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.
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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]
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.
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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]
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