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Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Philippians 2:10-11 – “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
John 14:12 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
John 14:13-14 – “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.“
Mark 16:15-20 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”
In this article, we will explore the profound statement made by Jesus Christ, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV). We will delve into the meaning and significance of this declaration, its implications for believers, and the power and authority bestowed upon us by Jesus. Join us on this journey as we uncover the depths of God’s plan for His people.
Jesus Said, “All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth” – Matthew 28:18
Understanding the Scriptures on Jesus’ Authority
The Source of Jesus’ Authority
Jesus’ assertion of all authority is not a mere boast or empty claim. It is grounded in His divine identity and the work He accomplished on the cross. Before we can fully grasp the extent of Jesus’ authority, we must first understand His relationship with the Father. Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, shares in the divine authority and power of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Together, they form the sovereign triune God, the creator and sustainer of all things.
Jesus’ Authority in His Earthly Ministry
During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority in various ways. His teaching carried an unparalleled weight and wisdom that left His hearers in awe (Matthew 7:29). He displayed His authority by forgiving sins, something only God has the power to do (Matthew 9:6). Jesus calmed storms, healed diseases, cast out demons, and even raised the dead, showcasing His dominion over all creation (Matthew 8:26; John 11:43).
However, it is essential to recognize that Jesus, in His humility, did not always exert His authority to the fullest extent. He willingly subjected Himself to the limitations of human form, experiencing obedience to earthly authorities such as His parents and civil rulers. Yet, even in His earthly state, Jesus possessed inherent authority that would be fully restored and expanded upon His resurrection and exaltation.
Jesus’ Universal and Unlimited Authority
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father, where He was given the name above every name (Ephesians 1:20-23). It is in this exalted position that Jesus proclaims His universal and unlimited authority. He declares, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
This statement encompasses the entire scope of creation. Jesus’ authority extends beyond earthly realms to the heavenly realms as well. There is no place or realm in the universe where His authority does not reign supreme. His authority penetrates every sphere of influence, from the spiritual to the material.
The Implications for Believers
As believers in Christ, we are recipients of the authority and power entrusted to Jesus. Through our union with Him, we become partakers of His divine nature and inheritors of His authority (2 Peter 1:4). Jesus Himself affirms this truth when He says, “I have been given all power and authority, and now I give it to you” (paraphrased).
This authority empowers us to carry out the Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). We have been commissioned to proclaim the gospel, to bring light into darkness, and to advance the kingdom of God on earth.
The Authority to Overcome the Enemy
One of the significant implications of the authority given to believers is the power to overcome the enemy. Jesus declares, “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). This authority enables us to resist the schemes of the devil, to cast out demons, and to stand firm against the forces of darkness.
By operating in the authority given to us, we can walk in victory, knowing that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We have the privilege and responsibility to exercise this authority with humility, love, and discernment, always relying on the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit.
Our Authority in Submission to God
While we have been given authority, it is essential to remember that we are also under authority. God, the blessed and only Ruler, is the ultimate source of all authority (1 Timothy 6:15). We are called to submit to His will and align our lives with His purposes. Our authority is not self-derived or autonomous; it flows from our intimate relationship with God and our obedience to His commands.
Submission to God also means recognizing and respecting the authorities He has established in this world. Whether it be parents, church leaders, or civil authorities, we are called to honor and submit to their leadership (Ephesians 6:1; Romans 13:1-7). Our exercise of authority should always be rooted in love, humility, and a desire to serve rather than dominate.
The Confidence of Believers in God’s Authority
As believers, we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we have been given access to His presence through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16). Our confidence does not arise from our own abilities or merits but from our trust in the authority and power of God.
In times of uncertainty, trials, or spiritual warfare, we can rest assured that the authority of Jesus is greater than any challenge we may face. We can boldly declare His promises, knowing that His word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). Our confidence lies not in ourselves but in the One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth.
The Authority of Jesus: A Call to Action
Understanding the authority given to Jesus and subsequently to believers should lead us to a response of worship, obedience, and mission. We are called to boast in the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and power (2 Corinthians 10:17). Our lives should reflect the authority we have been entrusted with as we serve others, speak the truth, and share the gospel with boldness (Titus 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11).
In conclusion, the declaration of Jesus, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth,” is a profound truth that shapes the identity and mission of believers. It is a reminder of the power and authority we possess as we walk in union with Christ. Let us embrace this authority with humility, love, and a deep reverence for the One who has bestowed it upon us.
All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mark 16:15-18 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Group 1 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 9:6-8 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
John 20:19-24 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” …
Group 2 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
John 12:48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
John 6:55-59 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.
Group 3 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:1-21 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, …
Group 4 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Matthew 21:23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 John 1:9-11 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Group 5 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 7:29 For he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Ephesians 2:14-16 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Group 6 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
Group 7 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
James 2:19-20 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Genesis 1:1-31 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. …
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Colossians 2:14 By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Group 8 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Luke 24:46-47 And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Romans 7:6-7 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
1 Peter 1:5 Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Colossians 1:1-29 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …
Group 9 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Hebrews 10:9 Then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
Hebrews 8:7-9 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
Group 10 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
John 6:50-71 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. …
Matthew 7:28-29 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Group 11 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 15:9 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Group 12 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 14:36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Jeremiah 31:31-32 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
Exodus 34:27-28 And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Group 13 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
2 Peter 3:1-2 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
Galatians 1:11-12 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:26 But has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Galatians 3:23-28 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. …
Group 14 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Romans 3:1-9:33 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) …
Group 15 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
John 16:13-15 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Genesis 12:1-20 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. …
Group 16 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Matthew 5:31-32 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Peter 3:15-16 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Group 17 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Romans 7:4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
Romans 1:1-32 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, …
Group 18 – All Authority Has Been Given to Me in Heaven and on Earth
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Acts 8:36-38 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith? The topic of aliens and extraterrestrial life has long fascinated humanity. From ancient myths to modern science fiction, the idea of extraterrestrial beings has captured our imagination. But what does the Bible, the holy book of Christianity, have to say about aliens and extraterrestrial life? In this article, we will explore the biblical perspective on this topic and examine relevant Bible verses that shed light on the subject.
Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith: A Biblical Perspective on Extraterrestrial Life
What the Scriptures Say About Extraterrestrial Life
The Mystery of God’s Creation
As Christians, we can marvel at the vastness and complexity of God’s creation. The existence or non-existence of aliens does not diminish the power and majesty of God. Whether there are other sentient beings in the universe or not, the Bible assures us of God’s sovereignty over all creation.
God Almighty says in Isaiah 66:2, My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
The Earth as God’s Creation
In order to understand the Bible’s perspective on aliens, we must first recognize the biblical view of creation. According to the Bible, God created the Earth and everything in it. In Genesis 1, we read about God’s creation of the heavens, the Earth, and all living creatures. The focus of God’s creation and redemptive plan is centered on the Earth and humanity.
The Silence of the Scriptures (No Mention of Extraterrestrial Life)
When it comes to the existence of aliens, the Bible is remarkably silent. There is no direct mention of extraterrestrial life or beings from other planets in its pages. The Bible primarily focuses on God’s relationship with humanity and the redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ. This does not mean, however, that the Bible denies the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth. It simply means that the Bible does not provide explicit details or teachings on this subject. The absence of any direct reference to aliens in the Bible has led to various interpretations and speculations.
Interpreting Biblical Passages
Some proponents of the idea of extraterrestrial life point to certain passages in the Bible as possible references to aliens. For example, the inaugural vision of the prophet Ezekiel, described in Ezekiel 1, includes vivid imagery of strange creatures and a fiery chariot. While these descriptions are intriguing, it is important to interpret them within their historical and cultural context. These passages are primarily symbolic and may represent spiritual or heavenly realities rather than physical beings from other planets.
Similarly, Jesus’ statement in John 10:16 about “sheep from another fold” has been interpreted by some as a reference to extraterrestrial beings. However, a closer examination reveals that Jesus was using figurative language to describe Gentiles, who were considered outsiders by the Jewish religious leaders of his time. This metaphorical language emphasizes Jesus’ mission to bring salvation to all people, regardless of their background.
Theological Considerations
From a theological perspective, the absence of explicit references to extraterrestrial life in the Bible raises philosophical questions. If intelligent life exists on other planets, what is its relationship with God? Did Jesus’ sacrifice on Earth have any implications for beings on other planets? These are complex theological questions that the Bible does not directly address.
However, it is important to remember that the Bible teaches that God is the creator of the universe and all that is in it. Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This verse reminds us that the vastness and beauty of the cosmos reflect God’s creative power and glory. If there are other intelligent beings in the universe, they too would be part of God’s creation.
Redemption and Salvation
One of the key theological questions when considering the existence of aliens is the issue of redemption and salvation. If aliens exist and are sentient beings capable of moral choices, do they require redemption in the same way humans do? The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that salvation is found through faith in Him (John 14:6).
If aliens were to exist and require redemption, would Jesus still be their way of salvation? Some may argue that if aliens have different biological makeup or physiology, the means of their redemption could be different. However, the central message of the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16). It is God’s power and mercy that provide salvation, not specific physiological attributes or blood composition.
God’s Image and Aliens
Another aspect to consider is the concept of being created in the image of God. The Bible teaches that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This image is often understood to refer to the spiritual characteristics and moral nature that humans possess. If aliens were to exist and not display these same characteristics, it raises questions about their relationship with God and their status as beings created in His image.
The Problem of Demonic Activity
Throughout history, there have been reports of encounters with extraterrestrial beings, often described as alien abductions or encounters with UFOs. Interestingly, some of these reports bear similarities to descriptions of demonic activity found in the Bible. There are accounts of deception, fear, and even the cessation of these encounters when individuals call upon the name of Jesus Christ.
While the Bible does not explicitly connect aliens with demonic activity, it is worth considering the similarities and the spiritual implications of these encounters. The Bible warns against engaging in practices that involve communicating with spirits or seeking supernatural experiences apart from God (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
The Limitations of Human Knowledge
When contemplating the existence of aliens, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of human knowledge and understanding. The Bible reminds us that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Our current understanding of the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial life is limited by our finite knowledge.
Speculation and the Need for Biblical Discernment
Given the lack of direct biblical guidance on the topic of aliens, it is essential for Christians to exercise discernment when engaging in discussions or speculations about extraterrestrial life. While it is natural to be curious and intrigued by the possibility of aliens, it is crucial to ground our beliefs and viewpoints in the teachings of the Bible.
The Meaning of “Alien” in the Bible
While the Bible does not discuss extraterrestrial life, it does mention the word “alien” in various contexts. In the biblical sense, the term “alien” refers to a foreigner or a stranger, someone who is not a citizen or resident of a particular land. The Bible contains instructions on how to treat aliens with kindness and fairness, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and compassion towards those who are different from us.
Extraterrestrial Life and God’s Sovereignty
The concept of extraterrestrial life raises questions about the scope of God’s creation and his sovereignty over the universe. If there are intelligent beings on other planets, did God create them in his image as he did with humans on Earth? The Bible teaches that humanity is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but it does not provide specific details about how God may have created other intelligent beings, if they exist.
The sovereignty of God extends over the entire universe, and if there are aliens, they too would be under God’s authority. The Bible affirms God’s power and control over all creation, including any potential extraterrestrial life. Psalm 103:19 declares, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
Speculation and Faith
While the Bible does not provide definitive answers about aliens and extraterrestrial life, it does invite us to exercise faith and trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty. It encourages us to focus on our relationship with God and the mission he has given us on Earth rather than becoming preoccupied with speculative questions about life on other planets.
As Christians, our ultimate hope is not in the existence of aliens or the mysteries of the universe, but in the redemption and eternal life offered through faith in Jesus Christ. Our focus should be on spreading the gospel message and living out the teachings of the Bible, rather than getting caught up in speculation about extraterrestrial life.
Conclusion
While it is silent on this topic, the Bible affirms God’s creative power and sovereignty over the entire universe. It invites us to trust in God’s wisdom and focus on our relationship with him rather than speculating about extraterrestrial beings.
As Christians, we can approach the topic of aliens with an open mind, acknowledging that there is much we do not know or understand. We can engage in conversations and explore scientific discoveries with humility and a desire to learn more about God’s creation. Ultimately, our faith is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life that he offers, regardless of what may or may not exist beyond our planet.
In conclusion, the Bible does not provide a definitive answer to the question or existence of aliens and extraterrestrial life. While the scriptures primarily focus on God’s relationship with humanity, there are theological considerations and unanswered questions when contemplating the existence of aliens. As Christians, it is important to approach this topic with humility, discernment, and a reliance on God’s wisdom and guidance. Ultimately, our faith and hope rest in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who came to save humanity and reconcile us to God.
Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith?
Malachi 3:6 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
Isaiah 60:8 Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?
Ezekiel 1:4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.
Isaiah 13:5 They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Group 1 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Genesis 6:1-22 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. …
Ezekiel 1:1-28 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, …
Group 2 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Exodus 22:21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Revelation 9:7-11 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Exodus 23:9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Group 3 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Exodus 12:49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”
Leviticus 19:33-34 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Ezekiel 1:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.
