the LORD . . . says that He hates divorce." —Malachi 2:15b, 16a "‘Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' says the LORD." —Zechariah 8:17 "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." —Luke 16:15b PEOPLE FALL SHORT OF GOD'S REQUIREMENTS "But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you." —John 5:42 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. —James 2:10 Then I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." —Isaiah 6:5 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. —James 4:17 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." —Romans 3:10 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. —Romans 3:23 Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. —1 John 3:l0b All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way. —Isaiah 53:6a "Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? —1 Samuel 6:20b OUR OWN WORKS CANNOT PLEASE GOD For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. —Romans 10:2,3 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags. —Isaiah 64:6a "When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die." —Ezekiel 33:13 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. —Romans 8:8 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be Justified in His sight. —Romans 3:20a Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. —2 Corinthians 3:5 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith." —Galatians 3:11 SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. —Romans 5:12 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. —James 1:15 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. —Isaiah 59:2 As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. —Proverbs 11:19 "Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'" —2 Chronicles 24:20b "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you." —1 Samuel 15:23a "And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done." —Deuteronomy 31: 18a "The soul who sins shall die." —Ezekiel 18:20a GOD'S WRATH IS ON SIN God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. —Psalm 7:11 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. —Nahum l:3a Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. —Colossians 3:6 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. —Romans 1:18 Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them, —Romans 1:29-32 Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil.—Romans 2:9a JUDGMENT IS AHEAD It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. —Hebrews 9:27b And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. —Revelation 20:12, 15 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. —Hebrews 10:31 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." —Matthew 12:36 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil. —Ecclesiastes 12:14 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." —Matthew 13:49, 50 WE CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. —Proverbs 15:3 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, You know it altogether. —Psalm 139:1-4 "For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." —1 Samuel 16:7b He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? —Psalm 94:9 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes." —Jeremiah 16:17 There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. —Hebrews 4:13 "There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." —Job 34:22 TURNING FROM SIN IS NEEDED "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" —Ezekiel 18:23 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." —Luke 13:3 He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. —Proverbs 28:13 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD) your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. —Joel 2:12, 13a Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously." —Hosea 14:2a "And he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me.' He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light." —Job 33:27,28 "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin." —Ezekiel 18:30b REPENTANCE BRINGS FORGIVENESS Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. —Isaiah 55:6,7 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. —Psalm 34:18 "... that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive . . . their sin." —Jeremiah 36:3b I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. —Psalm 32:5 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all un righteousness. —1 John 1:9 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." —Acts 3:19a I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. —Psalm 85:8 Repentance means turning from sin as well as confessing it to God. SACRIFICE NEEDED TO RECONCILE US TO GOD "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." —Leviticus 1:4:17:11 According to the law almost all things are purged with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. —Hebrews 9:22 "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you." —Exodus 12:5a, 13a And he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. —Genesis 22:7b-8a, 13 JESUS IS THE LAMB PROVIDED BY GOD The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" —John 1:29 And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a Iamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is Silent, so He opened not His mouth. —Isaiah 53:6b,7 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. —Hebrews 9:12, 26b, 28a Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. —1 Peter 1:18a, 19 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? —Hebrews 9:14 REDEMPTION ONLY BY GOD'S PROVISION Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith. —Romans 3:24, 25a But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. —Romans 5:8,9 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus." —Galatians 2:16a For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. —Ephesians 2:8,9 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." —Acts 10:43 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." —Acts 4:12 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. —Ephesians 1:7 THE BIRTH OF JESUS ANNOUNCED The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary....Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest;...and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God....For with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. —Luke 1:26b-38 The only men to enter the world without being the product of a sexual union were Adam and Christ. Adam brought sin into the world, but Jesus brought victory over sin. WHO JESUS REALLY IS Christ Jesus, ...being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ... and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. —Philippians 2:5b-8 "I and My Father are one. Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,' because I said, ‘I am the Son of God'?" —John 10:30,36 Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, has always existed. By a miracle, God caused Him to be conceived in the womb of Mary. Physically, He is known as the Son of Man, and spiritually He is known as the Son of God. The Scriptures use the word "Son" to explain the relationship that exists between God and His Word—Jesus Christ. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "...But a body You have prepared for Me." —Hebrews 10:5 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. —Romans 1:4 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" —John 20:28 WHO JESUS REALLY IS And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh. —1 Timothy 3:16a For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. —Colossians 2:9 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 Jesus said to them, "...Before Abraham was, I AM" —John 8:58 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. —John 1:4,9-10 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all. —1 Timothy 2:5, 6a In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God." —Colossians 1:14, 15a THE BIBLE (SCRIPTURE) IS GOD'S WORD For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. —2 Peter 1:21 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,... to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins. —Luke 1:70, 77 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue." —2 Samuel 23:2 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." —Deuteronomy 6:6 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. —2 Timothy 3:16 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. —Romans 15:4 "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God." —Matthew 22:29b For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. —Psalm 138:2b JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. —Revelation 19:13 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:1, 14a Jesus Reveals God No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. —John 1:18 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. —2 Corinthians 4:6 God Speaks by Jesus God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. —Hebrews 1:1,2 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." —John 14:24 THE WRITTEN AND LIVING WORD COMPARED The Bible Is Food for the Soul I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. —Job 23:12b "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." —Matthew 4:4b Jesus Is Bread from Heaven "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. I am the bread of life." —John 6:51,48 The Bible Lights Our Path Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. —Psalm 119:105 The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. —Psalm 119:130 Jesus Is Light for the World In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." —John 1:4,8:12 The Bible Brings Fruitful Life But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. —Psalm 1:2,3 Jesus Gives Fruitful Life "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." —John 15:4,5 THE SCRIPTURES TELL OF JESUS CHRIST "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me." —John 5:39,46 Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. —Luke 24:27 GOD'S ETERNAL WORD NEVER CHANGES Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. —Psalm 119:89 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.