1, 2, 3 SALVATION
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Receive the Holy Ghost
"Work out your salvation."
God has provided over a thousand pages of instructions telling us what He expects of us. In those instructions He has included many failures and successes as illustrations on how to handle many situations.
The Bible is very simple and to the point. It was written in such a way that a person does not have to be an intellectual to read and understand it. In fact it doesn't even have to be read, or heard to be understood. However, it does require the Author to be at our side to explain it, and fortunately we have that, but only if we ask for Him to do so.
"My Laws I will write on their hearts," God said. (Jeremiah 31:33,34; 2Cor 3:3). And He said He would send a Comforter and Instructor to help us understand His desires for us. (John 14:15-27)
It is clear that He did just that because the early Christians were the most dedicated and sincere that this world has ever seen. And all they had was a few letters, if that, from some Apostles that they very likely had never even seen!
Through the Dark Ages we had Martyrs who died for the Word, and at that period of time the common people weren't even allowed to read the Bible. And those who were reading it, and explaining it to the people, were often the most corrupt individuals who ever lived, and had butchered the Word so badly that it had little semblance to what God said.
When people came to Jesus, then later the Apostles, and asked what they needed to do to be saved, they received an answer in one or two sentences - not handed a book of regulations they had to memorize and follow.
So then, why are there so many pages of do's and don'ts in the Old Testament? And what, if anything, does the Old Testament have to do with us today?
The Old Testament is a history of a people God selected to illustrate what He has in mind for His people, and for His world to come. For the Jews it was a way that God provided in which they could find a form of Salvation, and to be special in the eyes of the world, illustrating what God is willing and able to do for His chosen people who believe on Him, and obey His ordinances.
Keep that in mind, it has a lot to do with us today.
The Ten Commandments were given to point out what is sin in the eyes of God, because without them sin didn't exist. Take for instance Adam with the apple. For Adam there was only one sin (disobedience) he could commit because there was only one thing God told him not to do; eat from the tree of knowledge. (And what has mankind hungered for every since? Carnal knowledge; satisfying fleshly lusts.) (Gal 3:23; Rom 4:15).
The Old Testament shows how the Jews failed miserably to fulfill their part, but for us, it demonstrates what God will do when we fail to do His Will.
The Old Testaments is a book of Prophesies, and prophetic Types and Shadows that point to the fulfilment of God's purpose, which begins with Jesus.
And this is where we come in.
The New Testament begins with the birth of the Son of God, just as the Old Testament did. However, this "Second Adam" was not a failure as was the first; and He brings Life ("a Quickening Spirit") back to mankind to replace the death sentence brought about by the first man Adam.
And this Second Adam is leading His people back to the Garden that the first Adam was kicked out of.
For over a thousand years the Jews tried to follow the Laws of God. In fact, they tried so hard that they made up many of their own laws to add to God's, called "traditions," until they could no longer see God's purposes; or recognize Him when He came to them.
Sound familiar?
So, what does that mean to us today, and what must we do to be saved? Of course we can't, nor should we, fulfill the rules laid down for the Jews; but what about the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath?
The Apostles observed the Sabbath, as well as the other requirements laid down for Jews, even though they knew they no longer had to. One reason for this was the necessity to be good practicing Jews in order to win the Jews to Christ (Acts 18:21). And along with that, they also made it a practice to meet on the "First day of the week." In fact, they and other worshipers are spoken of frequently as meeting every day of the week (Acts 2:46,47).
But what about the Ten Commandments; are we supposed to obey them now?
Nope. You can break them all you want. Jesus fulfilled all those laws, regulations, and sacrifices in His life, and in His death.
Of course, there are some that the law of the land frowns upon; like murder and stealing and bearing false witness.
And others that, until recently, were socially taboo, like adultery and disrespecting your parents. And your neighbor might be a little harsh toward you if you covet his wife.
The final three are those directed toward God Himself, and tragically enough, they are the ones most people break without giving it a second thought. Having other gods before Him; almost everyone breaks that now, even if it is just a bank account that is your god.
Taking His name in vain ("vain" means flippant talk, not considering what you are saying), that's done all the time.
Graven images? Can you imagine a home without pictures or TV? (And I'm an artist!)
And the Sabbath? We now look to the true Sabbath which is coming up very soon; called the Millennium (Mark 2:27,28).
Alright, we are back to the beginning. Here you (or I) stand, waiting to make a decision as to which church to join, or religion to practice. What should you do?
Whatever you want - it makes no difference because they all lead to the same path for you; destruction.
But, wait a minute! Let's restate your position. You are not just looking for a religion to follow; you have reached a point in your life where you know something is missing; you know you have a purpose and that life just isn't working the way it should.