Psalm 97:6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
Acts 19:35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?
Group 4 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Deuteronomy 10:19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Deuteronomy 4:19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.
Leviticus 24:22 You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.”
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
Jeremiah 22:3 Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.
Group 5 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
Leviticus 19:34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Ezekiel 1:19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.
Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
Ezekiel 47:22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Group 6 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Genesis 6:1-4 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
Leviticus 19:33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
Psalm 146:9 The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
2 Kings 2:11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Group 7 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
2 Kings 2:1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Revelation 12:12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Ezekiel 1:6 But each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.
Deuteronomy 24:14 “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns.
Deuteronomy 17:3 And has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden,
James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Group 8 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Ezekiel 1:14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Revelation 13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
Genesis 1:14-15 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Exodus 12:45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it.
Ezekiel 1:16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.
Amos 9:2-3 “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down. If they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search them out and take them; and if they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them.
Group 9 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
1 John 3:1-2 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Leviticus 23:22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Group 10 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Ezekiel 1:23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.
Psalm 19:1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Kings 2:11-12 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Ezekiel 1:15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.
Deuteronomy 27:19 “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
Ezekiel 1:22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
Group 11 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Hebrews 11:1-40 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. …
Romans 8:18-22 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. …
Group 12 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Psalm 39:12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.
Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
John 10:16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.
Deuteronomy 1:16 And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.
Group 13 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Romans 13:1-7 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …
Genesis 6:1-2 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.
Ezekiel 1:21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Group 14 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Psalm 8:3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
Psalm 82:1 A Psalm of Asaph. God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
Deuteronomy 30:4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you.
Ezekiel 1:8-11 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.
Group 15 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Colossians 2:1-23 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. …
Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Matthew 25:38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Zechariah 5:1-2 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”
Group 16 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
1 Corinthians 15:40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.
Acts 15:20 But should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Mark 13:1-37 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. …
Group 17 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
1 Corinthians 15:40-41 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
Colossians 1:1-29 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, …
Group 18 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Zephaniah 2:11 The Lord will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations.
Mark 13:27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Group 19 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Ezekiel 47:21-22 “So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
Isaiah 45:12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Group 20 – Would Proof that Aliens Exist Impact the Christian Faith
Zechariah 7:8-10 And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
Deuteronomy 14:21 “You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Discover Bible Verses About Spiritual Alertness as well as What the Bible Says About Spiritual Alertness. In our journey as Christians, it is crucial to be aware of the spiritual battle that surrounds us. The Bible emphasizes the need for alertness and vigilance in order to stand firm in our faith and resist the schemes of the enemy. This article explores what the Bible says about alertness and provides insights on how we can cultivate a spirit of alertness in our daily lives.
What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Alertness?
What the Scriptures Say About Being Spiritually Alert
The Importance of Alertness
Alertness, as described in the Bible, is not merely a physical state of being awake, but a spiritual state of being watchful and vigilant. It is recognizing the existence of spiritual warfare and understanding the need to be prepared. The apostle Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” This verse reminds us that even those who think they are standing firm in their faith should be cautious, as the enemy seeks to deceive and lead astray.
Alertness in the Face of Spiritual Opposition
1 Peter 5:8 reminds us of the spiritual opposition we face: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The devil is constantly seeking to undermine our faith and lead us away from God. Being alert means recognizing his tactics and remaining steadfast in our commitment to Christ.
The Role of Prayer in Alertness
Prayer is a powerful tool in maintaining spiritual alertness. Ephesians 6:18 instructs us to “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Through prayer, we can seek God’s guidance, protection, and strength to resist the enemy’s attacks. It is through prayer that we can stay connected to God and seek His wisdom and discernment.
The Armor of God: Equipping Ourselves for Battle
Ephesians 6:10-20 provides a comprehensive guide to spiritual warfare and the armor of God. Each piece of the armor represents a different aspect of our spiritual defense, and being alert allows us to effectively utilize this armor. Let’s explore each piece of the armor and its significance in maintaining our alertness:
1. The Belt of Truth
The belt of truth represents the foundation of our faith, the Word of God. By knowing and living according to the truth revealed in the Bible, we can discern the lies and deception of the enemy.
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts and represents a life lived in obedience to God’s commands. It is through righteous living that we guard against the attacks of the enemy.
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
The shoes of the gospel of peace equip us to share the good news of Jesus Christ. By being prepared to share our faith, we actively engage in spiritual warfare and bring light to the darkness.
4. The Shield of Faith
The shield of faith enables us to extinguish the fiery darts of the enemy. It is through faith in God’s promises and trust in His character that we can withstand the attacks of doubt and fear.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
The helmet of salvation protects our minds and reminds us of our secure position in Christ. It is through the assurance of our salvation that we can combat the enemy’s attempts to sow seeds of doubt and confusion.
6. The Sword of the Spirit
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, which we can wield against the enemy’s lies and deception. By knowing and applying the Scriptures, we can counter the enemy’s attacks with truth.
7. Praying in the Spirit
Prayer is not just a defensive weapon; it is also an offensive weapon in our spiritual arsenal. Through prayer, we can seek God’s intervention, intercede for others, and declare victory over the enemy’s schemes.
Cultivating Alertness in Daily Life
Maintaining alertness is not solely about being prepared for spiritual battles but also about living a life of obedience and discernment. Here are some practical ways to cultivate alertness in our daily lives:
Immerse Yourself in God’s Word: Regularly read and study the Bible to deepen your understanding of God’s truth and equip yourself with spiritual wisdom.
Pray Continually: Develop a habit of ongoing communication with God. Seek His guidance, protection, and strength through prayer.
Stay Accountable: Surround yourself with fellow believers who can hold you accountable in your spiritual walk and provide support during times of temptation.
Guard Your Thoughts: Be mindful of the influences you allow into your mind. Fill your thoughts with what is pure, noble, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Recognize Spiritual Attacks: Be alert to the enemy’s tactics and strategies. Stay attuned to the Holy Spirit’s leading and discernment to recognize and resist the enemy’s lies.
Remain Humble: Pride can blind us to our own vulnerabilities. Stay humble and dependent on God, recognizing that it is only through His strength that we can stand firm.
Conclusion
Being alert in our spiritual journey is essential for maintaining our standing before God and effectively resisting the enemy’s attacks. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word, cultivating a life of prayer, and staying vigilant in our spiritual walk, we can develop a spirit of alertness. Let us heed the call to be watchful and prepared, recognizing that our strength comes from the Lord and that victory is found in Him alone.
Bible Verses About Being Spiritually Alert
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-9 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. …
Group 1 – Bible Verses About Being Spiritually Alert
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Luke 21:36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Acts 2:37-39 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Mark 13:33-37 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Group 2 – Bible Verses About Being Spiritually Alert
Luke 12:35-48 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. …
Matthew 24:42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Luke 10:25-28 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Group 3 – Bible Verses About Being Spiritually Alert
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Matthew 24:37-39 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Ephesians 4:22-24 To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Group 4 – Bible Verses About Being Spiritually Alert
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Group 5 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread,
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. …
Group 6 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
Acts 2:40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 2:1-52 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. …
Group 7 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, …
Group 8 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Acts 3:19-21 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. …
Group 9 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!
Mark 14:1-72 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. …
Matthew 24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Matthew 24:21-22 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Group 10 – Spiritual Alertness Bible Verses
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Mark 13:33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
How is Satan god of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4)? Satan, also known as the Devil is sometimes referred to as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), prince of demons (Matthew 9:34), father of lies (John 8:44), “ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Also, the prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13) is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia. Ephesians 2:1-2 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein 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:” Paul describes Satan as a “prince” with power because he has authentic power in the world (1 John 5:19) which was given to him by God (Luke 4:6). Satan has power over some illness (Luke 13:16; Job 2:1-11). In 2 Corinthians 12:7—it’s unknown if Paul’s “thorn” was an illness or something else.
Brethren, the main reason why Satan is called a prince rather than a king is that there is only one King—Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:15). Behold, Satan also has power over some people. The “sons of disobedience” referred to in Ephesians 2:2 are those who have not believed and trusted Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 13:12). The demons are also under the rule of Satan (Matthew 12:24). Satan has a kingdom (Matthew 12:26) and a throne (Revelation 2:13). Satan is called a prince because he is a ruler and possesses the power to manifest evil in the world through influencing people and commanding demons that are at his service.
How is Satan god of this World
In Ephesians 2:2, “the air” may refer to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move, exist and influence the happenings in the world. And of course, this space is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This evil realm called the “air” could be an actual locality, but it could also be synonymous with the “world” of John 12:31. This whole world is Satan’s domain (Matthew 4:8–9).
As Christians, it’s important to know and understand that although Satan has power and authority in the current world system in which we exist, his power is limited, always under the sovereign control of God (Job 1:12), and it is temporary (Romans 16:20). To say, for example, that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” is to signify that in some way he rules over the world and the people in it. Brethren, the Lord God Almighty has not revealed all of the reasons why and when concerning Satan’s rule, but He has made it clear that there is only one way to escape the power of Satan’s dominion, and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13–14). Behold, it is Jesus Christ who, speaking of the impending cross, declared victory: “Now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12:31).
More Biblical Facts on the Prince of the Power of the Air
Brethren, Satan is now “the ruler of this world,” and until the Lord casts him out (John 12:31) he will continue to rule. The power (or authority) of the air probably refers to Satan’s host of demons who exist in the heavenly sphere. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul has this in mind and warns of “the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In this current age, Satan and his demons hold captive, dominate, pressurize, and control everyone who is unsaved. He is the personification of spiritual death because he is the personification of rebellion against God—and so is the system he designed and implemented. Satan is the archon, the prince, and the ruler over this world system. Perhaps not all unsaved people are necessarily indwelt at all times by Satan or are demon-possessed. But knowingly or unknowingly they are subject to Satan’s influence.
The unsaved are subject to Satan’s influence because they share his nature of sinfulness and exist in the same sphere of rebellion against the Lord God Almighty. As such, the unsaved respond naturally to Satan’s leading and to the influence of his demons. In fact, they are on the same spiritual wavelength. As with the world, the air over which Satan has controlling power represents the sphere where demons move and operate. The air could be used metaphorically, as when we speak of an “air of expectancy.” In our context, world and air would be almost synonymous, both of them representing a realm, or sphere, of influence. In Ephesians 6:12, Apostle Paul has in mind the fact that Satan rules the power (demons) who occupy the air (the heavenly sphere around the earth). As such, the unsaved are not free or independent but are dominated by the hosts of hell.
How is Satan the god of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4)?
The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, goals, opinions, hopes, and views of the majority of people in the world. Behold, his influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, politics, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas, speculations, and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions. Referring to Satan as the “god of this world” does not mean that he rules the world completely; God is still sovereign. But it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world within the boundaries God has set for him. When the Bible says Satan has power over the world, we must remember that the Lord God has given him domain over unbelievers only.
Brethren, believers are no longer under the rule of Satan (Colossians 1:13). On the other hand, unbelievers are caught “in the snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:26), lie in the “power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and are in bondage of Satan (Ephesians 2:2). So, when the Bible says that Satan is the “god of this world,” it is not saying that he has ultimate authority. It is conveying the idea that Satan rules over the unbelieving world in a specific way. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the unbeliever follows Satan’s agenda: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” Satan’s scheme includes promoting false philosophies in the world—philosophies that blind the unbeliever to the truth of the Gospel.
Satan’s False Philosophy
Satan promotes and makes use of false philosophies to blind the unbeliever to the truth of the Gospel. Such philosophies are the fortresses in which people are imprisoned, and they can only be set free by Christ. An example of one such false philosophy is the belief that man can earn God’s favor by a certain act or many acts. Behold, in almost every false religion, meriting God’s favor or earning eternal life is a predominant theme. However, earning salvation by works is contrary to Biblical revelation. Man cannot work to earn God’s favor; Eternal Life is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). And that free gift from God to humanity is available only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6).
One may ask why mankind does not simply receive the free gift of salvation (John 1:12). Satan—the god of this world—has tempted mankind to follow his pride instead. Satan sets the agenda, the unbelieving world follows, and mankind continues to be deceived. It is for this reason that Scripture calls or refers to Satan as a liar. John 8:44 says, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Who is the Prince of Persia in Daniel 10?
Daniel 10:13 says, “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,” It is only in Daniel 10 that the Prince of Persia is mentioned. Daniel 10 is a highly apocalyptic (and therefore at least partially symbolic) section of the book of Daniel. Most likely, the prince of Persia is a reference to an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia. The prophet Daniel had received a troubling vision concerning a great war (Daniel 10:1). He went into a three-week period of mourning, fasting, and prayer. In response to Daniel’s prayer, God sent a heavenly messenger to explain the vision. However, the messenger was delayed those same three weeks, as he explains to Daniel (Daniel 10:13).