—Psalm 119:160 "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." —Isaiah 40:8 "Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." —Matthew 5:18b The Scripture cannot be broken. —John 10:35b Man Dare Not Change the Bible "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." —Deuteronomy 12:32 Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar. —Proverbs 30:6 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life. —Revelation 22:19a He who despises the word will be destroyed. —Proverbs 13:13a JESUS' DEATH FULFILLED GOD'S PLAN "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." —John 10:17, 18a Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above." —John 19:11a "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" —Matthew 26:53,54 "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled." —Acts 3:18 "Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death." —Acts 2:23 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him . . . When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed. —Isaiah 53:l0a "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" —Luke 24:26 JESUS' DEATH REPORTED BY WITNESSES With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." —Mark 15:27, 28 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out....For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." —John 19:32-37 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit....and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" —Matthew 27:45,50-51,54 JESUS CONQUERED DEATH "Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses." —Acts 2:24,32 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. —Hebrews 2:14, 15 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:55,57 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." —Revelation 1:18 The power of God...has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. —2 Timothy 1:8b, 10 Death no longer has dominion over Him. —Romans 6:9b WHAT MUST WE DO WITH JESUS? "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door. I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." —Revelation 3:20 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. —Romans 4:5 "Receive the Holy Spirit. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." —John 20:22b; 16:24b If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, —Romans 10:9 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me." Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." —Matthew 10:37a; 16:24,25 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. —Galatians 3:29 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." —Acts 16:31 THROUGH JESUS WE HAVE NEW LIFE And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. —1 John 5:11, 12 But God, who is rich in mercy...even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. —Ephesians 2:4, 5a "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." —Galatians 2:20 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:2 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17 Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. —1 Peter 1:23 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. —1 Peter 2:2 GOD IS A FATHER TO HIS PEOPLE A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. —Psalm 68:5 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name. —Isaiah 64:8; 63:16b "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,' there it shall be said to them, ‘You are the sons of the living God.'" —Hoses 1:10b "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." —Matthew 7:11; 6:9 "I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." —2 Corinthians 6:17b, 18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. —Romans 8:14 THROUGH JESUS WE KNOW GOD AS FATHER Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." —John 14:6, 7, 23b God sent forth His Son...that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. —Galatians 4:4b, 5b-7; 3:26 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. —John 1:12 And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. —1 John 2:lb For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. —Ephesians 2:18 JESUS BRINGS LOVE, JOY, PEACE He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. —l John 4:8, l6b And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also for gave you. —Ephesians 4:32 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." —John 13:35 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. —Galatians 5:22a Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. —Habakkuk 3:18 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —Psalm 16:11 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. —Romans 5:1 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." —John 14:27 And the peace of God.. . will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7 JESUS WILL RESURRECT HIS TRUE FOLLOWERS But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. —Romans 8:11 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. —1 Corinthians 6:14 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." —John 6:40 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." —John 11:25, 26a For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. —1 Corinthians 15:21-23 "Because I live, you will live also." —John 14:19b Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. —Romans 6:8 DO NOT NEGLECT THIS GREAT SALVATION Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? —Hebrews 10:28,29 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." —John 12:48 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. —John 8:24 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" —Luke 12:4,5 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? —Hebrews 2:3a "He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." —John 3:36b JESUS CHRIST WILL JUDGE US "Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." —Acts 17:31 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." —John 5:22,23 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive... according to what he has done, whether good or bad. —2 Corinthians 5:10 In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. —Romans 2:16a ...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Thessalonians 1:7b, 8 "But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me." —Luke 19:27 NOT ALL WHO PROFESS TO FOLLOW JESUS BELONG TO JESUS They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him. —Titus 1:16a Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. —Romans 8:9b "They sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain." —Ezekiel 33:31b "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." —Matthew 15:8 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' —Matthew 7:21-23 "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." —Matthew 23:28 TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS OBEY HIM Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. —1 John 2:3 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." —Ezekiel 36:27 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. —Hebrews 5:9 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. —Romans 6:18 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. —Romans 8:10, 13 "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." —2 Timothy 2:19b Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men," —Acts 5:29 THE WORLD HATES JESUS' FOLLOWERS "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." —John 15:18, 19 "Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me." —John 16:2b, 3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. —1 John 3:1 "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." —Acts 14:22b Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. —2 Timothy 3:12 "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." —John 16:33b "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." —John 17:14 PROMISES TO THE PERSECUTED Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." —Isaiah 41:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. —Psalm 27:10 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" —Hebrews 13:6 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. —1 Peter 4:14a For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. —Psalm 91:11 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:13, 19 VICTORY OVER SIN AND SATAN No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it, —l Corinthians 10:13 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:16 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. —1 John 1:7 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. —2 Timothy 2:22 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:11 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. —James 4:7 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. —Psalm 119:11 He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4b REAL PRAYER IS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. —Psalm 27:8; 62:8 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise. —Jeremiah 17:14 Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. —1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, ... and it will be given to him. —James 1:5 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." —John 15:7 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. —Psalm 34:4 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. For Your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. —Psalm 66:18; 25:11 But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. —Philippians 4:6b JESUS IS COMING-BE READY! For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. —1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. —2 Corinthians 7:1 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. —1 John 2:28 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! —James 5:8, 9 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." —Luke 12:40 BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD Turn at my reproof; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.—Proverbs 1:23 "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." —Acts 2:38b And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. —Ephesians 5:18-21 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. —Philippians 2:13 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. —1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:20 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. —Acts 4:31b If you are interested in receiving additional Scripture booklets, write to the publisher in English at the address below or order online: World Missionary Press, Inc. P.O. Box 120 New Paris, Indiana 46553-0120 U.S.A. www.wmpress.org [email protected]  "Help From Above" is a collection of related verses of Scripture by subjects from various parts of the Bible. I believe the best commentary on Scripture is the Bible itself.
