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Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You (Golden Rule) Meaning

Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You Golden Rule Meaning

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 5:14For 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 2:8If 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 13:9For 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 3:10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;”

Luke 10:25-28And 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 13:5Keep 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 20:21And 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 22:37-40And 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 10:30-37Jesus 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 9:1And 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 9:35And 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 10:11-12And 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 7:20-22And 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 13:5Keep 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 20:22Do 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 14:10-12Why 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 12:19Beloved, 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 21:1-4Jesus 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 3:6But 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 50:16-17But 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 35:10All 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 3:6-8Just 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 14:6Jesus 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.

Also Read

Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian. 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“.

Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 5:14For 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 2:8If 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Romans 13:9For 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Matthew 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

1 Peter 3:10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;”

Luke 10:25-28And 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 13:5Keep 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.’

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!

Group 6 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Matthew 20:21And 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 22:37-40And 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

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. …

Group 8 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

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.

Group 16 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Mark 16:15 – “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Luke 10:30-37Jesus 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. …

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.’

Group 17 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Mark 9:35And 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 10:11-12And 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 7:20-22And 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.”

Mark 9:1And 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 19 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

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 20 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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. …

Hebrews 13:5Keep 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.’

Group 21 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 20:22Do 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 14:10-12Why 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Romans 12:19Beloved, 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

Luke 21:1-4Jesus 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. …

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.”

Group 28 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 3:6But 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 50:16-17But 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 35:10All 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

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.”

Group 37 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 3:6-8Just 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 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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.

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.”

Group 40 – Being Taken Advantage Of As A Christian

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 14:6Jesus 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.

Also Read

A Holy Calling

A Holy Calling

A Holy Calling has been destined by the Lord God Almighty for all those who will come to Him through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],” Likewise, when reading the Bible, we frequently hear of people being called by the Lord God Almighty for a specific ministry or service. There are many examples of people being called by the Lord God in the Bible for His service. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Ezekiel, and many others were called by the Lord God Almighty to be His Prophets. Likewise, Paul was called by the Lord God: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God(Romans 1:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1). Likewise, the Old Testament priests were called by the Lord God to their special work (Hebrews 5:4; cf. Exodus 28:1). To be called by the Lord God Almighty is to be chosen by Him for certain purposes. When a person is aware of God’s calling in his/her life and surrenders to it, he/she starts living out the Lord God’s purpose for his/her life.

Isaiah 49:1 says, “Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands,
And pay attention, you peoples from far away.
The Lord has called Me from the womb;
From the body of My mother He has named Me
.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5 says, Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Galatians 1:14-18 says, “And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me]. Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.

A Holy Calling

The Lord God Almighty called the entire nation of Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Likewise, the church, redeemed by the blood of the beloved Son of God, Jesus Christ, is called: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). The Lord God’s calling of Israel was to showcase His salvation to the pagan world. Sadly, Israel rejected that call by following idols and as a result never flourished in the way the Lord God wanted to prosper them. Nevertheless, the Lord God’s call today is to all those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to showcase to the world God’s love, mercy, grace, and salvation (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:16). The Lord God is actively involved with His Universe than many people actually think. The Lord God is sovereign over the Universe and all creation as confirmed by Isaiah 46:9–11. Although the Lord God created humankind to be freewill beings and as such possess the freedom to make choices, His choices have already been made (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:10–18). Likewise, Romans 11:29 says, “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

John 3:16 says, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Behold, we are called by the Lord God to Salvation. In the New Testament, the Greek word ekklesia translated “church” means “a called-out assembly,” or “the called out ones.” God’s call to salvation involves conforming us “to the image of his Son.” Both His election and call to salvation are part of an eternal plan for us that guarantees our inheritance in heaven: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:29–30). After salvation, we are further called to grow in Christian virtue and serve the Lord God by good works. As a matter of fact, it is this maturation process in the Christian faith that confirms our calling by the Lord God (2 Peter 1:5–10). The Lord God has provided us with Spiritual Gifts to aid us in our call to service in His vineyard. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He sees fit and then calls us into a field of service that makes use of those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1–11).

Biblical Facts About Being Called By God

Behold, each and every Christian has a calling in his/her life. In fact, we were designed before the foundation of the world to be His workmanship, glorifying Him as we bring forth the fruit He desires.
Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “ just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

Generally, the Lord God’s call to service usually begins with a burden for a particular need that relates to His kingdom. Some are called to the political arena where they can contribute to ending things like child abuse, and human trafficking, as well as contributing to the well-being of society in one way or the other for the glory of God. Others are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Worship leaders, Bible translators, or to a host of other avenues that honor and glorify the Lord God (Matthew 23:34; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:11). In this way, each one makes use of the gifts the Spirit has given to bring honor and glory to God’s name. We discover our call to a specific area of service by walking closely with the Lord God, loving Him, obeying Him, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices  (Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 1:10). With time, we’ll grow spiritually and develop sensitivity to the voice of the Lord God. He can confirm His call in any way of His choice. Most of the time, confirmation can come through Scripture, godly counsel, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations.