In Daniel 10:20-21, the angel predicts further fighting “Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince).” Taking this passage at face value, it seems that the prince of Persia is a fallen angel who had authority or influence over the physical kingdom of Persia. In Daniel 10, the prophet is praying about the future of his people and their exile in Persia. A heavenly angel is dispatched with the answer, but a demonic “prince of Persia” obstructs the messenger probably because the divine answer involves the overthrow of the Persian Empire. Archangel Michael, who is apparently the prince (or one of the princes) of Israel in the angelic realm brings help.
The Prince of Persia and the Prince of Greece
The angelic messenger who came to Daniel said he will face even more spiritual warfare, returning to fight against the prince of Persia. He said after that, he will face another spiritual enemy, the prince of Greece (Daniel 10:20). We know in history and as it was prophesied in Daniel that Greece would be the next world power after Persia and that Greece would dominate Israel for a time. Here, three spiritual entities are mentioned in relation to three earthly nations: the Prince of Persia, the Prince of Greece, and the Prince of Israel (Michael). As the New Testament explicitly reminds us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). As a matter of fact, the battle is real and as such we must put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Brethren, it seems that, as events unfold on earth, there are corresponding activities in the spiritual realm. We don’t know with certainty whether or not this spiritual prince of Persia’s fate was tied to that of the physical Persian Empire. However, we know that if his job was to keep the Persian Empire in a place of dominance over the nation of Israel, he failed. Interestingly, Iran is modern Persia, and the leaders of Iran still want to dominate or obliterate the nation of Israel. As a Shiite Muslim nation, Iran persecutes Christian believers as well—so perhaps the spiritual Prince of Persia is still active today. But, as with all of Satan’s minions, his time is limited, and he can only go as far as the Lord God will allow in accomplishing His perfect will.
How to Destroy/Overcome the Prince of the Power of the Air
The Prince of the Power of the air is Satan, the diametrical opposite of God. He controls the unrepentant heart and broadcasts his rebellious attitude to the world. Satan’s ultimate and main goal is to control people’s lives. The only way we can overcome or defeat him is in Christ our Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 15:57). The New English Bible portrays the Devil as the commander of the spiritual powers of the air. According to the Concordat Literal New Testament, Satan is also the chief of the jurisdiction of the air. Jurisdiction is the legal term for territory, and he exercises his authority in the earth and air. The devil rules over this world and moves with great influence in the atmosphere. However, the term air is sometimes used in a more metaphorical sense to refer to the spiritual realm of ideas, beliefs, and convictions.
Satan’s domain is the air, and the airwaves are his corrupting medium. Satan has a variety of ways to manipulate man’s emotions, causing people to believe things they shouldn’t. Similarly, he also rules the Entertainment Industry and social institutions. As the lord of the air, Satan has a vast army of demons. His mission is to destroy God’s creation. He rules the airwaves and compels the unrepentant heart to tune into his wavelength. In other words, the devil constantly broadcasts evil thoughts to sway the unrepentant heart. He does this by using the power of the air to manipulate human emotions. Satan can influence the human heart by broadcasting his rebellious nature, attitudes, moods, and impulses. His influence leads people into all kinds of ungodliness both consciously and unconsciously. We can overcome his influence through a Renewal of Mind in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
How is Satan god of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4)?
2 Corinthians 4:4 – “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.“
Acts 26:18 – “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’“
Ephesians 2:2 – “In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“
Ephesians 6:12 – “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.“
Daniel 10:13 – “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,“
Daniel 10:20-21 – Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.”
Revelation 12:9 – “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Group 1 – How is Satan god of this World
Colossians 1:13 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,”
John 12:31 – “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”
1 John 5:19 – “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
2 Timothy 2:26 – “And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
John 16:11 – “Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
Ephesians 2:1-22 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— …“
Group 2 – How is Satan god of this World
Ephesians 5:11 – “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
John 14:30 – “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,“
Ephesians 6:11-13 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.“
Luke 22:31 – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,”
John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Jude 1:6 – “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—”
Group 3 – How is Satan god of this World
Revelation 12:1-17 – “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, ...”
Revelation 20:1-15 – “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. …“
Group 4 – How is Satan god of this World
2 Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Matthew 4:1-25 – “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple …“
Isaiah 14:1-32 – “For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them. When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, …“
Group 5 – How is Satan god of this World
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Genesis 6:1-22 – “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ...”
Revelation 2:1-29 – “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. …“
Group 6 – How is Satan god of this World
Colossians 1:13 – “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,”
2 Thessalonians 2:9 – “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,“
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.“
Ephesians 6:11-12 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.“
Jude 1:9 – But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
James 4:1-17 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.…“
Group 7 – How is Satan god of this World
1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.“
Ephesians 2:1 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins“
Ephesians 2:3 – “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 – “So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
Matthew 24:24 – “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.“
Job 1:6 – “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”
Ezekiel 28:1-26 – The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord God: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god— you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth— …
Group 8 – How is Satan god of this World
Galatians 5:19 – “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,”
2 Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?“
1 Timothy 5:14-15 – “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.“
2 Corinthians 12:7 – “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”
2 Peter 2:1-22 – “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; …“
Group 9 – How is Satan god of this World
1 Corinthians 5:5 – “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.“
2 Corinthians 4:1-18 – “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. …“
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Acts 10:1-48 – “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ...”
Group 10 – How is Satan god of this World
Matthew 25:41 – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“
Revelation 20:1-3 – “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.“
Colossians 2:15 – “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
Romans 16:20 – “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.“
John 13:2 – “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,“
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Luke 22:3 – “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.”
Mark 4:15 – “And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.”
Group 11 – How is Satan god of this World
John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.“
Revelation 4:8 – And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
1 John 3:8 – “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Revelation 12:12 – “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Revelation 16:1-21 – “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. …“
Group 12 – How is Satan god of this World
Matthew 12:24 – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
Isaiah 14:12 – “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!“
James 1:14 – “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.“
Hebrews 1:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?“
Hebrews 2:2 – “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,”
1 Timothy 4:1 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,“
James 2:19 – “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!“
1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
2 Peter 2:4 – “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;“
2 Peter 2:6 – “If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;“
Group 13 – How is Satan god of this World
Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.“
1 Timothy 3:1-16 – “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ...”
Ephesians 4:27 – “And give no opportunity to the devil.”
Revelation 20:10 – “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.“
1 Timothy 3:1-16 – “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? …“
Group 14 – How is Satan god of this World
Ephesians 2:1-2 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—“
Ephesians 2:1-3 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.“
John 11:10 – “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
2 Corinthians 12:4 – “And he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.“
Galatians 5:1-26 – “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. …“
Group 15 – How is Satan god of this World
Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
2 Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.“
2 Corinthians 12:2 – “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.“
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“
1 John 2:11 – “But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.“
1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.“
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
Group 16 – How is Satan god of this World
Acts 13:10 – And said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
Romans 6:1-23 – “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. …“
Romans 8:7 – “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
Romans 11:1-36 – “I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. …“
Group 17 – How is Satan god of this World
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 1:1-32 – “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, …“
Acts 26:1-32 – So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. …
Group 18 – How is Satan god of this World
John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.“
Luke 10:1-42 – “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ …“
Acts 5:3 – But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?”
Acts 17:18 – Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Romans 16:20 – “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Group 19 – How is Satan god of this World
Matthew 13:38 – “The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,”
Matthew 12:1-50 – “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? …“
Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Mark 16:1-20 – “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. …“
Group 20 – How is Satan god of this World
1 John 5:7 – “For there are three that testify:“
Revelation 20:2 – “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,“
Revelation 20:7-10 – “And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.“
Revelation 20:10 – “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Matthew 10:25 – “It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”
Revelation 12:10 – And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
Group 21 – How is Satan god of this World
Jude 1:6 – “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—“
1 Timothy 3:6 – “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
Revelation 12:7 – “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,”
Romans 13:2 – “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
1 John 5:19 – “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Revelation 12:7-10 – “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. …”
Group 22 – How is Satan god of this World
Acts 13:10 – And said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
Matthew 27:45 – “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.“
Matthew 24:29 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.“
Psalm 139:12 – “Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”
Matthew 25:41 – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“
1 Thessalonians 2:18 – “Because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
1 Corinthians 5:5 – “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.“
Luke 22:3 – “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.”
1 Timothy 1:20 – “Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.“
Ephesians 3:10 – “So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
Discover our Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement. In the world today, a prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement (commonly referred to as prenup), is a written contract entered into by a couple prior to marriage or a civil union that enables them to select and control many of the legal rights they acquire upon marrying, and what happens when their marriage eventually ends by death or divorce. Couples enter into an explicitly written prenuptial agreement to supersede many of the default marital laws that would otherwise apply in the event of divorce, such as the laws that govern the division of property, savings, retirement benefits, and the right to seek alimony (spousal support) with agreed-upon terms that provide certainty and clarify their marital rights. In some countries, the prenuptial agreement not only provides for what happens in the event of a divorce but also to protect some property during the marriage, for instance in case of bankruptcy. Postnuptial agreements are similar to prenuptial agreements, except that they are entered into after a couple is married.
As a matter of fact, the Bible talks of prenuptial agreements, although not as the world does. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain elements of prenuptial agreements. It just wasn’t referred to as such—it was called a dowry, a misnomer as the Bible actually refers to a bride price or a dower; in Hebrew, a mohar (Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16; 1 Samuel 18:25). Whatever the term used, the money was paid by the groom to the bride’s father or closest male relative. Women didn’t have the authority to own property or money except in extraordinary circumstances (Numbers 27:1-11). Behold, women were supported by their husbands or, when their husbands died, by their sons—the reason Lots daughters (Genesis 19:30-38) and Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38) were so desperate to have sons. Ideally, the bride price was more of a deposit of alimony, to be invested by the bride’s father and used to care for the bride should in case her husband divorced her or died without giving her sons.
Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
We also hear of the bride price in Exodus 22:16-17 – “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.” Notice that the seduction part implies that the girl was not an unwilling participant in the activities. But the man had not gone to her father to ask for her hand in marriage. If her father agreed to the marriage, the man was obliged to pay the mohar. Even if the father of the girl was against the arrangement, the man was to still pay the full amount of the mohar probably or likely because the girl was practically unmarriable and would need financial support for the rest of her life.
During Biblical times, young men were often not able to afford the entire mohar at the time of the wedding. Rabbis then included the promise of a future mohar into the Ketubah—the prenuptial agreement explaining the husband’s responsibility to the wife both during the marriage and, if need be, upon their divorce. The prenuptial agreement we know today derived from the same idea. A married woman devoted her life to supporting and promoting her husband’s professional success. Just like the women in Bible times, she probably didn’t have a significant source of income for herself, nor had she taken the steps to be competitive in the job market. In this case, a prenuptial agreement acknowledged the part she played in her husband’s success and would ensure she was supported should her husband divorce her.
Definition and Meaning of Ketubah
A ketubah is a Jews marriage contract. It is considered an integral part of traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. According to the Babylonian Talmud, the ketubah was enacted by Simeon Ben Shetach so that it might not be a light thing for a man to divorce his wife. The enactment provides for a man’s wife to receive a fixed sum of money, usually accruing from his property, in the event of his divorcing her or his predeceasing her. Thirteenth-century rabbi, Aharon HaLavi, adds a different reason, writing: “Of the logic behind this one commandment, [we find] that the Torah has commanded us to perform an act before taking a wife, a matter that is intended to show that they are a couple united in wedlock before he lies down with her carnally, and that he not come upon her as one would do to a harlot, where there is no other act that precedes what goes on between them…”
The rabbis in ancient times insisted that those being joined in marriage should enter into the ketubah as a protection for the wife. It acted as the replacement of the biblical mohar – the price paid by the groom to the bride, or her parents, for the marriage (i.e., the bride price). The ketubah served as a contract, whereby the amount due to the wife (the bride price) came to be paid in the event of the cessation of marriage, either by the death of the husband or divorce. The biblical mohar created a major social problem: many young prospective husbands could not raise the mohar at the time they would normally be expected to marry. In order to enable these young men to marry, the rabbis, in effect, delayed the time that the amount would be payable, when they would be more likely to have the sum. The mechanism adopted was to provide for the mohar to be a part of the ketubah. Both the mohar and the ketubah amounts served the same purpose: the protection for the wife should her support by her husband (either by death or divorce) cease. The main difference between the two systems was the timing of the payment. A modern secular equivalent would be the entitlement to alimony in the event of divorce. The ketubah amount served as a disincentive for the husband contemplating divorcing his wife: he would need to have the amount to be able to pay his wife. This was paid in full from a man’s property in the event of his divorcing her during her lifetime, or of his pre-deceasing her.
Arguments For and Against Modern Prenuptial Agreements
Arguments For Prenuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement could protect and provide for the innocent spouse whose marriage breaks up because of biblical reasons, such as abandonment or adultery.
A prenuptial agreement may protect a spouse’s assets if his or her mate has a business or practice that is likely to be sued or go bankrupt.
A poorer spouse who signs away his or her rights to the richer spouse’s assets proves that the motivation for the marriage is love and not money.
If children are brought into the marriage, the prenuptial agreement can protect their inheritance given by the extended family.