God's Word comes "from above" and is indeed very helpful to hearts that hunger and thirst after righteousness. When a person repents, forsakes sin, invites the Lord Jesus Christ to dwell in his heart, and believes with all his heart on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, the Lord will manifest Himself to him and impart His own joy and peace to the believer's heart. I experienced this in 1937 and have enjoyed wonderful fellowship with the Lord ever since. I urge you to surrender to Him as your Savior and Lord NOW if you have not done so already. —Watson Goodman (1920-2002) The Bible text used is from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers. Used by permission. THE LOVE OF GOD But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. —John 13:1 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." —John 15:13 And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. —Revelation 1:5 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." —John 3:16 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." —Jeremiah 31:3 THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justi-fied in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. —1 Timothy 3:16 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, ...full of grace and truth. —John 1:1 and 14 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." —Matthew 1:22, 23 "I and My Father are one." —John 10:30 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." —John 14:9, 10 JESUS THE SON OF GOD Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. —1 John 4:15 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." —Luke 1:35 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" —Matthew 17:5 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" And Jesus said to him "You have both seen Him [the Son of God] and it is He who is talking with you." —John 9:36, 37 For in Him [Christ Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the God-head bodily. —Colossians 2:9 JESUS TELLS US WHO HE IS And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." —John 8:23 and 58 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." —John 4:25, 26 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." —John 6:35; 9:5 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." —John 10:7 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." —John 11:25 "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am." —John 13:13 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." —John 14:6 SOME MIRACLES JESUS DID Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. —Matthew 14:19-21 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. —Luke 5:5, 6 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son Of David!" So Jesus ...said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. —Matthew 20:30 and 32b-34 JESUS CHRIST IS CREATOR AND LORD God who created all things through Jesus Christ. —Ephesians 3:9b For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. —Colossians 1:16 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. —John 1:3 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:11 God...has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. —Hebrews 1:1a, 2 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." —Acts 2:36 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. —Romans 14:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. —1 Corinthians 1:9 JESUS CHRIST IS JUDGE OF ALL But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. —Romans 14:10 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. —2 Timothy 4:1 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats." —Matthew 25:31-32 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son." —John 5:22 In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. —Romans 2:16 "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." —Acts 10:42 REDEMPTION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." —John 14:6 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." —John 8:24 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. —Hebrews 5:9 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. —Romans 3:23, 24 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. —Hebrews 7:25 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." —Acts 4:12 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Thessalonians 5:9 REDEMPTION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from Godand righteousness and sanctification and redemption. —1 Corinthians 1:30 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. —Titus 2:14 Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. —Colossians 1:12-14 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." —Luke 19:10 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." —Revelation 5:9 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. —Ephesians 5:2 THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST'S BLOOD Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. —Romans 5:9 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. —Ephesians 1:7 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." —Matthew 26:28 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. —1 Peter 1:18, 19 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. —1 John 1:7 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? —Hebrews 9:14 We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. —Romans 5:11b SALVATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. —Ephesians 2:8, 9 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. —Romans 5:1 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. —Galatians 5:6 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...." —Acts 16:31b For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. —1 John 5:4 Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." —John 6:28, 29 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. —John 20:31 GOD'S MERCY Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. —2 Corinthians 1:3 Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. —Micah 7:18 For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds. —Psalm 108:4 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. —Lamentations 3:22, 23 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children. —Psalm 103:11, 17 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. —Titus 3:5 GOD INVITES US TO COME TO HIM "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." —Isaiah 1:18 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. —Revelation 22:17 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." —Isaiah 55:1 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." —John 7:37 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God." —Mark 10:14 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." —Matthew 11:28 NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. —1 John 3:10 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." —Romans 8:14, 15 That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. —Philippians 2:15 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you." —2 Corinthians 6:17, 18a But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. —John 1:12 WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT STRONG DRINK Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish, ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. —Galatians 5:19-21 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. —Romans 13:13, 14 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them! —Isaiah 5:11 Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. —Proverbs 23:31, 32 Wine is a mocker, intoxicating drink arouses brawling, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. —Proverbs 20:1 SINCERITY IS NOT ENOUGH Jesus said to him, "`You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment." —Matthew 22:37, 38 "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery,' `Do not murder,' `Do not steal,' `Do not bear false witness,' `Do not defraud,' `Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. —Mark 10:17b-22 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. —Proverbs 16:25 BE NOT DECEIVED Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. —Galatians 6:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. —1 John 3:7, 8a Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. —1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. —Ephesians 5:6 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. —James 1:22 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. —Galatians 6:3 "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." —Matthew 24:5 SIN BRINGS DEATH Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. —Romans 5:12 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. —James 1:15 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. —Romans 8:6, 7 "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." —Ezekiel 18:20 "`It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'" —Luke 15:32 As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. —Proverbs 11:19 For the wages of sin is death. —Romans 6:23a CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. —Romans 1:4 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." —John 11:43, 44 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." —John 10:17, 18 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. —Luke 7:14, 15a "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." —Revelation 1:18 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. —1 Corinthians 15:26 THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD "[The LORD said,] `You shall have no other gods before Me. `You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.... `You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. `Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work .... `Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you.... `You shall not murder. `You shall not commit adultery. `You shall not steal. `You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. `You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'" —Deuteronomy 5:7-21 YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD "For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." —Job 34:21, 22 "Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD. —Jeremiah 23:24 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into Heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You. —Psalm 139:7, 8 and 12 The eyes of the LORD are in every place. —Proverbs 15:3a And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. —Hebrews 4:13 "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." —Luke 8:17 EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT OF THE UNGODLY "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." —Matthew 13:41, 42 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. —Psalm 9:17 But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. —2 Peter 3:7 These shall be punished with destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. —2 Thessalonians 1:9 "And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire." —Matthew 18:8 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." —Matthew 25:46 JUDGMENT