You know that you need God to do something in your life, and if He doesn't, you just don't know what to do.
Now, that's an easy question to answer. Jesus was asked that a lot, and we have His replies to guide our response.
STEP ONE: You accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior
(John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Eph 2:1-10)
Here you need to know that you are truly repentant, and recognize that you, along with all the rest of the world, are a sinner in need of Salvation. That all sounds easy enough, and you may or may not be feeling a great deal of emotions at this moment (Feelings are fickle, they are not a determining factor), but it's not just a matter of spouting a series of words that is going to change your destiny. It has to be heart-felt.
Feelings can lie to us, and direct us from the truth. If we make a commitment out of fear, that promise will very likely be forgotten when the feeling of fear passes (soldiers in wartime would call this a "foxhole promise.") But if the feeling we are experiencing is that of being lost, having reached the "end of our rope," the chances are much better that we will strive to retain the joy of having been "found."
You must realize that you are being saved by two individual operations. The first is God's Grace toward you (that means He is giving you something that He does not have to give, and something that you don't deserve). And the second is your Faith. Faith means that you believe He is able and willing to rescue you (James 2:14-26; Mk 9:24).
Faith is not a feeling, it is an action; it's a behavior; it is a lifestyle. Faith is something that moves you from one point to another. The opposite of Faith is Fear. If you do not move when you say you have faith, then you have fear: and the fearful are sent to the pit (Rev 21:8).
The final portion of step one is surrender and submission. Surrender means that you are turning everything you have; everything you are over to Jesus. You are in essence acknowledging Him as your Lord and Master; in other words, you are saying that you wish to be His slave, or servant. [As you mature in the Lord, that relationship will change (John Chapter 15; Gal 4:1-9).]
This is a difficult concept for people in "civilized" countries to comprehend where we have no slavery or Imperialism. Many other nations grasp the concept easily, as did the people in almost every nation and time period up until the present; where "Individual Rights;" and even "man is god" attitudes have become prevalent.
However, no one is free; we are all either a slave to Jesus, or to Satan. This authority was given to Satan when he caused Adam and eve to fall, and has been referred to often throughout the Bible (2Cor 4:3,4).
Now if you are sincere about wanting to be saved, then you already recognize that your present master isn't treating you too well, and wish to accept the Price that Jesus paid for your freedom; which is His blood, which should have been yours (Eph 2:1-3).
You are saying that you recognize the extreme sacrifice that He made for you, and you are thankful from your heart; and you are willing to do whatever He wishes with you. You are also acknowledging that you realize that He will only do what is best for you, regardless of how it seems at the time (Heb 10:10; Matt 7:11; John 15:1-11).
This is a harsh reality, and one that you don't have to accept if you don't want to. There are plenty of churches out there that will ease you into their church and provide what some refer to as "Cheap Grace." I would suggest, however, that if you follow this procedure, that you read your Bible faithfully and carefully, then see if you still feel comfortable with your decision.
Don't worry, however; Your decision isn't conclusive; that is you can always surrender yourself later if you so chose. God will still be there, and Jesus' Sacrifice for you will still be viable. His Love doesn't change; that is a human characteristic (Mal 3:6).
STEP TWO: You receive the Holy Ghost
(John 3:5,6; 2Cor 3:3; Rom 8:11)
This one is easy. You have nothing to do with it. If you are sincere (and the chances are that you aren't real sure of your sincerity, but God knows), you will be given the Holy Spirit. At this time you are dealing with but a "seed" of faith on your part, and only receiving a "seed" of the Holy Spirit on God's part.
You may experience nothing at all at this time, or you may speak in tongues (I never have) or, (as some have reported) be "Slain in the Spirit." None of those external signs matter. What matters is that you have truly received the Holy Spirit; and the signs of this will be a desire to make changes in your life, as described below.
As for signs, I wept - deeply! And this for a month. I couldn't think of the Lord, or a Christian song, or any such thing without sobbing; But that was 30 years after I was converted, but had not yet fully given my life to the Lord. My life changed when I did something about it; turned around; began emptying myself. When I think of all those precious years I wasted.
STEP THREE: You "Work out your salvation."
(John 8:31; 14:15; Phil 2:12-15)
Now this is the one that gets much of the Christian world in an uproar. "Works! People are saved by Faith, by Grace; not works!"
And that's right. Salvation is something you can't work for, you can only accept it as a free gift from God. It is the Gift you receive that does the work through you (Isa 64:6,7).
If you have been sincere with step one; then you have received the Holy Ghost. If you were not sincere, then you have not received the Holy Ghost.
If you find that you are able to do the things you did before without a feeling of guilt. If you are able to speak lightly of God and Jesus without remorse, then chances are you need to re-examine step one (Matt 13:1-23).