A prenuptial agreement awarding the poorer spouse a significant settlement might make the richer partner more willing to work on the marriage for fear of losing money (although rarely the case in real life).
Arguments Against Prenuptial Agreements
The existence of a prenuptial agreement indicates that the couple contemplated and prepared for divorce before they were even married; this does not reflect a solid, Bible-based commitment.
Financial situations can change during a marriage, and the prenuptial agreement may not allow for the change.
Most prenuptial agreements aren’t designed to provide for the poorer spouse but to protect the assets of the richer spouse, which is selfish and not in line with the unity of marriage.
Prenuptial agreements cannot, by Law, decide the fate of existing or potential children and, therefore, cannot adequately determine their needs should a divorce occur.
Irrespective of the arguments for and against, God entered the cultural mohar into the Mosaic Law. It is simply to ensure the well-being of the partner who has dedicated his or her life to the personal support and professional advancement of the more financially-successful spouse. As Christians, we should be just in our ways as the Lord our God is just. Isaiah 61:8 – “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.” Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“ Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.“ Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Biblical Facts About Agreements Before Marriage
Brethren, as idealistic as it is to say that the Bible does not mention, reject, or is against prenuptial agreements, it simply isn’t true. God is a realist and intensely concerned with the rights and protection of the vulnerable (Isaiah 1:17). As long as a prenuptial agreement is used to promote and maintain justice (Isaiah 61:8), protect, and support the innocent, it cannot be referred to as unbiblical. Nevertheless, God tells us how we are to view marriage, and from that, we can equally figure out how prenuptial agreements or “prenups” would be viewed. First, God intended marriage to be permanent, lasting as long as both spouses are alive. As such, when two Christians go into a marriage, it should be with the strong belief that divorce is not an option. Having a prenuptial agreement allows for the possibility of divorce. When the Lord God formed Eve from Adam’s rib, He was signifying the purpose of a husband-and-wife relationship. Behold, the woman is the man’s helper, taken from under his protective arm and formed from the same flesh. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Being “one flesh” clearly means that a husband and wife should not even consider separating. The only reason the Law ever allowed divorce was the people’s hard-hearted insistence as a right (Matthew 19:8). God never changes, and He despises divorce (Malachi 2:16).
The characteristics of genuine love in 1 Corinthians 13 are likely to obviate the need for prenuptial agreements especially when they are motivated by selfish interests. Notice that Biblical love is a conscious decision that we are going to do what is best for others the way God always does what is best for us. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Brethren, we should be characterized by this kind of love, especially within a Christian marriage. If love “endures through every circumstance” (NLT), then we are more likely not to see the need for prenuptial agreements.
Ephesians 5 reveals a lot about the roles of a husband and wife in marriage. Husbands are called to love their wives with the same love that Christ showed the church (Ephesians 5:25)—a love that did not shrink from sacrifice. Wives are to honor their husbands and submit to their leadership (Ephesians 5:22). Just as Christ will never leave us, a husband should never leave his wife. Husbands should love their wives as they love themselves (Ephesians 5:28), and wives should respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33). Notice that the biblical model of marriage clearly teaches the permanence of the union and the necessity of selflessness; prenuptial agreements, by their very nature, cast doubt on the permanence of the union and foster selfishness. As such we are more likely not to see the need for a prenuptial agreement between two mature and sincere Christian people, committed to God and each other. Of course, both the husband and wife will sin, but “love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). God calls us to forgive each other just as He has forgiven us, but a prenup is likely to be seen as a plan to not forgive. Brethren, if two truly become one, shouldn’t the distinction between “yours” and “mine” be eradicated—or at least highly blurred? Irrespective of how today’s society perceives, defines, or promotes prenuptial agreements, God’s ways contradict the world’s (Luke 16:15; Romans 12:2). And as such, let love lead in our decisions concerning prenuptial agreements (Colossians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Matthew 19:8 – He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”
Matthew 19:4-6 – He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-8 – “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, …“
Malachi 2:16 – “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.“
John 5:30 – “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.“
Group 1 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Malachi 2:16 – For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong and violence,” says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife].
Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
1 Corinthians 7:15 – “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.“
Proverbs 22:24-25 – “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
1 Peter 3:7 – “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Colossians 3:19 – “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.“
Proverbs 21:9 – “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.“
Proverbs 15:1-33 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. …“
Group 2 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,“
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Matthew 18:15-17 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.“
Titus 3:2 – “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.“
Group 3 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Hebrews 13:4 – “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Isaiah 43:1-28 – “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. …“
1 Timothy 3:2 – “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,“
Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Titus 3:10-11 – “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
Group 4 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 5:11 – “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “But test everything; hold fast what is good.”
Matthew 5:31-32 – “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.“
Matthew 5:29 – “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.“
Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“
Group 5 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Titus 3:1 – “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,“
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.“
Proverbs 20:22 – “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.“
James 1:26 – “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 – “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.“
Matthew 19:9 – “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Group 6 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
James 1:26 – “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
Proverbs 21:2 – “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
1 Corinthians 7:12-16 – “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?“
Proverbs 19:11 – “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.“
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.“
Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Group 7 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Proverbs 1:1-33 – “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, …“
James 3:10 – “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.“
Proverbs 10:6 – “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.“
1 Corinthians 14:1-40 – “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. …“
Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Group 8 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Job 19:25 – “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.“
James 5:19-20 – “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.“
Ephesians 4:31 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”
Psalm 37:3-4 – “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.“
Psalm 140:12 – “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.”
Psalm 37:3-6 – “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
Group 9 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Psalm 11:5 – “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.“
Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
1 Corinthians 7:12 – “To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.“
James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Colossians 3:12-13 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Group 10 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; …“
Matthew 5:32 – “But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.“
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.“
Matthew 19:3-9 – “And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” …“
Group 11 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Malachi 2:16 – “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
Zephaniah 1:9 – “On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud.”
Psalm 72:14 – “From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.“
Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.“
James 3:6 – “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.“
James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 3:2 – “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.“
Group 12 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
2 Thessalonians 3:15 – “Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.“
Hebrews 13:3 – “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Ephesians 5:21 – “Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.“
2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Ephesians 5:22 – “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
Luke 16:18 – “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.“
Proverbs 13:20 – “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.“
Hebrews 10:24 – “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,“
Group 13 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 – “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”“
Psalm 146:7 – “Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;“
Psalm 146:7 – “Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;“
Psalm 9:9 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”
2 Samuel 22:28 – “You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.”
1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Group 14 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,“
1 Peter 3:1 – “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,“
2 Peter 1:7 – “And godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.“
Hebrews 12:12 – “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,“
1 Peter 3:1-6 – “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, …“
Group 15 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 7:4 – “For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?“
Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 – “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.“
Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.“
Group 16 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Romans 15:14 – “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.“
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 – “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!“
Group 17 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Proverbs 10:11 – “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.“
1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
Ephesians 5:3-5 – “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.“
1 Corinthians 7:1-40 – “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. …“
Group 18 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
1 Corinthians 7:1-40 – “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. …“
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.“
Matthew 19:1-30 – “Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? …“
Group 19 – Sermon on Prenuptial Agreement
Matthew 19:4 – He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,”
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 – “To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
Matthew 6:1-34 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …“
Read our Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer. Matthew 18:19 says, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (KJV). Likewise, 1 Corinthians 1:10-11 says, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you” (NIV). Brethren, there is power in agreement. Scripture calls on us to agree with one another in the mind of Christ and that by so doing whatever we ask will be done for us by our heavenly Father. As Christians, there should be no division among us but unity.
Agreement is a powerful theme that the Holy Spirit frequently teaches in Scripture. Furthermore, it is one of the most formidable kingdom principles through which we can get things done or accomplished. As a matter of fact, the power of agreement will work for any group of people who put it to work. Behold, there is no limit to what people can accomplish when they agree about it. In the Bible we see people putting this principle to work and God Himself testifying to the fact that nothing could be impossible for them because of the power of agreement. Brethren, united we stand, divided we fall. Matthew 12:25 says, Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”
Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Genesis 11:1-6 says, “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”
Notice that there is a great force at work when people stand or act in agreement. The very fact that God testified saying “nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them” is proof that the force or power of agreement really has no limits. It is interesting to note that the people mentioned here were not Christians. In fact, they seemed to have no knowledge of God nor revere Him. In addition, they were working against the very purposes of God which He stated in chapter 9 of Genesis as He blessed Noah and his family. Genesis 9:1 says, Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”
More Biblical Facts
The definite instruction in Genesis 9:1 was to replenish or refill the earth but these people desired to stay together and form their own small community with a high-minded purpose of building a tower that could reach Heaven. Behold, if these people could achieve whatever they imagined by being in agreement, there should be absolutely no limits to children of God who work together in agreement. Let’s look at some vital aspects of agreement that these people had and from them learn to harness and use the power of agreement. The Bible says that the people had one language (Genesis 11:1-6). This speaks about unity in what they said. As believers in Christ, we all have one language which is that of love. John 13:34 says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
For Christians to make an impact in their sphere of influence, there must not be found traces of disagreement in speech. Whatever is said must be fully inspired by love and as we know love unites rather than separate people. By keeping love in perspective, we embrace the mind of Christ and it’s not more about our own purposes but His. Still, in Genesis 11:1-6, we learn that the people journeyed together, effectively communicated, and embraced teamwork. This is an indication of agreement in vision and direction. Vision produces direction. People of the same destination travel together. Amos 3:3 says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” In order to achieve the success or breakthrough a group of people desires, they must move in the same direction and be committed to the same vision or goal. Likewise, there should be an effective communication (Colossians 4:6).
The Prayer of Agreement Leads to Breakthrough
Matthew 18:19 says, “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever (anything and everything) they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven” (AMP). Brethren, Scripture reassures us as we dwell in Christ of an endless possibility of receiving for those who understand and take advantage of the power of agreement. Scripture teaches us that if together as believers in Christ we stand in agreement nothing shall be impossible for us. If a group of at least two believers in Christ stand in unity and agreement, whatever they ask for will be granted.
Thetus Tenney says, “Agreement is perhaps the untapped power of believers! What would be the results of real agreement among believers? If we will be led into perfect unity with Jesus Christ, having His mind in us so that we think as He would and ask according to his Word (John 15:7), and maintain unobstructed relationships between ourselves, having no resentments or unforgiveness toward others, we would open a channel through which God’s power could flow unobstructed.” Brethren, the prayer of agreement leads to a breakthrough. Below are some ways that will help you to pray in one accord:
Sincerely repent in Christ so that you can pray with a clean heart (John 9:31).
Pray with the Holy Spirit’s direction (Romans 8:26; John 14:26).
Pray with agreement in honesty and love (Matthew 18:19 ).
Pray God’s will according to Scripture (James 4:3; John 15:7).
Pray with faith and confidence believing that God has heard and will answer your prayers (Genesis 18:14; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 21:22).
Pray with perseverance and urgency (Matthew15:21-28; Luke 18:1).
Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Matthew 18:19 – “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.“
1 Corinthians 1:10-11 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.”
Amos 3:3 – “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?“
Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
John 14:14 – “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-11 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 – “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Group 1 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
John 9:31 – “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.“
Psalm 66:18 – “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;“
1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.“
James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.“
Genesis 18:14 – “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.“
Matthew 21:22 – “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Luke 18:1 – “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
Group 2 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
1 John 5:7-8 – “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.”
Acts 2:1-47 – “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. …“
Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.“
1 Corinthians 7:5 – “Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Group 3 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
Romans 8:3 – “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,”
Philippians 2:1-5 – “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,“
Genesis 11:1-32 – “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. …“
Group 4 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“
Nehemiah 9:38 – “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.“
1 John 5:14 – “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.“
Acts 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:5 – “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,“
Matthew 18:19-20 – “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Group 5 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“
1 Peter 5:2 – “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;“
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.“
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Philippians 2:5 – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,“
1 Timothy 2:4 – “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Group 6 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Romans 10:13 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 – “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.“
Isaiah 28:18 – “Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be beaten down by it.“
Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,“
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
James 4:2 – “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“
Group 7 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
Genesis 1:1-31 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. …“
Genesis 19:1-38 – “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. …“
Group 8 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-68 – “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. …“
Galatians 3:15 – “To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.“
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.“
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Group 9 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Psalm 18:32 – “The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”
Matthew 20:1-16 – “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. …“
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.“
Ephesians 6:11-18 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. …“
Group 10 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’“
Acts 2:8 – “And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?“
Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.“
Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians 3:16 – “That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,“
Romans 8:38 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,”
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“
Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Group 11 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Habakkuk 3:19 – “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.“
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Matthew 21:22 – “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
Matthew 19:8 – He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”
Matthew 18:18 – “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Group 12 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Psalm 37:21 – “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;“
Psalm 22:19 – “But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!“
Joshua 1:10-18 – “And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’” And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, …“
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Isaiah 40:31 – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 28:15 – Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
Group 13 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Malachi 2:16 – “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Deuteronomy 8:18 – “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.“
Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
Group 14 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.“
Matthew 24:1-51 – Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …
Group 15 – Sermon on Power of Agreement in Prayer
Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, …“
Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Revelation 7:1-17 – “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, ...”