Responding To God’s Call

When the Lord God calls us, He leads us into an awareness of the call. When we accept His calling on our lives, He prepares and equips us to be successful in His service. In the field, our callings are manifested through the works we are able to accomplish by the strength and gifts that God prepared and equipped us with. For example, a person may begin to have a burden for a particular foreign nation and its people regarding their salvation and spiritual well-being. The burden was placed there by the Lord God as part of His calling. The person makes further research about that nation and enrolls in a missions-focused school as his/her way to prepare for the work ahead. Once on the mission field, he/she is willing to suffer hardships and separation from family and friends because the call of God is his/her greatest motivation and focus. Apostle Paul wrote, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Notice that God’s call on Apostle Paul’s life became his motivating force. Acts 9:15–16 says, But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.”

In answering God’s call, we must obey His instructions in Scripture. By being faithful to the call of obedience, the Lord God can call us to more specific areas as well as increase our responsibility in his vineyard.
Luke 16:10 says, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.
Matthew 25:21 says, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 12:1-29 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. …

Resisting/Refusing to Accept/Surrender to God’s Call

The Bible tells us that Jonah was called by the Lord God but refused to surrender to the call; rather, he ran the other way (Jonah 1:1–3). In spite of that, the Lord God pursued His disobedient servant until Jonah submitted himself to the call. With clear knowledge and understanding of Jonah’s disobedience beforehand, the Lord God had already prepared a big fish to swallow him and spit him out when he was humbled enough to repent (Jonah 1:17—2:1). When Jonah was back on dry land, the word of the Lord came to him for a second time, giving him another chance to obey. Jonah 3:1-3 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.”

It’s without a doubt that the Lord God Almighty could have rescued the Israelites from captivity in Egypt without Moses’ help. But He chose to do it through Moses (Matthew 19:26). Appearing to Moses at the burning bush, the Lord God said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt … and I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7-8). Surprisingly, the Lord God said, “Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Notice that the Lord God had a plan to deliver His people; His plan was Moses. However, in response to God’s call, Moses immediately began making excuses. From the Bible, we can deduce 4 different excuses made by Moses in an attempt not to accept or surrender to God’s call on his life:

1) I am not Adequate for the Task (Lack of Confidence) – Exodus 3:11-12

Exodus 3:11-12 says, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.
Who am I,” Moses asked. In fact, he felt inadequate, and he was eventually right to feel that way. By himself, he was inadequate, just as each and every one of us is. Amazingly, the Lord God in reply said to Moses, “certainly I will be with you.” Notice that the deliverance of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt didn’t depend on the ability of Moses but on the presence, mightiness, power, sovereignty, strength, and sufficiency of the Lord God. From this Scripture, it’s clear that when the Lord God calls people to serve His purpose, He always provides

Fascinatingly, in Exodus 3:11-12, no longer is Moses the bold, strong 40 years old man in Egypt, who could singlehandedly kill an Egyptian slave master and successfully flee away from the Egyptian army unhurt. It seems the last 40 years in the wilderness did erase his confidence. From a prince to a pauper, it’s clear that Moses suffered a serious demotion from royalty to one of Egypt’s most-wanted assassins who was on the run. This probably explains why after all these years of tending sheep in the desert with no prospects of any change on the horizon, Moses had a serious sense of personal inferiority. But what Moses failed to know was that the Lord God had His eyes on him all the time. Behold, the Lord God had chosen him to accomplish a task greater than anything he could have imagined. As a matter of fact, the last 40 years of tending sheep weren’t wasted. Rather, they had taught Moses a lot about leadership, for sheep are renowned for:
1) Wandering away, completely unaware of dangers that may lurk ahead of them.
2) Their crowd mentality, mob mentality, herd mentality, or pack mentality.
3) Their complete dependence on the shepherd to guard and provide for them.

Behold, if Moses could lead sheep, then he could certainly lead people.
Moses had gained field experience in leading the sheep around the Median desert, leading them in finding food and water, and protecting them from wild animals. And as such, we think that Moses was best placed to lead the Israelites out of captivity and into the promised land. Although his objection sounds like an expression of deep humility, it’s not really about humility but lack of confidence, not lack of confidence in self but lack of confidence in the Lord God who called him. Given that the Lord God had seemingly abandoned Moses just when he was intervening to use his strength and position to ameliorate the plight of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt, could he still trust Him for the future especially as it involved Pharaoh? (Exodus 2:11-22). Absolutely yes, Moses could trust the Lord God for the future and just everything that he needed. God’s reply, “I will be with you” was all that Moses needed. The expression “be with you” indicates intimacy, protection, guidance, provision, and comfort. In other words, everything that Moses would need, the Lord God would provide. Notice that this expression of encouragement in Exodus 3:12a was the same expression of encouragement that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples just before He ascended back to heaven and before they would face tremendous tests of their newfound faith: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

2) I don’t Know Enough (A Lack of Knowledge of God) – Exodus 3:13-22

Exodus 3:13-14 says, Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
Here, we see that Moses was worried about what to say should in case the Israelites challenge his authority and integrity by testing his personal knowledge of God. In fact, Moses was afraid the Israelites might ask him a question he couldn’t answer. Notice that he had to know the correct answer or else his authority would be in doubt. And knowing who he had been and what he had done, the Israelites were more likely to challenge him. Given his track record, they were likely to be suspicious of him.