AHEAD "Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." —Acts 17:31 Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. —2 Peter 2:9 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. —2 Corinthians 5:10 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. —1 John 4:17 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. —Hebrews 9:27 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works. —Revelation 20:12a So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. —Romans 14:12 THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. —Romans 5:15 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. —Romans 9:16 "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." —1 Peter 5:5b For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. —2 Corinthians 8:9 But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. —Romans 5:20b, 21 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. —Acts 4:33 REPENTANCE "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." —Acts 17:30 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." —Luke 13:3 And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" —Matthew 3:2 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." —Acts 2:38; 3:19 "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed." —Ezekiel 18:31a He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. —Proverbs 28:13 For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. —2 Corinthians 7:10 THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die." —Ezekiel 18:21 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." —Revelation 3:20 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. —Isaiah 55:7 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." —Matthew 6:14 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." —Mark 2:5 "Through this Man [Jesus] is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." —Acts 13:38b; 5:31 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." —Luke 24:47 SEPARATION FROM WORLDLINESS For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. —Titus 2:11, 12 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. —Colossians 3:2 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. —Ephesians 5:11 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. —1 John 2:15, 16 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. —James 4:4 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil." —Isaiah 1:16 THE NEW BIRTH "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." —Ezekiel 36:26 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. —1 John 2:29; 5:18 But you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. —1 Corinthians 6:11b Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." —John 3:3 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17 Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. —1 Peter 1:23 DEAD TO SIN — RISEN IN CHRIST And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. —Ephesians 2:1 and 6 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. —1 Peter 2:24 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. —Colossians 3:1-4 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. —Galatians 5:24,25 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:2 and 11 ETERNAL LIFE For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. —Galatians 6:8 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." —John 3:14, 15 "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." —John 17:3 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." —John 3:36 ...The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." —John 5:24 His own purpose and grace... has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. —2 Timothy 1:9b, 10 ASSURANCE OF SALVATION The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. —Romans 8:16 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:11-13a "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." —John 14:21 The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. —Isaiah 32:17 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" —Galatians 4:6 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. —1 John 4:13 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. —1 John 2:3 THE INDWELLING CHRIST GIVES JOY "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves." —John 17:13 "I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." —John 16:22b For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. —Romans 14:17 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. —Isaiah 12:3 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." —Galatians 2:20 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." —John 15:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —Psalm 16:11 Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. —1 Peter 1:8 OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD NECESSARY "However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers." —1 Samuel 12:15 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? —Romans 6:16 And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. —2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 "Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God." —Deuteronomy 11:26-28a CONFESSION OF CHRIST NECESSARY And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:11 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." —Matthew 10:32, 33 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. —1 John 4:2 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. —1 John 4:15 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. —Romans 10:9, 10 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. —1 John 2:23 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." —Luke 9:26 SATAN — OUR ARCH ENEMY Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. —1 Peter 5:8, 9a Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Then Jesus said to him "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. —Matthew 4:1 and 10, 11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. —Ephesians 6:10, 11 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. —2 Corinthians 10:4 He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him....he is a liar and the father of it. —John 8:44b I also forgive...lest Satan should take advantage of us. —2 Corinthians 2:10b, 11a VICTORY OVER SATAN Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. —Hebrews 2:14 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. —1 John 3:8 "To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." —Acts 26:18 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. —Romans 8:35 and 37 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. —James 4:7, 8a Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. —John 12:31 LOVE, THE TEST OF DISCIPLESHIP Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. —1 Corinthians 13:1 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. —Galatians 5:22, 23a He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." —John 21:16 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." —John 14:15 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? —1 John 4:20 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." —John 13:35 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. —1 John 3:14 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. —1 John 5:3 THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. —Mark 16:9 Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. —Romans 4:25 "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead." —Acts 10:39-41 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" —John 20:26-28 THE RESURRECTION, OUR GLORIOUS HOPE "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - Those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." —John 5:25b and 28, 29 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. —Romans 6:3-5 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. —Romans 8:10, 11 HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD For He has visited and redeemed His people,...to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." —Luke 1:68b, 74, 75 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. —2 Corinthians 7:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. —1 Thessalonians 4:1-4, 7 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." —1 Peter 1:15, 16 HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. —Hebrews 13:12 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,... and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. —Ephesians 1:4; 4:24 A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray. —Isaiah 35:8 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. —2 Peter 3:11 Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. —Hebrews 12:14 SPIRIT-FILLED MEN "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" —Luke 11:13 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. —Acts 4:31 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." —Ezekiel 36:27 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. —Romans 8:9 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me." —Acts 1:8a For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. —Acts 11:24a And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. —Acts 13:52 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. —Ephesians 5:18 WONDERFUL PROMISES TO CHRISTIANS The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. —Psalm 34:18 "For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." —Isaiah 66:2 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." —Mark 9:23 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. —1 Peter 4:12, 13 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." —Revelation 21:4 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." —Matthew 6:33 PROMISES TO THE TEMPTED For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. —Hebrews 2:18 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. —Romans 16:20a When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. —Isaiah 43:2a No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. —1 Corinthians 10:13 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. —Psalm 34:19 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. —Hebrews 4:15 PROMISES TO OVERCOMERS "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." —Revelation 21:7 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name." —Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." —Revelation 3:5 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." —Revelation 3:21 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." —Revelation 2:7 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations." —Revelation 2:26 GOD SPEAKS TO US ABOUT DIVORCE Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 7:10, 11, 39 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. —Romans 7:2, 3 "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery." —Luke 16:18 "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery." —Matthew 5:32a JESUS CHRIST WILL RETURN TO EARTH "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." —John 14:3 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." —Matthew 24:30 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father...." —Mark 8:38 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. —1 John 3:2, 3 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." —Luke 12:40 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." —Matthew 16:27 THE WORD OF GOD "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." —Luke 21:33 For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. —2 Peter 1:21 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. —2 Timothy 3:16 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. —Psalm 119:105 PRAY AND FORGIVE "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." —Matthew 6:9-15 GOD'S WAY OF SALVATION I need a Savior. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. —Romans 3:23 But your iniquities have separated you from your God. —Isaiah 59:2a Christ died for me. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. —1 Peter 3:18a I need to repent of my sin. He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. —Proverbs 28:13 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. —Acts 3:19a I must receive Jesus by faith. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. —John 1:12 I can be sure of my salvation. He who has the Son has life. —1 John 5:12a "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." —John 5:24 If you are interested in receiving additional Scripture booklets, write to the publisher at the address below or order online: World Missionary Press, Inc. P.O. Box 120 New Paris, Indiana 46553-0120 U.S.A.  Jesus Christ is not merely an outstanding person who lived and died many years ago. According to the Scriptures, He is God the Creator, who lived on earth as a man so that He might give His life-blood to rescue sinful mankind from the power of sin and Satan and death. He is alive today and gives eternal life to all who come to Him.
Accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ is a matter of life or death. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:12). "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). May God become very real to you as you study the amazing life of Jesus Christ! "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). Have you received Jesus into your heart as your personal Savior and Lord? If not, do it today. The Bible text used is from the New King James Version 8 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Used by permission. Cover art by Edwin B. Wallace. If you would like to receive additional studies of God’s Word, write to the publisher of this study: World Missionary Press, Inc., P.O. Box 120, New Paris, Indiana 46553-0120, U.S.A. JESUS EXISTED BEFORE HIS BIRTH In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the begin-ning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. —John 1:1-3, 14a For by Him all things were created ....All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things.... —Colossians 1:16-17 God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to 1 the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. —Hebrews 1:1-2 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." —John 8:58 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands." —Hebrews 1:8a, 10 PROPHETS FORETOLD JESUS’ LIFE "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." —Isaiah 7:14 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." —Micah 5:2 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. —Isaiah 9:6-7a He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. —Isaiah 53:3a, 4-5a JESUS LEFT HEAVEN TO BECOME A MAN Christ Jesus, ...being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. —Philippians 2:5b.8 Jesus said to them, ". . . I proceeded forth and came from God. . . ." —John 8:42 The first man [Adam] was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man [Jesus] is the Lord from heaven. —1 Corinthians 15:47 When He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me." —Hebrews 10:5b Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. —Hebrews 2:14-15 JESUS’ PURPOSE FOR COMING TO EARTH "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." —Luke 19:10 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." —John 3:17 Jesus answered, "... For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." —John 18:37b Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. —1 Timothy 1:15b God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. —1 John 4:9b But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. —Galatians 4:4-5 JESUS WAS SUPERNATURALLY CONCEIVED The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.... Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; ... and of His kingdom there will be no end." Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.... For with God nothing will be impossible." —Luke 1:26b-27, 30-37 "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." —Matthew 1:20b-21 THE BIRTH OF JESUS . . . A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.... So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went [to Bethlehem] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. ...And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.... You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"—Luke 2:1-14 JESUS AS AN INFANT And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. —Luke 2:21 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them.... —Luke 2:25-34 JESUS IS WORSHIPED Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet...." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. —Matthew 2:1-5, 9-11 SATAN HATED JESUS BEFORE HIS BIRTH And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon [Satan] having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. And she bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. —Revelation 12:3-5a An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under. —Matthew 2:13b-15a, 16a THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem. ... As they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem.... Supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.... After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." And He said to them, "Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?" And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. —Luke 2:40-49,52 JESUS IS INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He said: "I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord," ‘as the prophet Isaiah said." The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit de scending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." —John 1:6,23,29,32-34 Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." —Matthew 3:16-17 JESUS OVERCOMES TEMPTATION Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He. . . said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Then the devil... set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge concerning you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, "It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God." Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’" —Matthew 4:3-10 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. —Hebrews 2:18 JESUS CALLS HIS DISCIPLES And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther..., He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. —Mark 1:16-20 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." —John 1:43 And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow Me." And he arose and followed Him. —Mark 2:14 He . . . continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles. —Luke 6:12b-13 JESUS PREACHES GOOD NEWS Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the LORD." Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. —Luke 4:14-22a JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE So they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’" —Mark 11:15, 17 JESUS TEACHES ABOUT SIN "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." —Matthew 23:28 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." —Matthew 15:18-19 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." —John 8:34,36 JESUS OFFERS NEW LIFE Jesus... said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." —John 3:3,7, 16 "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10b "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." —John 17:3 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." —John 5:21,24 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17 JESUS OFFERS LIVING WATER So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar.... Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.... A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." . . . Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. ... Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." —John 4:5-10, 13-14 Jesus ... cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive. —John 7:37b-39a JESUS TEACHES THROUGH PARABLES "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" —Matthew 7:24-27 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." —Luke 15:4-7 JESUS TEACHES HOW TO BE BLESSED And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain . . . . Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven." —Matthew 5:1-12a "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" —Luke 11:28b "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." —John 20:29b "And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." —Luke 7:23 JESUS TEACHES ABOUT PRAYER Men always ought to pray and not lose heart. —Luke 18:lb "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." —Luke 18:10-14 "If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." —Matthew 18:19b-20 "And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." —Matthew 21:22 JESUS TEACHES ABOUT BEING A DISCIPLE Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" —Matthew 16:24-26a "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." —Luke 14:33 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." —John 14:15 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." —John 15:12 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." —John 13:35 Then Jesus said to those . . . who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." —John 8:31 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." —John 15:8 JESUS TEACHES ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." —Matthew 7:21 "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." —Matthew 18:3b "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." —Matthew 7:13-14 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." —Matthew 13:49-50 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." —John 14:1-3 JESUS TELLS US WHO HE IS "I am the living bread which came down from heaven, If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." —John 6:51 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." —John 10:9, 11 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." —John 14:6b "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." —John 8:12b "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." —John 11:25b "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am." —John 13:13 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" And He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." —Luke 22:70 JESUS HAS POWER OVER DISEASE And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. —Matthew 8:2-3 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and imme diately she was made straight, and glorified God. —Luke 13:11-13 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them those who were lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. —Matthew 15:30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. —Mark 1:30-31 JESUS HAS POWER OVER NATURE Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. —Matthew 14:19-21 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." —Matthew 14:25-27 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ...And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. —Mark 4:37-39 JESUS HAS POWER TO FORGIVE SINS "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"—then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house. —Matthew 9:6-7 And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" —Luke 7:48-49 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." —Acts 13:38-39 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. —Ephesians 1:7 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9 JESUS HAS POWER OVER DEMONS Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know You, who You are—the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. So they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." —Luke 4:33.36 And as he [a child] was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. —Luke 9:42-43a "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." —Acts 10:38b JESUS HAS POWER OVER DEATH Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?". ...He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes.... Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." —John 11:39-40,43-44 A ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. —Matthew 9:18b, 25 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow.... When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin.... He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. —Luke 7:12-15a RESPONSES TO JESUS’ MINISTRY He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." —Matthew 16:13b-17 And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" Others said, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" —John 10:20-21 Then many of the Jews who had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then from that day on they plotted to put Him to death. —John 11:45-46,53 "They hated Me without a cause." —John 15:25b JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. —Mark 8:31 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die. —John 12:32-33 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them. —John 2:19-22a "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." —Matthew 12:40 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." —Matthew 26:32 JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM TO DIE The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!" Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt." —John 12:12-15 In spite of the multitude’s enthusiastic reception as He entered Jerusalem, Jesus knew that His people would reject Him as King. He wept to think what would happen to Jerusalem because they would not receive the only One who could bring them peace. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will ... not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." —Luke 19:41-44 JESUS, THE PASSOVER LAMB John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" —John 1:29b Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover [lamb] must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Then He took the cup, and. . . said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many." —Luke 22:7-8, 19; Mark 14:23-24 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. —Isaiah 53:7a For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. —1 Corinthians 5:7b Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. —1 Peter 1:18-19 JESUS IS BETRAYED AND ARRESTED Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. So when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. —Mark 14:10-11a Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." —Matthew 26:36-37,39 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. —John 18:3, 12 And the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. —Mark 14:55-56 JESUS IS CONDEMNED AND CRUCIFIED When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" —Matthew 27:1-2,22 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS. With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.... And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" Likewise the chief priests. . . mocked and said among themselves, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." —Mark 15:25-31 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commend My spirit." And having said this, He breathed His last. —Luke 23:46 JESUS’ DEATH REPORTED BY WITNESSES Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His spirit. ... And the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" —Matthew 27:45,50-51,54 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. . . . For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." —John 19:32-37 "But you ... killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses." —Acts 3:14-15 JESUS IS BURIED, BUT RISES THE THIRD DAY The chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ . . . "Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they ... made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. —Matthew 27:62b-66 As the first day of the week be- gan to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." —Matthew 28:1-6a JESUS CONQUERS DEATH [Christ] rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. —1 Corinthians 15:4b "I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. . . ." —John 10:17b-18 He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces. —Isaiah 25:8a "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades [hell] and of Death."—Revelation 1:18 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:55,57 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." —John 5:28-29 JESUS APPEARS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. —Mark 16:9, 12 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. —John 20:19-20 He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once.... After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. —1 Corinthians 15:5b-7 "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead." —Acts 10:40-41 JESUS COMMISSIONS HIS DISCIPLES AND ASCENDS TO HEAVEN Then Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." —John 20:21-22b "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." —Matthew 28:18b-20 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." —Acts 1:8-10 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they ...preached everywhere, the Lord working with them. —Mark 16:19-20a THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AS JESUS PROMISED "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." —John 14:16-18 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. —Acts 2:1-4 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear." —Acts 2:32-33 JESUS LIVES IN BELIEVERS TODAY "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." —John 15:4-5 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. —1 John 3:24 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 That He would grant you ... to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. —Ephesians 3:16-17a Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.—Romans 8:8b-9 JESUS IS GLORIFIED But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor. —Hebrews 2:9a For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. —2 Peter 1:17-18 And in the midst of the seven lampstands [was] One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last." —Revelation 1:13-17 JESUS SENDS MESSAGES TO THE CHURCHES "I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works." —Revelation 2:4b-5a "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. . . . Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." —Revelation 2:10 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father." —Revelation 3:5a "See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." —Revelation 3:8b "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth." —Revelation 3:16 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." —Revelation 3:19a, 21 WHAT JESUS IS DOING TODAY But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. —Hebrews 10:12 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:14-16 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. —Hebrews 7:24-25 He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" —Hebrews 13:5b-6 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. —Hebrews 13:8 JESUS PROMISES TO RETURN "I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." —John 14:3b For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.... And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. —1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." —Matthew 24:27, 30-31 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." —Matthew 16:27 JESUS WILL JUDGE THE WORLD "God ... now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." —Acts 17:30b-31a "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" —Matthew 7:22-23 Each of us shall give account of himself to God. —Romans 14:12b But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness ...? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. —2 Peter 3:10-13 JESUS WILL REIGN FOREVER Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:9-11 "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! .. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and lan- guages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed." —Daniel 7:13-14 "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" —Revelation 5:12b And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" —Revelation 11:15b JESUS WANTS YOU TO COME TO HIM "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." —Matthew 11:28-29 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." —Revelation 3:20 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." —John 6:37 "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." —Acts 2:21 ...Now is the day of salvation. —2 Corinthians 6:2 Let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. —Revelation 22:17b WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS? "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him." —John 3:36 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? —Hebrews 2:3a But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. —John 1:12 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word (Scripture), which is able to save your souls. —James 1:21 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. —Romans 10:9b-10 A PRAYER GUIDE Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for dying on the cross to take away my sins. I am sorry for the wrong things I have done. I receive You into my heart right now to be my Savior and Lord. I believe Your promise to make me a child of God. I trust You to give me strength day by day to live for You. In Your name I pray, Amen. If you are interested in receiving additional Scripture booklets, write to the publisher in English at the address below or order online: World Missionary Press, Inc. P.O. Box 120 New Paris, Indiana 46553-0120 U.S.A.  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. — Numbers 23:19, 20
The nation Israel, reborn after numerous centuries, has a significant place in the future of this world all out of proportion to its size and number of people. This little booklet tells why and how, according to the Holy Scriptures. This article is divided into 7 parts as follows: I. THE CHOSEN LAND II. THE CHOSEN NATION III. THE CHOSEN ROYAL CITY IV. THE CHOSEN ROYAL LINE V. THE CHOSEN KING — PERFECT MESSIAH VI. THE CHOSEN METHOD OF SALVATION VII. THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF SALVATION In all of these choices, God did the choosing. I. THE CHOSEN LAND ISRAEL IS GOD’S LAND The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. — Leviticus 25:23 THE LORD GIVES HIS LAND TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee...And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land... —Genesis 12:1, 7a THE LAND IS FOR ISRAEL And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. — Genesis 17:19 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. — Genesis 21:12 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him. . . And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. — Genesis 28:1a, 3, 4 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. — Genesis 32:27, 28 THE EXTENT OF THE PROMISED LAND In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates. — Genesis 15:18 THE LAND IS AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. — Genesis 17:8 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. — Genesis 48:4 II. THE CHOSEN NATION ABRAHAM HEADS THE CHOSEN NATION Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. —Genesis 12:1-3 (See also Genesis 17:1-8 and Genesis 22:16-18) THE NATION TO BE A SPECIAL PEOPLE UNTO GOD For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. — Deuteronomy 7:6 THE CHOICE HAS PLEASED THE LORD For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. —I Samuel 12:22 GOD LOVED ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. — Deuteronomy 4:37-39 THE ENDURANCE OF THE CHOSEN NATION Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD. — Jeremiah 31:35-37 THE CHOSEN NATION TO OBEY THE LORD OR BE DISPERSED And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury... And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. — Leviticus 26:27, 28a, 33 RE-BIRTH OF THE CHOSEN NATION FORETOLD Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. — Jeremiah 30:10, 11 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. . . Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. — Ezekiel 37:4-6, 11-14 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. —Isaiah 11:11, 12 THE LORD PROMISES TO RESTORE THE DESOLATE LAND AND RUINED CITIES Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am the LORD. — Ezekiel 36:33-38 (See verse 8) THE UNITY OF THE RE-ESTABLISHED NATION IN GOD’S HAND Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. — Ezekiel 37:19 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. — Ezekiel 37:21, 22 THE CHOSEN NATION IN THE LATTER DAYS ...come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: he hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. — Numbers 24:14b-24 III. THE CHOSEN ROYAL CITY JERUSALEM IS ZION, THE CAPITAL OF GOD’S LAND Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. — II Samuel 5:7 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. —Psalm 48:1, 2 ...that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. —1 Kings 8:1b For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. — Psalm 132:13 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. —Psalm 50:2 His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. —Psalm 87:1-3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. —Psalm 133:3 And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. — II Kings 14:20 ZION IS TO PRAISE GOD Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. —Psalm 147:12 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. — Psalm 65:1 PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. —Psalm 122:6 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. —Luke 21:20 IV. THE CHOSEN ROYAL LINE DAVID’S THRONE AND KINGDOM IS EVERLASTING Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, and as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. —II Samuel 7:8-16 V. THE CHOSEN KING—PERFECT MESSIAH GOD HIMSELF WILL DWELL IN ZION The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion. —Joel 3:16-21 MESSIAH WILL COME TO RULE IN JERUSALEM WITH A STRONG HAND O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. —Isaiah 40:9-11 MESSIAH TO BE DIVINE AND OF DAVID’S SEED The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. —Psalm 132:11 MESSIAH WILL BE KING FOREVER ON DAVID’S THRONE For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. — Isaiah 9:6, 7 MESSIAH SHALL REIGN OVER ALL THE EARTH Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. —Jeremiah 23:5, 6 MESSIAH, THE SON OF MAN, RECEIVES THE EVERLASTING DOMINION I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. —Daniel 7:13, 14 MESSIAH’S EVERLASTING KINGDOM WILL CONSUME ALL OTHER KINGDOMS And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. —Daniel 2:44 MESSIAH’S REIGN IN ZION BRINGS UNIVERSAL PEACE And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. —Isaiah 2:2-4 MOSES SAID MESSIAH WILL BE A PROPHET The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. . . I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. — Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19 MESSIAH IS A PRIEST ...Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. — Zechariah 6:12b, 13 MESSIAH IS ZION’S KING Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. — Zechariah 9:9 MESSIAH TO BE THE SECOND DAVID And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. — Ezekiel 37:24-28 MESSIAH WAS TO COME, AND TO DIE FOR OTHERS BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary... — Daniel 9:25, 26a THE LORD TO GIVE MESSIAH A PERSONAL NAME AT BIRTH TO BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. — Isaiah 49:1 THE REVELATION TO MARY And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. —Luke 1:26-33 THE REVELATION TO JOSEPH Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:18-25 ZACHARIAS, A JEWISH PRIEST, WITNESSED OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHRIST— A HORN OF SALVATION IN THE HOUSE OF DAVID And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. — Luke 1:67-79 (See Isaiah 40:3) ...and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in... —Malachi 3:lb SIMEON, A DEVOUT JEW, WITNESSED OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHRIST And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. —Luke 2:25-32 JOHN THE BAPTIST BORE WITNESS OF THE MESSIAH, GOD’S LAMB OF SACRIFICE The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. —John 1:29-34 GOD THE FATHER WITNESSED OF JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. — Matthew 3:16, 17 THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST TO SHEPHERD JEWS For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. —Luke 2:11 GOD THE FATHER WITNESSED OF THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST’S WORDS While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. —Matthew 17:5 JESUS CHRIST DESCENDED FROM ABRAHAM AND DAVID The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. . . So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. —Matthew 1:1, 17 28 JESUS CHRIST DESCENDED FROM GOD, THE FATHER ...and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest... —Luke 1:31b, 32a ...Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. — Matthew 1:20b Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. —John 8:42 THOSE JEWS CLOSEST TO JESUS CONFESSED THAT HE IS THE CHRIST When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. — Matthew 16:13-17 MESSIAH’S WORKS BEAR WITNESS But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. — John 5:36 JESUS CHRIST’S SINLESS LIFE BEARS WITNESS HE CAME FROM THE FATHER For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. — Hebrews 4:15 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? —John 8:46 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. — II Corinthians 5:21 A Few Samples Of Many Prophesies Jesus Christ Fulfilled MESSIAH WAS TO BE BORN OF A VIRGIN Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. —Isaiah 7:14 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. — Matthew 1:18 MESSIAH WAS TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. —Micah 5:2 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. —Luke 2:4-7 MESSIAH WAS TO ENTER JERUSALEM IN TRIUMPH Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. — Zechariah 9:9 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. — Matthew 21:6-11 MESSIAH WAS TO BE REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ...He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. —Isaiah 53:1, 3 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. — Psalm 118:22 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. —John 1:11, 12 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. — John 12:37-43 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us. — II Timothy 2:12 ISRAEL’S NATIONAL LEADERS CHOSE THE CURSE WHEN MESSIAH APPEARED Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God... — Deuteronomy 11:26-28a For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. — John 12:49, 50 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. — John 8:23, 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. — Matthew 27:24, 25 MESSIAH’S LAMENT O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. — Matthew 23:37-39 MESSIAH’S TRIUMPH IN JERUSALEM ON EARTH Behold, he (Jesus Christ) cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. — Revelation 1:7, 8 NEW JERUSALEM — MESSIAH’S EVERLASTING TRIUMPH And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. — Revelation 21:1-3 MESSIAH’S CONDITIONS OF RULE OVER ISRAEL And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places. In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. — Ezekiel 43:7-9 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE FORETOLD And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. —Matthew 24:1, 2 THE FALSE "MESSIAH" WILL COME IN HIS OWN NAME I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. — John 5:43 THE MAN OF SIN WILL SIT IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD IN JERUSALEM AS DIVINE BUT GOD WILL DESTROY HIM Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God... And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. — II Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8-10 GOD RESURRECTED AND EXALTED JESUS CHRIST But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them. . . Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I shouId not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. — Acts 2:14a, 22-39 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power... — Ephesians 1:20, 21a VI. THE CHOSEN METHOD OF SALVATION ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL IS MADE ONLY BY LIFE-BEARING BLOOD For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. —Leviticus 17:11 THE CHRIST GAVE HIS DIVINE LIFE-BEARING BLOOD TO ATONE FOR ALL SIN For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. — Matthew 26:28 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. —I Peter 1:18, 19 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. —I John 1:7 ...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made thern white in the blood of the Lamb. — Revelation 7:14b How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? — Hebrews 9:14 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed as from our sins in his own blood. —Revelation 1:5 THE CHRIST IS GOD’S LAMB, ATONING FOR THE SINS OF ALL THE WORLD Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. —1 John 4:10 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. —Titus 2:11 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. —John 1:29 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. —Romans 5:11 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. — Revelation 22:17 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. —Mark 16:15, 16 JESUS CHRIST, THE MESSIAH, DIED TO SAVE OTHERS And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. — Revelation 1:5 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. — Romans 5:6 Life In Christ, The Substance And Reality Of Salvation But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. — I Thessalonians 5:8-10 LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST THE WAY IN 1. Let Him Find You For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.— Luke 19:10 2. Seek Him With All Your Heart, For He Is Lord Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. — John 13:13 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. — Acts 2:36 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. — Matthew 7:7, 8 3. Repent Of And Forsake Your Sins Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? — Ezekiel 18:31 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. —Luke 13:2, 3 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 2:38 4. Believe Upon Jesus Christ With All Your Heart That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. — Romans 10:9 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. —Hebrews 11:6 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. —John 1:12 5. Obey The Lord Jesus Christ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. — Revelation 22:14 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. — Ephesians 5:6 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. — John 14:23 6. Make Restitution Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. — Matthew 5:23, 24 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. Luke 19:8, 9 7. Forgive Your Fellowman And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. — Mark 11:25 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one an other, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. — Ephesians 4:32 THE WAY ON 1. Commune With Christ Much Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. — Revelation 3:20 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. —1 Corinthians 1:9 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. — Psalm 55:17 2. Confess Him Before Men Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. —1 John 4:15 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father... —I John 2:23a Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. — Matthew 10:32 3. Walk in The Light Of Christ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. — John 8:12 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. — Romans 6:4 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. — Galatians 5:16 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. —I John 1:5-7 4. Feed On The Bread From Heaven Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth lif e unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. —John 6:32-35 I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. — John 6:48-63 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of me. —John 5:39 5. Witness Of The Saviour To Others But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. —Acts 1:8 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. — Acts 5:20 6. Serve Him Without Self Reserve And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. — Deuteronomy 6:5 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. — Philipians 3:7, 8 7. Praise Him In All His Wondrous Works By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. —Hebrews 13:15 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. —Psalm 146:1, 2 THE FRUIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. — I Peter 1:22, 23 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. — John 17:13 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. —Galatians 5:22, 23 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you... — John 14:27a I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. — John 15:1, 2 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. — Philippians 1:11 VII. THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF SALVATION SALVATION FROM SIN PROMISED TO ISRAEL, THE CHOSEN NATION Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. — Jeremiah 31:31-34 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. — Isaiah 45:17 RE-ESTABLISHED ISRAEL TO RECEIVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, FOR THE LORD’S HOLY NAME’S SAKE Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. — Ezekiel 36:22-32 CHRIST’S CHURCH, ALSO THE PEOPLE OF SALVATION And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. —Acts 2:47b And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. — Ephesians 1:22, 23 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. — Ephesians 5:25-27 BOTH CHRIST’S CHURCH, AND CONVERTED ISRAEL IN HEAVEN After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and bef ore the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. — Revelation 7:9, 10 58 SALVATION IS FOR BOTH JEW AND GENTILE For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. — Romans 1:16 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. —1 John 5:1 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. —Titus 2:11 MESSIAH’S FIRST COMING WAS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE SALVATION, BUT ALSO TO BUILD HIS CHURCH ...I am come that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly. —John 10:10b Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. — I Peter 2:5 ...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. —Matthew 16:18b MESSIAH WILL RETURN TO RAPTURE THE CHURCH, TO JUDGE THE WORLD OF SIN, TO CONVERT THE NATION ISRAEL, TO RULE THE WHOLE WORLD FROM DAVID’S THRONE IN JERUSALEM, WHICH IS ZION TO RAPTURE HIS CHURCH, THE TRUE BELIEVERS ...this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. —Acts 1:11b And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. — John 14:3 TO JUDGE THE WORLD OF SIN And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. . . in that day. — II Thessalonians 1:7-10 TO RULE THE WHOLE WORLD FROM JERUSALEM And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem. . . And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one... Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. — Zechariah 14:8a, 9, 11b TO CONVERT THE NATION ISRAEL Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east... —Zechariah 14:1-4a In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem... — Zechariah 12:8-11a Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness... —Zechariah 12:2-4a (Also read Zephaniah 3:8, 9) In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. — Zechariah 13:1 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, the LORD is my God. — Zechariah 13:8, 9 THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: but they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. — Jeremiah 30:4-9 THE LORD WILL COME TO ZION In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. — Micah 4:6-8 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. — Zechariah 8:2, 3 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. — Zephaniah 3:14-16 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. — Jeremiah 50:4, 5 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. — Zechariah 2:10 If you are interested in receiving additional Scripture booklets, write to the publisher in English at the address below or order online: World Missionary Press, Inc. P.O. Box 120 New Paris, Indiana 46553-0120 U.S.A. |
Jesus is Lord
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) ArchivesTitles
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