Discover our Sermon on Life After Death. The Bible presents death as separation whereby physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, and spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. Death is the result of sin. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The whole world is subject to death because all have sinned. Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” In Genesis 2:17, the Lord God Almighty warned Adam that the penalty for disobedience would be death – “you will surely die.” When Adam disobeyed, he experienced immediate spiritual death, which caused him to hide “from Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Later on, Adam experienced physical death (Genesis 5:5).
On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus also experienced physical death (Matthew 27:50). The difference is that Adam died because he was a sinner, and Jesus, who had never sinned, chose to die as a substitute for sinners (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus then revealed His power over death and sin by rising from the dead on the third day (Matthew 28; Revelation 1:18). Because of Christ, death is a defeated foe (1 Corinthians 15:55; Hosea 13:14). For the unsaved, death brings to an end the chance to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). For the saved, death ushers us into the presence of Christ: “To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23). Behold, the promise of the believer’s resurrection is so real that the physical death of a Christian is called “sleep” (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:10). As Christians, we look forward to that time when “there shall be no more death” (Revelation 21:4).
Sermon on Life After Death
Death, as it sounds, is perceived by many as their worst nightmare. The very word can trigger images of fear, of men and women in black, of grief, and of darkness. For some people, it is everything except something good. It is a word that generally generates fears, doubts, worries, stress, and bitterness in many. However, is this how God wants us to handle the very aspect of death? We’ll get divine answers from the best Bible verses on death. As we all know, the Bible is an authoritative guide in knowing and doing what God wants. With a good understanding of this spiritual truth, Apostle Paul wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, telling him that all scriptures were divinely inspired and are good for teaching.
Behold, it is not God’s perfect will for us to live in the fear of death. Brethren, let no one deceive you by saying the contrary. Truth be told, it is God’s will for us to live, and die, with the confidence or certainty that comes from knowing we completely belong to the victorious, risen king, in the person of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross at Calvary for our sake, and rose from the grave together with all who belong to God. As followers of Christ, we ought to perceive the very aspect of death from a different angle and not as the world does. We have been purchased and welcomed by the one who conquered death. He overcame death for himself and all those who belong to his Father’s flock. Instead of worrying about death, you should be concerned about gaining mercy and favor before his throne.
Is There Life After Death?
Job, speaking out of his despair, asked, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). All of us have been challenged by this question. Is there life after death? What happens to us after we die? Do we simply cease to exist? Is death the end? Is death a revolving door of departing and returning to the earth? Does everyone go to the same place after death or do they go to different places? Is there really a heaven and hell? Behold, the Bible explicitly tells us that, yes, there is life after death. As such, this world is not all there is, and mankind was made for something greater. At death, the body ceases to function and begins the process of returning to the earth, but the spiritual part of man lives on: “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7; cf. Psalm 146:4). To those who are redeemed and have their sin forgiven, the Lord God gives eternal life, an existence so glorious that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). This eternal life is inextricably linked to the person of Jesus Christ: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). 1 John 5:12 says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came to the earth to pay for our sins and give us the gift of Eternal Life: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus proved Himself victorious over death by rising from the grave – He is life personified (John 11:25) and the ultimate proof that there is life after death. John 11:25 says, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. The resurrection of Christ is a well-documented event. The apostle Paul invited people to question the over 500 witnesses who saw Jesus after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6). Note that all of them could bear testimony to the fact that Jesus is alive and that there is indeed life after death. The resurrection of Christ, which gives us the sure hope of life after death, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:12–19). Because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, we have faith that we, too, will be resurrected. As Jesus told His disciples, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Christ was only the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again (1 Corinthians 15:23). Just as the Lord God raised up Jesus’ body, so will our bodies be resurrected upon Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 6:14).
Each person must make a choice in this life, a choice that will determine his or her eternal destination. It is appointed for us to die once and after that will come judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Those who have been made righteous by faith in Christ will go into eternal life in heaven, but those who have rejected Christ as Savior will be sent to eternal punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46). Hell, like heaven, is a literal place. It is a place where the unrighteous will experience the never-ending, eternal wrath of God. Hell is described as a lake of fire where the inhabitants will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10). The Lord God Almighty does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires them to turn from their wicked ways by sincerely repenting and believing in Jesus Christ so that they can live (Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:16-18).
Faith in Jesus Christ is the one and only way to receive eternal life and avoid hell. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25–26). Brethren, the free gift of eternal life is available to all. John 3:36 says, “He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.” It’s important to understand that we will not be given the opportunity to accept God’s gift of salvation after death. Our eternal destination is determined in our earthly lifetimes by our reception or rejection of Jesus Christ. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). If we trust in the death of Jesus Christ as the full payment for our sins, strongly hold to His message, and believe in His resurrection from the dead, we are guaranteed eternal life after death, in glory (1 Peter 1:3–5).
What Happens After Death?
Within the Christian community, there is a significant amount of confusion regarding what happens after death. Some hold that after death everyone “sleeps” until the final judgment, after which everyone will be sent to hell or heaven. Other Christians believe that at the moment of death, people are instantly judged and sent to their eternal destinations. Still, other Christians claim that, when people die, their souls/spirits are sent to “temporary” heaven or hell to await the final resurrection, the final judgment, and the finality of their eternal destination. Nevertheless, what exactly does the Bible say happens after death? First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins were forgiven when they received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36).
Notice that for believers in Jesus Christ, death means being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). However, biblical passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that while the spirits/souls of believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and reunited with the spirit/soul. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the state of existence for believers for eternity in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21-22).
Second, for those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, death means everlasting punishment. However, in a similar way to the destiny of believers, it seems that unbelievers also go to a temporary holding place to await their final resurrection, judgment, and eternal destiny. Luke 16:22–23 describes a rich man being tormented immediately after death. Revelation 20:11–15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the great white throne, and cast into the lake of fire. Unbelievers, then, are not sent to hell (the lake of fire) immediately after death, but they are rather sent to a temporary realm of judgment and anguish. The rich man cried out, “I am in agony in this fire” (Luke 16:24). After death, a person resides either in a place of comfort or in a place of torment. These realms act as a temporary “heaven” and a temporary “hell” until the resurrection. At that point in time, the soul is reunited with the body, but no one’s eternal destiny will change.
The first resurrection is for the “blessed and holy” (Revelation 20:6) – everyone who is in Christ – and those who are part of the first resurrection will enter the millennial kingdom and, ultimately, the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1). The other resurrection happens after Christ’s millennial kingdom, and it involves the wicked and unbelieving being “judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:13). These, whose names are not written in the book of life, will be sent to the lake of fire to experience the “second death” (Revelation 20:14–15). The new earth and the lake of fire are final and eternal destinations. People go to one or the other, based entirely on whether they have trusted and believed in Jesus Christ for salvation (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).
How to gain Mercy and Favor before God’s Throne
Just as we previously mentioned, instead of entertaining fear, doubt, and worries in your heart about death, you should focus on gaining mercy and favor before God’s throne. He who has been granted mercy and favor before God’s throne has nothing to fear about death. Such a person was raised from death the very day that Christ conquered death and triumphed over sin. And for sure, those who get life through Christ will dwell in God’s presence for all times in the world to come. The question now is that to know how to find mercy and favor before God. It is worth noting that mercy and favor from God come out of His grace (unmerited favor). To be receptive to this grace, we need to cultivate obedience and faithfulness to God.
Scriptural Facts About Death
1. Death is not the End – Matthew 25:31-46
Many believe that once we die, we cease existing. Contrary to this false belief, we’ll tell you that death is not the end. Concerning what the Bible says about death, on no occasion has any messenger from God pointed to death as the end. We are taught by the Holy Scriptures that although our physical bodies will decompose during death, our souls will live forever. That is, our souls will either live forever in God’s heavenly presence known as paradise or eternally separated from him and thrown into the lake of fire. The choice of whether we are going to paradise or the lake of fire depends on us. God in his goodness and love sent his only son Jesus Christ to be crucified as the lamb that takes away the sins of the world. Only those who welcome his sacrifice and obey His teachings will dwell in paradise.
On the other hand, those who would have rejected Him and His Teachings during their lifetimes on earth will be directed to the lake of fire. For such people suffering is their eternal reward. To support our message, we’ll recommend that you read Matthew 25:31-46. It talks about the day of judgment which God has appointed our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to execute when the right time comes. Those who will be found worthy through the blood of Christ will dwell in paradise, a place of joy, happiness, good health, and no suffering. For more info, we’ll recommend that you read our article on What Jesus Christ taught about Hell.
2. As Jesus Overcame death, so shall we – Romans 6:5
Perhaps you were not aware but God’s original plan for Creation was free from Sin and death. It was when Mankind Rebelled against Him under the directives of Satan that sin and death found their way into our lives. Despite our sins, God did not stop loving us but sent His only beloved son, Jesus Christ, saying that whoever believes in Him will not die but live. The Death of Christ on the Cross at Calvary and His Resurrection conquered both sin and death. Anyone who Welcomes Him and His Key Teachings is given Everlasting Life in the world to come. In this light, Romans 6:5 says that we will also be raised from death as he was. Almost all Bible verses about death are pointing to this divine truth.
What Does the Bible Say About Communicating with the Dead?
We live in an age where people claim to be more in touch with the spirit world. Today, many people believe we can communicate with the dead and the dead can communicate with us. This belief has resulted in a flood of books, shows, and spiritual advisors who draw people in by claiming they can communicate with their dead loved ones. Although their demonstrations seem impressive, it’s important to know if they are real. To know for sure, we should find out what the Bible says about communicating with the dead. Brethren, Scripture makes it clear that we should not seek the help of necromancers or mediums. Behold, the Bible condemns necromancy which is the practice of magic or black magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions, or by resurrection for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events; discovery of hidden knowledge; returning a person to life, or to use the dead as a weapon (Deuteronomy 18:11).
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” Scripture warns us against consulting with familiar spirits and necromancers. Familiar spirits are trusted spirits that are thought to be friendly or familiar. However, they are not people, but demons (Leviticus 20:1-6, 27; Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3; Isiah 29:4). Likewise, necromancers, often called mediums, are those who try to communicate with the dead. Note that neither are part of God’s family and they are not His children by faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26). Instead, they are part of Satan’s family, which include those who deny Christ (John 8:34-44; Acts 3:6-10; 1 John 3:8-10).
A Biblical Example of an Alleged Communication with the Dead
A biblical example of someone who tried to speak to the dead is found in 1 Samuel 28. The prophet Samuel had died and King Saul learned that the Philistines were gathered together to wage war against Israel. Saul feared greatly when he saw their army, so he prayed to the Lord God for advice, but the Lord God did not answer. King Saul became desperate and told his servants to find a woman with a familiar spirit. Once a woman was found, Saul disguised himself and went to her at night. He asked her to call upon the spirit to bring up someone. She refused out of fear of what would happen to her if she did it, but King Saul swore in the Lord’s name that she would not be harmed. The woman asked who he wanted her to call up and Saul told her Samuel. Immediately she had a terrifying vision. Saul asked her what she had seen and she said she had seen “gods coming out of the earth” and an old man covered with a head covering. Saul “perceived” it was Samuel and he bowed down to the ground. Then the old man, whom Saul could not see, chastised him for disturbing him. Despite this, Saul went on to ask him what to do about the Philistines. The old man said that God departed from Saul and was His enemy because he had not obeyed the Lord. He added that Saul and his sons would be captured by the Philistines. When Saul heard this, he was consumed by fear and fainted. Later we learn that Saul was captured and he and his sons were killed.
What are the problems with Saul’s alleged conversation with Samuel? There are many things to consider about this account. First, is that the vision was only visible to a woman with demons (1 Samuel 28:13). The “gods” that she saw were not of God, they were of Satan. We know this because there is only one true God and no others (Isaiah 43:10-11; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:5-6). Furthermore, worship of any other god is worshiping of devils (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Second, the voice that Saul heard was a delusion. Isaiah 66:4 makes us understand that God can send people a delusion if they disobey and do evil before Him. Likewise, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we learn that the Lord God will send strong delusion to those who reject salvation through Christ so they will believe the Wicked One (anti-Christ) and be damned. In addition, Scripture tells us that Satan has the power to create miracles (2 Corinthians 2:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:11-14). Jesus Christ spoke of this in Matthew 7:23-23 when He said that people will come to Him claiming that they prophesied, cast out devils, and did wonderful works (miracles) in His name, but He would tell them that He never knew them; these people are deluded.
There is no truth in the Devil because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). As such, it is unlikely that the Lord God would use a demon to raise up Samuel to give Godly counsel. Note that demons know Jesus and what their future holds. In Matthew 8:28-33, Jesus met two men possessed by devils (demons). The devils called Jesus by name and asked if He was there to torment them before the appointed time. Notice that they were referring to a future event when they would be tossed into the Lake of Fire to be tormented forever (Revelation 20:7-10). Therefore, it’s not unlikely that a demon knew what Saul had done and that he would die along with his sons. A close example is that of Paul and Silas on their way to the place of prayer. They were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. The spirit clearly recognized Paul and Silas, followed them, and continuously shouted, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment, the spirit left her (Acts 16:16-18).