When you are truly converted, you are "Born Again" into the Kingdom of Heaven. You become a Child in the Family of God (John 3:3-21).
That Seed of the Holy Spirit you have received, though it is very small, is a part of the Godhead, and He loves and "misses" the Father and the Son. He hates and is repulsed by sin, and will not let you feel comfortable indulging in it; not even in your thought-life or your attitudes (Matt 5:28). Sin (which is your human nature) is a barrier that separates us from God; and the Holy Spirit will work within you to tear down that barrier (Isa 59:1-2). The Holy Spirit will reveal more and more things you need to be rid of; and some you will very likely resist because they are so much a part of you, and may very likely even be considered as "good" things, not bad. Be aware, however, the voice of God is very, very quiet, so when you begin to resist and deny, or let your own voice overpower His, you will find yourself on a side road that leads further and further away from Him without realizing it. (1 Kings 19:12)
You will find yourself losing your old desires to sin, and wanting to replace them with desires to be as holy as God is willing to bring you to be. You will also discover what heart-felt repentance is, and why the Ten Commandments are no longer applied; you won't need laws to tell you what you must do, because God's laws will be written on your heart, not on stone.
As you "prune" away the sins from your life, you will be making room for the Holy Spirit to grow. The more you prune away, and the more the Holy Spirit grows - the more joy you will experience, and the more you will be anxious to have other sins you were not even aware of be revealed so you can get rid of them as well (1Cor 11:31,32).
Of course, you will find that you are unable to rid yourself of them, and saying to God: "There's another one, Dear Father; what are you going to do with this one. You know I'm not able to deal with it; you're going to have to do it."
You may well find that you don't like what God does in order to deal with the problem. For instance; if it's anger, He will very likely bring up one thing after another that makes you mad, until you no longer become angry.
But what a feeling of joy and relief you will feel when it's gone. And what's more; you will be absolutely positive that you are a Child of God because He only disciplines His children (Heb Chapter 12:).
The Holy Spirit within you will not only be growing, and taking more control of your life - but He will be experiencing joy as He brings you closer and closer to the Father and the Son (Luke 17:21).
And the more you mature in the Lord, the more the Scriptures will open up to you. You will find an understanding of the Word that causes you to want more and more. Along with this you will discover that you will have a new-found passion for your fellow man and for Lost Souls that is not possible for the man Adam to experience.
You will discover that Love is something that comes from God; not something we can stir up within our self (Rom 5:5; 2Tim 1:7).
And you will discover what Fruits of the Spirit are. They are works produced by the Holy Spirit through you, not by you (Gal 5:22-25).
Those Works are the result of Salvation, and you can no more stop producing them, once the Holy Spirit begins to mature, than you could cut off your arm. They are your Joy, your Peace that is beyond Understanding (Phil 4:7).
[Now, there is a school of thought (a very big school) that says Works have nothing to do with Salvation and Security. I won't argue that point. But if you had a child that said; "I love you" and "I trust you," but didn't obey you, and did that which he knew hurt and angered you - would you believe him? (Luke 6:46; James 2:26).
Note:
You will likely find that many people, even Christians, will dismiss or even vilify your new-found way of life. All they are really telling you is that they very likely have not been truly accepted into the Family of Heaven (Rom 8:7; John10:20; Acts 26:24). Just smile, and pray for them; knowing that there are many that call themselves Christians, but very few that Jesus calls Christian. (Matt 20:16; 7:13-27).
You are invited to visit the websites below for more information and support in your new venture.
And keep in mind, your mind is still carnal at this time, so don't feel distressed if doubts creep into your thoughts. Your security is in the Word of God, not in the words in your head (Rom Chapter 8 ; Rom 3:4).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
1Cor 11:31,32 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
2Cor 3:3 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Cor 4:3,4 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Tim 1:7 7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Acts 2:46,47 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
ACT 18:21 21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Acts 26:24 24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Eph 2:1-10 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Gal 5:22-25 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Gal 4:1-9 1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Heb Chapter 10 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Heb Chapter 12 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire.
Isa 59:1,2 1Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Isa 64:6 6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
James 2:14-26 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Jeremiah 31:33,34 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
John 10:20 20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
John 14:15-27 15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John Chapter 15 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. 23He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 8:31 31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 14:15 15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 3:3-21 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Luke 6:46 46And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 17:21 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Mal 3:6 6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Matt 5:28 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matt 20:16 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Matt 7:11-27 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matt 13: 1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mark 9:24 24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 2:27,28 27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Phil 2:12-15 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Phil 4:7 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Rom Chapter 8 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 3:4 3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Rom 5:5 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 10:9 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rev 21:8 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
1 Kings 19: 11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
Gal 3: 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Rom 4: 15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