Sermon on Life After Death
1 Thessalonians 4:14 – “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.“
Leviticus 19:31 – “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.“
Leviticus 20:27 – “A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.”
Luke 23:43 – “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Romans 14:8 -“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Isaiah 8:19 – And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
Matthew 10:28 – “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Psalm 23:4 – “Even 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.”
John 11:26 – “And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 – “So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”
Group 1 – Sermon on Life After Death
Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,“
Leviticus 20:6 – “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 – “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.”
John 14:1-3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
John 11:25 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Luke 23:43 – And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …“
Group 2 – Sermon on Life After Death
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 – “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun.“
Matthew 25:41 – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.“
Revelation 20:14 – “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.“
1 Corinthians 15:51-57 – “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” … ”
John 14:1-4 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Psalm 146:4 – “When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”
John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Group 3 – Sermon on Life After Death
Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
2 Kings 21:6 – “And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.“
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 – “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Ezekiel 18:32 – “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
1 Corinthians 15:26 – “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”
Ecclesiastes 9:5 – “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.”
Psalm 115:17 – “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.”
Job 14:14 – “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.”
Ecclesiastes 7:1 – “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.”
Revelation 14:13 – And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
1 Corinthians 15:51 – “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”
Group 4 – Sermon on Life After Death
Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
Romans 8:13 – “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.”
Ecclesiastes 3:2 – “A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
2 Corinthians 5:8 – “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Luke 2:29 – “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;”
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Romans 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
2 Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Group 5 – Sermon on Life After Death
Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”
John 5:24-26 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”
1 Corinthians 15:22 – “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Romans 10:9-13 – Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
1 Timothy 6:7 – “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”
Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Psalm 39:4 – “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”
Group 6 – Sermon on Life After Death
Revelation 1:18 – “And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Psalm 23:1-6 – “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …”
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Hebrews 13:14 – “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”
John 14:1-3 – “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Proverbs 14:32 – “The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.”
Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.“
Group 7 – Sermon on Life After Death
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:55 – “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
John 11:25 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”
Romans 1:1-32 – “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, …“
1 Corinthians 15:26 – “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Matthew 27:52 – “The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,“
John 11:11-14 – After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,”
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 – “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory, It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
Group 8 – Sermon on Life After Death
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.“
Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””
Hebrews 2:14 – “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,”
John 5:28-29 – “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Revelation 1:18 – “And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Isaiah 57:1-2 – “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.”
John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
Ezekiel 18:21 – “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”
1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Daniel 12:1-13 – “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. …
Group 9 – Sermon on Life After Death
1 Thessalonians 4:15 – “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
Revelation 20:14 – “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
Psalm 115:17 – “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.“
Romans 6:16 – “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 – “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 –“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:12 – “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Acts 7:60 – “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
Luke 20:36 – “For they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.”
1 Corinthians 15:16-23 – “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. …“
Group 10 – Sermon on Life After Death
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep, For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, …”
Daniel 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Ezekiel 33:8 – “If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”
John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Job 16:22 – “For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return.”
Romans 1:1-4 – “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,“
Group 11 – Sermon on Life After Death
Acts 20:9-11 – “And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.”
Hosea 13:14 – “Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.”
Genesis 25:8 – “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.”
Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Psalm 104:29 – “When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.”
John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Ecclesiastes 5:15 – “As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.”
1 Corinthians 15:21 – “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”
Romans 8:6 – “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.“
Ecclesiastes 8:8 – “No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.”
Matthew 25:46 – “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Proverbs 12:28 – “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”
Genesis 19:24 – “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”
Group 12 – Sermon on Life After Death
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Revelation 9:6 – “And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.”
Revelation 12:11 – “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Acts 9:40-41 – But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
2 Samuel 12:23 – “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Genesis 2:7 – “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.“
Psalm 30:5 – “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Revelation 2:11 – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’”
Acts 7:59 – And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Group 13 – Sermon on Life After Death
Acts 2:32-36 – This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Hebrews 2:15 – “And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Psalm 48:14 – “That this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.”
1 John 3:2 – “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
Matthew 25:46 – “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Hebrews 2:14-15 – “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.“
Luke 23:39-43 – One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Group 14 – Sermon on Life After Death
John 11:1-57 – “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. …“
John 11:25 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
John 11:43-44 – When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 20:26 – Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Luke 24:39-43 – “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.“
Luke 24:1-7 – “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? …“
Group 15 – Sermon on Life After Death
Revelation 4:2 – “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.”
Revelation 6:9-11 – “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.“
Matthew 9:23-25 – “And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.“
Ezekiel 18:4 – “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.”
James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“
What Is Advent? Definition and Meaning. Advent is the season of meditative preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the expected return of Christ in the Second Coming. In other words, Advent is the season of the year leading up to Christmas. It is respectfully observed with several traditions and rituals by Catholics and other liturgical groups such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists. Likewise in recent years, many evangelical services have experienced the addition of Advent celebrations in one way or another. Notice that the word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians often speak of Christ’s “first advent” and “second advent”; thereby referring to His first and second comings to earth. And as such, His first advent would be the incarnation which is celebrated at Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” which translates to the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and His first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration. Initially, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas. However, by the 6th century, Roman Christians had linked Advent to the second coming of Christ. It was around the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.
What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
What The Scriptures Say About Advent
Advent Symbolism
The Advent season symbolizes the current situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2) as the Lord God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to fully establish His eternal kingdom. Here, the church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping prayerfully for the coming of the Messiah. Notice how Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in actively leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for the Lord God once again to act for them. Likewise, the church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom which shall be fully established when He returns for His people.
The Advent season lasts for four (4) Sundays. It begins on the fourth (4th) Sunday before Christmas, or the nearest Sunday to November 30. Advent ends on Christmas Eve and is not considered part of the Christmas season. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ’s first coming and an anticipation of His second coming. As Israel longed for Christ’s first coming, the church now commemorates Christ’s first coming and long for Christ’s second coming. Notice how the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season: O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appears. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. While Israel would have sung this song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church sings it in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming.
Advent Liturgy and Practice
Churches that observe Advent usually decorate their sanctuaries in purple, which is the liturgical color of Advent (or in some cases royal blue). Some churches change the color to rose on the third or fourth Sunday of Advent as a way of emphasizing a greater level of joy during the season. As an established way to balance the two aspects of remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays look backward to remember Christ’s first coming. Over the four weeks that constitute the Advent season, Scripture readings move from Biblical passages about Christ’s glorious return in judgment to Old Testament passages about the expectation of the coming Messiah to New Testament passages about the announcement of Christ’s arrival by the Angels and John the Baptist.
Advent is intended to be a season of fasting, much like Lent. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not observe Advent per se, but they do respectfully keep a long fast before Christmas. In the West, Advent has developed a more festive tone, although many churches also keep a fast while laying emphasis on prayer and penitence akin to what takes place during the Lenten season. Advent, sometimes called “Little Lent” is seen as a time to prepare one’s heart for Christmas and for the second coming of Christ. During the Advent season, a deep reflection on the violence and evil in the world causes us to cry out to the Lord God to make things right. Similarly, our own sinfulness and need for grace lead us to pray for God’s mercy and favor through Christ.
What the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about Advent
Concerning Advent, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 524) says: When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor’s birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Advent Wreaths and Candles
The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children fabricated a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty (20) small red candles and four (4) large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays, and the four white candles were lit on Sundays. In due time, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death as the evergreen is continuously green. Additional decorations, like holly and berries, are occasionally added. Their red color points ahead to Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the cross. Pinecones can symbolize the new life that Jesus Christ brings through His resurrection. However, the most common Advent candle tradition involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace.
The use of evergreen wreaths, branches, and trees happens to be one of the most common Advent traditions. On the first Sunday of Advent, churches and homes are decorated with green to symbolize the eternal life that Jesus Christ brings. An Advent wreath – an evergreen circle with four colored candles surrounding a white one in the middle – is placed in a prominent spot. The candles are then lit one at a time, on successive Sundays. The first candle to be lit is the candle of “hope” or “expectation.” The three (3) remaining candles on the perimeter are given various meanings depending on the church. On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the white center candle referred to as the “Christ Candle” is lit as a way of reminding us that Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, has come.
Advent Readings
What are Advent readings? Advent readings are themed Scripture readings for each of the four Sundays of Advent. The four weeks of Advent are broken down into the themes:
Hope (or promise)
Preparation (waiting or prophecy)
Joy (peace)
Love (adoration)
Advent Calendars
Advent calendars are used to count down the days till Christmas. It contains a number of covered “windows” that are opened, one a day, until Christmas Day. Each open window clearly reveals a picture related to the season or a Bible verse or a poem or a treat of some kind. Many parents use an Advent calendar to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas – although there are secular versions of the calendars, as well.
Should Christians Observe Advent?
Should Christians observe Advent? Behold, this is a matter of personal conviction. Here is what the Bible says or the biblical principle to follow: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6).
Brethren, there is certainly nothing wrong with commemorating Jesus’ birth and anticipating His return. In fact, such commemoration and anticipation should be an everyday part of our lives. Celebrating Advent can be a good reminder of what the season is truly all about and in this lies its greatest values.
Is Advent Biblical?
Is Advent biblical? Today, many protestant Christians reject Advent simply because they consider it to be a Roman Catholic practice. For most of these, it isn’t so much about the Roman Catholic aspect of Advent that is really problematic, but the fact that Advent is not explicitly taught in Scripture. One can’t turn to a place in the Bible that explicitly teaches about Advent or commands Christians to set aside four weeks prior to Christmas Day as a season of waiting, hoping, and yearning. But does this mean that Advent shouldn’t be observed? For some people, the answer is “yes” since it is not explicitly taught in Scripture. We are more likely to find this kind of argument among non-instrumental Church of Christ beliefs. Likewise, they say since instruments are not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament teachings about worship, then we shouldn’t use instruments today.
Does Advent’s explicit absence from Scripture mean we shouldn’t observe it? If yes, then we must also abstain from Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter, which also aren’t explicitly found in Scripture. Likewise, we might as well do away with the celebration of our Birth Days, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Independence Day. Furthermore, if we really believe that Christians can only do that which is explicitly taught in Scripture, then we shouldn’t go to a church building for worship, sit in chairs, use microphones, use hymnals, wear pants, or use digital projectors because all these are not explicitly taught in Scripture. Brethren, our concern here should be whether or not Advent is consistent with biblical themes and priorities. Is it biblical in this grander sense? Could its observance help one to grow in faith in a way that aligns with biblical truths? Yes.
What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.“
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.“
Isaiah 11:1-10 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. …“
Group 1 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!“
Psalm 62:5-7 – “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.“
Psalm 130:5-6 – “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”
Psalm 130:7-8 – “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.“
Isaiah 40:31 – “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.“
Matthew 1:18-25 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: …“
Group 2 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Matthew 2:1-2 – Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Luke 1:26-38 – “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. …“
Group 3 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.“
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.“
Luke 2:13-14 – And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“
Luke 2:1-20 – “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. …“
Group 4 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Revelation 11:2 – “But do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.“
Revelation 17:8 – “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”
Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Jeremiah 33:14-16 – “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’“
Group 5 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Luke 2:8-20 – “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” …“
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“
Matthew 24:1-51 – “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …“
Group 6 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Luke 2:6-7 – “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.“
Revelation 12:14 – “But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.“
1 Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,“
Matthew 3:1-12 – “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, …“
Group 7 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.“
Matthew 2:1-12 – “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: …“
Romans 15:12-13 – And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Isaiah 7:10-14 – Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Group 8 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
John 1:29 – “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“
Luke 2:21 – “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.“
Isaiah 11:1 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.“
Mark 1:1-3 – The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
Matthew 2:9 – “After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.”
Group 9 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 1:2 – “He was in the beginning with God.“
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Luke 1:67-80 – “And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; …“
Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 24:30 – “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“
Matthew 24:31 – “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.“
Group 10 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Revelation 4:1 – After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Psalm 100:1-5 – “A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.“
Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“
Revelation 3:20-21 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Group 11 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 3:1-8 – “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. …“
1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. …“
Group 12 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Luke 18:8 – “I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Romans 15:4-13 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, …“
Luke 21:25-36 – “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. …
Luke 2:15-16 – “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”
Group 13 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Luke 2:7-15 – “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. …“
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 2:12-15 – And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Group 14 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Isaiah 40:1-11 – “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” …“
Hebrews 2:14 – “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,“
Luke 1:14-17 – “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Group 15 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
1 John 4:7-16 – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. …“
Revelation 7:1-17 – “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, …“
Group 16 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Luke 3:4-6 – “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 – “For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.“
Group 17 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:17-18 – “And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.”
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.“
Luke 21:16 – “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.”
Luke 2:8-9 – “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.“
Matthew 1:18 – “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 2:10-11 – “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.“
Group 18 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,“
Ephesians 2:12-22 – “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. …“
Isaiah 40:2 – “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.“
Proverbs 10:28 – “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”
Isaiah 9:2 – “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.“
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.“
Group 19 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Romans 5:5 – “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.“
Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.“
John 9:4-5 – “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 7:37-38 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
John 1:1-8 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. …“
John 7:1-53 – “After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. …“
Group 20 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Luke 2:19 – “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.“
Luke 2:20 – “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.“
John 1:9-18 – “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. …“
Luke 2:10-12 – And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 1:57-66 – “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” …“
Group 21 – What is Advent? Definition and Meaning
Luke 1:39-66 – “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? …“
Luke 1:5-25 – “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. …“
Luke 1:26-33 – “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. …“
Luke 1:46-56 – “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. …“
Discover The Golden Rule. As Christians, we ought to take advantage of every opportunity to do good and not evil unto others. Avoiding cheating and walking in integrity should be our way of life in Christ. Likewise, we are to act morally upright in all our ways; taking every opportunity to do unto others what we would have them do unto us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, commands us to:
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31, AMP).
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31, KJV).
“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31, NIV).
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them” (Luke 6:31, ESV).
“So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets (Matthew 7:12, AMP).
“Therefore 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” (Matthew 7:12, KJV).
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mathew 7:12, NIV).
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, ESV).
The verse in the Bible, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is commonly known as The Golden Rule. This Biblical principle is found in both Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. It calls on us not to extend unto others what we do not wish upon ourselves. The Golden Rule is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Behold, Jesus Christ took the conventional quid pro quo method of treating people and turned it on its head (Matthew 5:38-48). Instead of doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us. Rather than practicing the quid pro quo, we should develop and embrace love, peace, humility, integrity, compassion, goodness, kindness, self-control, forgiveness, and gentleness in our approach toward anyone who comes our way irrespective of what they have done or failed to do. Note that quid pro quo is a Latin phrase used in English to mean an exchange of goods or services, in which one transfer is contingent upon the other; “a favor for a favor“. Popular phrases with similar meanings include: “tit for tat“, “give and take“, “one hand washes the other“, and “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours“.
The Golden Rule
As Christians, we should take every advantage that comes our way to do good and reflect God’s love for others. In Matthew 7:12 Jesus Christ says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Thus, the Golden Rule has always been a fundamental part of the Bible’s message or God’s instructions to humanity. Notice how later in Matthew, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus Christ responded, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). Similarly, Galatians 5:14 says, For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Likewise, on the night of His arrest, Jesus Christ said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Brethren, Jesus’ love for us is perfect, self-sacrificial, and unchanging. Our capacity to love others the way our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, commands us comes only from our experience of His unfailing love and from the power of the Holy Spirit. One simple and practical way to love others better is to imagine ourselves in their shoes. Each time that we pause to think about how we might like to be treated in a certain situation, we build empathy for those actually living in that situation. Just as we like to be treated with love and respect, we should do the same to others. Matthew 5:43-48 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? …” Likewise, 1 John 4:7-9 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.“
Knowing Where/How to Draw the Line Between Helping Someone and Allowing Someone to Take Advantage of You
Luke 6:30 says, “give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.” Likewise, Luke 6:35-36 says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” These verses as well as many others in the Bible teach us that Christians are to be loving, self-sacrificing, and merciful. Just like our Heavenly Father who has compassion towards all people, our hearts should be full of compassion when we see the needs of the people around us. Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Similarly 1 John 3:16-18 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.“
It is morally right to have a heart that would continually give to others, and it actually pleases the Lord God to see this wonderful character in our lives. However, when it comes to the area of giving and helping, the Bible also teaches that we must have wise discernment (Matthew 10:16). In fact, the Lord God gives us certain standards that we must take into account when it comes to giving our time, money and any other material possessions to others. It’s important to understand that when the Bible tells us we are to help others, the purpose is never for us to do this to the point where it becomes detrimental. While it’s important for us to take advantage of every opportunity to do good and help whenever we can possibly help, we should also remember that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” This is because there are people who want to live an irresponsible lifestyle with absolutely no accountability. Such a lifestyle is not to be encouraged. So, there must be limits; we should help anyone in need, but if we see that it has become a chronic life pattern, it is wrong for us to continue to encourage such. We are commanded to give to those who ask from us but we should not tolerate idleness and laziness. Brethren, it’s very harmful to others to contribute to their indolence, lack of effort, and laziness. We should motivate and encourage each and every one to work hard and better themselves on a long-term basis. The old saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime” is quite true. With this in mind and as long as we see that someone is sincerely making an effort, we should be there to support him/her in whatever way the Lord God leads.
How Do You Know If Someone Is Taking Advantage Of You?
Today, as was the case in the past, there exist many ways through which people can take advantage of others. That’s why it’s important for us to make this a subject of prayer, asking the Lord God to guide us and show us what He wants us to do. Behold, He will give us the wisdom to recognize a genuine need and discern between an opportunity and a distraction. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Note that trying to help someone who is just not willing to take any steps towards a solution in the matter may be a hopeless cause. Again, bringing it to the Lord God in prayer, requesting wisdom, and exercising the discernment He gives is crucial in such cases. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“
What If You’ve Already Been Taken Advantage Of?
What if you’ve already been taken advantage of? Truth be told, no matter how pure your intentions are, there are still people who just don’t care. In fact, they’ll milk whatever they can out of you. And such are the kind of people who abuse charity thereby making genuine givers doubt charity. If you happened to cross paths with such individuals and fell prey to them, take comfort in these words: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ” – Romans 12:17-21. With this Scripture in mind, we should never think of nor seek revenge. Instead, we pray for them that they may see the error of their ways. As Christians, we should continue doing good to others and even to those who have wronged us. And whatever we do, we should do it for the Lord God and not for men.
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12 – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“
Luke 6:31 – “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
Galatians 5:14 – For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.“
2 Peter 2:3 – “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.“
Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.“
James 2:8 – If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Mark 12:31 – “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 25:40 – “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’“
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.“
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
Group 1 – The Golden Rule
Romans 13:9 – For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 5:43-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? …“
James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.“
Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.“
Group 2 – The Golden Rule
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.“
Romans 13:8-10 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.“
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.“
1 Peter 3:10 – For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;”
Luke 10:25-28 – And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Group 3 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:8 – “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.“
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
James 4:11-12 – “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?“
Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that you be not judged.“
Romans 13:1-14 – “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …“
Group 4 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 22:39 – “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“
Mark 12:30-33 – “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“
Matthew 5:45 – “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.“
1 John 4:20 – “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.“
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Group 5 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 5:48 – “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 7:7-11 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are 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!“
Matthew 5:38-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. …“
Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.“
Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Group 6 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 22:37-40 – And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Mark 12:28-31 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 20:21 – And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Matthew 8:1-34 – “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, …“
Group 7 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 5:1-7:29 – “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. …“
Matthew 6:1-34 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …“
Psalm 26:5 – “I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.“
Psalm 119:113-115 – “I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.“
Psalm 139:19-22 – “Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.“
Group 8 – The Golden Rule
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.“
Deuteronomy 9:5-6 – “Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.“
Psalm 5:5 – “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.“
Deuteronomy 10:19 – “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.“
2 Chronicles 19:2 – “But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.“
Group 9 – The Golden Rule
Leviticus 25:35 – “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.“
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.“
Leviticus 19:34 – “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.“
Leviticus 19:17 – “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.“
Deuteronomy 1:15-17 – “So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’“
Group 10 – The Golden Rule
Exodus 34:6 – “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,“
Exodus 23:4-5 – “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.“
Hebrews 13:1 – “Let brotherly love continue.“
James 2:12-13 – “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.“
Exodus 20:6 – “But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.“
Colossians 3:12-14 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.“
Group 11 – The Golden Rule
Luke 10:25-36 – “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” …“
Matthew 23:1-39 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 23:27-28 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“
Group 12 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 22:40 – “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 23:1-33 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
Matthew 7:13 – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.“
Matthew 22:36-38 – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.“
Matthew 23:1-33 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
Group 13 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 5:5-9 – ““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.“
Matthew 7:1-29 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. …“
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.“
Deuteronomy 4:2 – “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.“
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 – “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.“
Group 14 – The Golden Rule
1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.“
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“
James 1:26 – “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.“
James 4:1 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?“
James 1:22-27 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. …“
Group 15 – The Golden Rule
Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.“
Luke 16:13 – “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Luke 6:35-36 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.“
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“
Ephesians 5:5 – “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.“
Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.“
Group 16 – The Golden Rule
Mark 13:32 – “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.“
Luke 6:27-29 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.“
Mark 12:28-30 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’“
Mark 16:15 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“
Luke 10:30-37 – Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. …
Group 17 – The Golden Rule
Mark 11:25 – “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Mark 16:1-20 – “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. …“
Mark 10:19 – “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
Mark 12:28-34 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. …“
Mark 9:1 – And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Matthew 22:34-40 – “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. …“
Group 18 – The Golden Rule
Mark 9:35 – And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 10:11-12 – And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Mark 7:20-22 – And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.”
Group 19 – The Golden Rule
Matthew 25:31-46 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, …“
Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
Romans 12:17-21 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.“
Group 20 – The Golden Rule
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 – “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’“
Proverbs 28:6 – “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.“
Luke 6:32-42 – “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. …“
Group 21 – The Golden Rule
Luke 6:29 – “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.“
Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Ephesians 4:26 – “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,“
Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“
James 4:1 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?“
Group 22 – The Golden Rule
Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Matthew 5:42 – “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
James 4:11-12 – “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?“
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.“
James 1:22-27 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. …“
Group 23 – The Golden Rule
Luke 16:10 – “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.“
Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.“
Proverbs 22:22-23 – “Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.“
Matthew 10:16 – “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.“
2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.“
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
1 Thessalonians 4:6 – “That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.“
Group 24 – The Golden Rule
Romans 14:10-12 – Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Luke 17:3-4 – “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
James 1:27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.“
Amos 5:11 – “Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.”
Malachi 3:5 – “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.“
Group 25 – The Golden Rule
Proverbs 24:28 – “Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.“
Galatians 5:16-26 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, …“
Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.“
Matthew 6:1-7 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …“
Group 26 – The Golden Rule
Hebrews 13:3 – “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.“
Isaiah 58:10-11 – “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.“
Proverbs 4:5 – “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.“
Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.“
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.“
Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.“
Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.“
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Group 27 – The Golden Rule
Psalm 12:5 – “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
Jeremiah 22:3 – “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”
Hebrews 13:1-3 – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”
Luke 21:1-4 – Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Matthew 7:15-20 – “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. …“
Group 28 – The Golden Rule
Zechariah 7:10 – “Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.“
Mark 10:19 – “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.“
Jeremiah 7:6 – “If you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,”
James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Acts 3:6 – But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Leviticus 19:9-10 – “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.“
Group 29 – The Golden Rule
Exodus 22:22 – “You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Proverbs 28:8 – “Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.“
James 5:4 – “Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.“
Proverbs 16:28 – “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.“
Deuteronomy 27:19 – “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’“
Proverbs 14:31 – “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.“
1 John 3:17 – “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?“
Group 30 – The Golden Rule
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Psalm 91:2 – I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Proverbs 19:11 – “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.“
Leviticus 25:35-38 – “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.“
Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“
Proverbs 26:12 – “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Isaiah 5:21 – “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!“
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.“
Matthew 5:5-9 – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Group 31 – The Golden Rule
Proverbs 19:1 – “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.“
Psalm 50:16-17 – But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.”
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,“
1 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – “As we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,“
Colossians 3:12-14 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Romans 13:8-10 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“
Group 32 – The Golden Rule
Isaiah 61:8 – “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“
Isaiah 5:20-21 – “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!“
Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Isaiah 61:1-4 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”
Group 33 – The Golden Rule
Psalm 35:10 – All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
Psalm 119:61 – “Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.“
Proverbs 29:27 – “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.“
Ezekiel 18:4 – “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.“
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Amos 5:12 – “For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.“
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Group 34 – The Golden Rule
John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Mark 9:42 – “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
1 Timothy 1:8-11 – “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.“
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 – “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. …“
Group 35 – The Golden Rule
Isaiah 10:1-2 – “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!“
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.“
Proverbs 16:29 – “A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.”
Proverbs 13:24 – “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.“
Psalm 127:3 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.“
Psalm 82:3 – “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.“
Psalm 72:4 – “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!“
Psalm 55:23 – “But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.“
Psalm 9:9 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.“
Psalm 23:4 – “Even 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.”
Group 36 – The Golden Rule
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Genesis 6:11 – “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.”
Leviticus 18:19-23 – “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her. You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.“
Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Group 37 – The Golden Rule
Titus 2:14 – “Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.“
Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 4:6-7 – “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 John 3:1-3 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.“
Group 38 – The Golden Rule
2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Galatians 3:6-8 – Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
Romans 14:16-18 – “So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
Galatians 3:27-29 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.“
Group 39 – The Golden Rule
John 16:24 – “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.“
Jeremiah 39:18 – “For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”
Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.“
James 2:23 – “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.“
1 Peter 2:7-10 – “So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.“
Group 40 – The Golden Rule
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
Titus 3:4-8 – “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.“
Ephesians 5:7-9 – “Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),“
Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Luke 12:32 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 9:1-2 – “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.“
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning. As Christians, we ought to take advantage of every opportunity to do good and not evil unto others. Avoiding cheating and walking in integrity should be our way of life in Christ. Likewise, we are to act morally upright in all our ways; taking every opportunity to do unto others what we would have them do unto us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, commands us to:
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31, AMP).
“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31, KJV).
“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31, NIV).
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them” (Luke 6:31, ESV).
“So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets (Matthew 7:12, AMP).
“Therefore 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” (Matthew 7:12, KJV).
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mathew 7:12, NIV).
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, ESV).
The verse in the Bible, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is commonly known as The Golden Rule. This Biblical principle is found in both Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. It calls on us not to extend unto others what we do not wish upon ourselves. The Golden Rule is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Behold, Jesus Christ took the conventional quid pro quo method of treating people and turned it on its head (Matthew 5:38-48). Instead of doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us. Rather than practicing the quid pro quo, we should develop and embrace love, peace, humility, integrity, compassion, goodness, kindness, self-control, forgiveness, and gentleness in our approach toward anyone who comes our way irrespective of what they have done or failed to do. Note that quid pro quo is a Latin phrase used in English to mean an exchange of goods or services, in which one transfer is contingent upon the other; “a favor for a favor“. Popular phrases with similar meanings include: “tit for tat“, “give and take“, “one hand washes the other“, and “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours“.
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
As Christians, we should take every advantage that comes our way to do good and reflect God’s love for others. In Matthew 7:12 Jesus Christ says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Thus, the Golden Rule has always been a fundamental part of the Bible’s message or God’s instructions to humanity. Notice how later in Matthew, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus Christ responded, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40). Similarly, Galatians 5:14 says, For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Likewise, on the night of His arrest, Jesus Christ said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Brethren, Jesus’ love for us is perfect, self-sacrificial, and unchanging. Our capacity to love others the way our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, commands us comes only from our experience of His unfailing love and from the power of the Holy Spirit. One simple and practical way to love others better is to imagine ourselves in their shoes. Each time that we pause to think about how we might like to be treated in a certain situation, we build empathy for those actually living in that situation. Just as we like to be treated with love and respect, we should do the same to others. Matthew 5:43-48 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? …” Likewise, 1 John 4:7-9 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.“
Knowing Where/How to Draw the Line Between Helping Someone and Allowing Someone to Take Advantage of You
Luke 6:30 says, “give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.” Likewise, Luke 6:35-36 says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” These verses as well as many others in the Bible teach us that Christians are to be loving, self-sacrificing, and merciful. Just like our Heavenly Father who has compassion towards all people, our hearts should be full of compassion when we see the needs of the people around us. Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Similarly 1 John 3:16-18 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.“
It is morally right to have a heart that would continually give to others, and it actually pleases the Lord God to see this wonderful character in our lives. However, when it comes to the area of giving and helping, the Bible also teaches that we must have wise discernment (Matthew 10:16). In fact, the Lord God gives us certain standards that we must take into account when it comes to giving our time, money and any other material possessions to others. It’s important to understand that when the Bible tells us we are to help others, the purpose is never for us to do this to the point where it becomes detrimental. While it’s important for us to take advantage of every opportunity to do good and help whenever we can possibly help, we should also remember that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” This is because there are people who want to live an irresponsible lifestyle with absolutely no accountability. Such a lifestyle is not to be encouraged. So, there must be limits; we should help anyone in need, but if we see that it has become a chronic life pattern, it is wrong for us to continue to encourage such. We are commanded to give to those who ask from us but we should not tolerate idleness and laziness. Brethren, it’s very harmful to others to contribute to their indolence, lack of effort, and laziness. We should motivate and encourage each and every one to work hard and better themselves on a long-term basis. The old saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime” is quite true. With this in mind and as long as we see that someone is sincerely making an effort, we should be there to support him/her in whatever way the Lord God leads.
How Do You Know If Someone Is Taking Advantage Of You?
Today, as was the case in the past, there exist many ways through which people can take advantage of others. That’s why it’s important for us to make this a subject of prayer, asking the Lord God to guide us and show us what He wants us to do. Behold, He will give us the wisdom to recognize a genuine need and discern between an opportunity and a distraction. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Note that trying to help someone who is just not willing to take any steps towards a solution in the matter may be a hopeless cause. Again, bringing it to the Lord God in prayer, requesting wisdom, and exercising the discernment He gives is crucial in such cases. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“
What If You’ve Already Been Taken Advantage Of?
What if you’ve already been taken advantage of? Truth be told, no matter how pure your intentions are, there are still people who just don’t care. In fact, they’ll milk whatever they can out of you. And such are the kind of people who abuse charity thereby making genuine givers doubt charity. If you happened to cross paths with such individuals and fell prey to them, take comfort in these words: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ” – Romans 12:17-21. With this Scripture in mind, we should never think of nor seek revenge. Instead, we pray for them that they may see the error of their ways. As Christians, we should continue doing good to others and even to those who have wronged us. And whatever we do, we should do it for the Lord God and not for men.
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 7:12 – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“
Luke 6:31 – “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
Galatians 5:14 – For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.“
2 Peter 2:3 – “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.“
Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.“
James 2:8 – If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Mark 12:31 – “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 25:40 – “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’“
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.“
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“
Group 1 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Romans 13:9 – For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 5:43-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? …“
James 1:19-20 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.“
Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.“
Group 2 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.“
1 Peter 3:10 – For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;”
Luke 10:25-28 – And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.“
Romans 13:8-10 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.“
Group 3 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 7:8 – “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.“
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
James 4:11-12 – “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?“
Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that you be not judged.“
Romans 13:1-14 – “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …“
Group 4 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 22:39 – “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.“
Mark 12:30-33 – “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,“
Matthew 5:45 – “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.“
1 John 4:20 – “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.“
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Group 5 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 5:48 – “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 7:7-11 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are 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!“
Matthew 5:38-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. …“
Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.“
Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Group 6 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 20:21 – And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Matthew 8:1-34 – “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, …“
Matthew 22:37-40 – And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Mark 12:28-31 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Group 7 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 5:1-7:29 – “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. …“
Matthew 6:1-34 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …“
Psalm 26:5 – “I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.“
Psalm 119:113-115 – “I hate the double-minded, but I love your law. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.“
Psalm 139:19-22 – “Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.“
Group 8 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Psalm 5:5 – “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.“
Deuteronomy 10:19 – “Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.“
2 Chronicles 19:2 – “But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.“
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.“
Deuteronomy 9:5-6 – “Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.“
Group 9 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Leviticus 19:17 – “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.“
Deuteronomy 1:15-17 – “So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’“
Leviticus 25:35 – “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.“
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.“
Leviticus 19:34 – “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.“
Group 10 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
James 2:12-13 – “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.“
Exodus 20:6 – “But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.“
Colossians 3:12-14 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.“
Exodus 34:6 – “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,“
Exodus 23:4-5 – “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.“
Hebrews 13:1 – “Let brotherly love continue.“
Group 11 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Luke 10:25-36 – “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” …“
Matthew 23:1-39 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 23:27-28 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“
Group 12 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 22:36-38 – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.“
Matthew 23:1-33 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
Matthew 22:40 – “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 23:1-33 – “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, …“
Matthew 7:13 – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.“
Group 13 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.“
Deuteronomy 4:2 – “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.“
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 – “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.“
Matthew 5:5-9 – ““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.“
Matthew 7:1-29 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. …“
Group 14 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
James 1:26 – “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.“
James 4:1 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?“
James 1:22-27 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. …“
1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.“
Revelation 1:1-20 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …“
Group 15 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.“
Luke 16:13 – “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Luke 6:35-36 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.“
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,“
Ephesians 5:5 – “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.“
Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.“
Group 16 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Mark 13:32 – “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.“
Luke 6:27-29 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.“
Mark 12:28-30 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’“
Mark 16:15 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.“
Luke 10:30-37 – Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. …
Group 17 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Mark 10:19 – “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
Mark 12:28-34 – “And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. …“
Mark 11:25 – “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Mark 16:1-20 – “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. …“
Group 18 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Mark 9:1 – And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Matthew 22:34-40 – “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. …“
Mark 9:35 – And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 10:11-12 – And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Mark 7:20-22 – And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.”
Group 19 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Matthew 25:31-46 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, …“
Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
Romans 12:17-21 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.“
Group 20 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 – “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’“
Proverbs 28:6 – “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.“
Luke 6:32-42 – “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. …“
Group 21 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,“
James 4:1 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?“
Luke 6:29 – “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.“
Acts 20:35 – “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Proverbs 20:22 – Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Ephesians 4:26 – “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,“
Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Group 22 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Galatians 6:7-8 – “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.“
James 1:22-27 – “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. …“
Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Matthew 5:42 – “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
James 4:11-12 – “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?“
Group 23 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Proverbs 22:22-23 – “Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.“
Matthew 10:16 – “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.“
2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.“
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
1 Thessalonians 4:6 – “That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.“
Luke 16:10 – “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.“
Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.“
Group 24 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
James 1:27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.“
Amos 5:11 – “Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.”
Malachi 3:5 – “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.“
Romans 14:10-12 – Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Luke 17:3-4 – “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Group 25 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.“
Matthew 6:1-7 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …“
Proverbs 24:28 – “Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.“
Galatians 5:16-26 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, …“
Group 26 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Hebrews 13:3 – “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.“
Isaiah 58:10-11 – “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.“
Proverbs 4:5 – “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.“
Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.“
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.“
Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.“
Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.“
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Group 27 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Psalm 12:5 – “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
Jeremiah 22:3 – “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”
Hebrews 13:1-3 – “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”
Luke 21:1-4 – Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Matthew 7:15-20 – “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. …“
Group 28 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Jeremiah 7:6 – “If you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,”
James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Acts 3:6 – But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Leviticus 19:9-10 – “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.“
Zechariah 7:10 – “Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
1 Timothy 5:8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.“
Mark 10:19 – “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.“
Group 29 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Deuteronomy 27:19 – “‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’“
Proverbs 14:31 – “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”
John 16:13 – “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.“
1 John 3:17 – “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?“
Exodus 22:22 – “You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Proverbs 28:8 – “Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.“
James 5:4 – “Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.“
Proverbs 16:28 – “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.“
Group 30 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?“
Proverbs 26:12 – “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Isaiah 5:21 – “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!“
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.“
Matthew 5:5-9 – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.“
Psalm 91:2 – I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Proverbs 19:11 – “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.“
Leviticus 25:35-38 – “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.“
Group 31 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Colossians 3:12-14 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Romans 13:8-10 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“
Proverbs 19:1 – “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.“
Psalm 50:16-17 – But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.”
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,“
1 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – “As we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,“
Group 32 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Isaiah 61:1-4 – “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”
Isaiah 61:8 – “For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“
Isaiah 5:20-21 – “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!“
Group 33 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Amos 5:12 – “For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate.“
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Psalm 35:10 – All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
Psalm 119:61 – “Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.“
Proverbs 29:27 – “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.“
Ezekiel 18:4 – “Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.“
John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Group 34 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
1 Timothy 1:8-11 – “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.“
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 – “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. …“
John 8:32 – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Mark 9:42 – “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.“
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.“
Group 35 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Psalm 82:3 – “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.“
Psalm 72:4 – “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!“
Psalm 55:23 – “But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.“
Psalm 9:9 – “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.“
Psalm 23:4 – “Even 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.”
Isaiah 10:1-2 – “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!“
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.“
Proverbs 16:29 – “A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.”
Proverbs 13:24 – “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.“
Psalm 127:3 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.“
Group 36 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Joshua 24:15 – “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Leviticus 18:22 – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.“
Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Genesis 6:11 – “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.”
Leviticus 18:19-23 – “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness. And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor’s wife and so make yourself unclean with her. You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.“
Genesis 3:19 – “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Group 37 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Titus 2:14 – “Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.“
Hebrews 4:15-16 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 4:6-7 – “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 John 3:1-3 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.“
Group 38 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Romans 14:16-18 – “So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”
Galatians 3:27-29 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.“
2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Galatians 3:6-8 – Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
Group 39 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
John 16:24 – “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.“
Jeremiah 39:18 – “For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”
Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.“
James 2:23 – “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.“
1 Peter 2:7-10 – “So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.“
Group 40 – Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.“
Titus 3:4-8 – “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.“
Ephesians 5:7-9 – “Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),“
Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Luke 12:32 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 9:1-2 – “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.“
Bestofchristianity.com is a Global Media Ministry. As a Christian Website and Online Evangelical Ministry, Best Of Christianity focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy spirit, and above all the Love of God. It uses the Bible as the foundation to knowing and obeying God. It steps in at the command of Jesus Christ to take the holy gospel to the four corners of the world so that those who believe in him can have eternal life. Under the authority of Jesus Christ, we are Apostolic and Prophetic sons and daughters of God sent out to set the captives free, heal the sick, bring deliverance, give sight to the blind, strengthen the lame to walk and above all lead souls to heaven. It is in the Christian light that we analyze topics like Prosperity, Wealth, Debt free, Credits, Finance, and Money in the Bible.
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