Behold, if Moses didn’t answer correctly their hypothetical question as to God’s identity, they certainly would not welcome him, talk less of following him. The Lord God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” And behold, whenever we say, “I don’t know enough,” “I’m not smart enough,” I’m not capable,” the Lord God Almighty says, but “I AM.” With this in mind, we should always trust Him because He is loving, worthy, faithful, and never fails.

3) People won’t take me Serious (Lack of Credibility with the People) – Exodus 4:1-9

Exodus 4:1 says, Then Moses answered [the Lord] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”
The Lord God had already promised Moses, “They will listen to what you say” (Exodus 3:18). Still, Moses protested. Notice that now it’s not a matter of the Israelites questioning who had sent him, but whether they would believe him and obey him. Now it’s more of a matter of personal credibility. Well, Moses certainly had cause to wonder if they would believe him. Remember, his track record wasn’t that great. Indeed, he had earlier attempted to protect the Hebrew slave who was being mistreated by the slave master, but then he had disappeared for up to 40 years. The people were likely to question his whereabouts for all these years, who he had become, and whether or not he would abandon them again.

Amazingly, the Lord God graciously gives him three miraculous signs by which he could prove his credibility and convince the Israelites that he had been sent to them by I Am, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. First, his miraculous rod – when he threw it to the ground, it became a serpent and when he took hold of it again it became a rod again (Exodus 4:2-5). Second, his hand – when he put it into his cloak, it became leprous and when he put it into his cloak again it was immediately restored to perfect health (Exodus 4:6-7). Third, water from the river Nile – when Moses poured it on dry land it would become blood (Exodus 4:9).

4) A Lack of Oral Ability – Exodus 4:10-12

Exodus 4:10-12 says, Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.”
Behold, public speaking happens to be a problem for many people. In fact, it’s a daunting task for many people. Moses found himself in a situation whereby he was called by the Lord God to speak to a multitude as vast as the Israelites and to the pharaoh, the very man who wanted to kill him and from whom he had fled many years ago for his life. Again, the Lord God graciously provides comfort and assurance to Moses. Surely, the Creator Himself is able to empower us to speak for Him and to give us the right words to speak at the right time (Luke 12:12).

I am not willing – Exodus 4:13-17

Exodus 4:13-17 says, But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you]. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”

Please, Lord, Send someone else,” Moses said (Exodus 4:13). Indeed, Moses said this despite God’s grace, patience, and provision for his weakness and fears. Behold, this was not an excuse/objection, but it reveals the real issue. Notice that for every excuse/objection Moses had made, the Lord God offered His promise and provision. Upon running out of excuses/objections, Moses revealed what the real issue was: I am not willing or I don’t want to do this or get someone to do it. As a matter of fact, this is usually the real issue; we are simply not willing to step out in faith and obey God’s call and instructions for us. Sadly, there are many other excuses that we make when the Lord God calls us. One might say, “I’m too old” (Moses was 80 years old) or another might say, like Jeremiah, “I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:7). In reality, whatever the excuse, it often boils down to lack of trust and an unwillingness to obey the Lord God Almighty.

Can I Reject God’s Calling to be a Minister or His Servant?

If I refuse God’s calling to be a minister or His servant, will I be punished? What are the consequences of refusing God’s calling? Can I reject God’s call on my life and go free? From the previously presented cases of Moses and Jonah, we can draw some very important Biblical conclusions about resisting/rejecting God’s call. But before that, let’s get some Scriptural facts about this topic:
Romans 14:12 says, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Peter 4:5 says, “But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
Revelation 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
Matthew 12:36-37 says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Luke 12:47-48 says, “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

From the Biblical examples of Moses and Jonah, we learn that when the Lord God calls us to be His servants or to minister for Him, it is wisest to obey. Moses refused to be God’s minister in the desert and as a result, God took part of his ministry away and gave it to someone else. Later in Numbers 20, we are told that Moses sinned and as a result, the Lord God did not let him go into the Promised Land. The Lord God gave his ministry to Joshua. With this in mind, it’s clear that the Lord God does not ultimately need you for the accomplishment of His purpose. If you refuse or get involved in sin, the Lord God can possibly give part or all of your ministry to someone else. In the Bible, we see an example of blatant and defiant refusal from Jonah. Jonah was a reluctant prophet who did not enjoy the ministry that the Lord God gave him. Although his ministry was phenomenally successful, he missed the joy of ministry because he refused. Still, notice that the Lord God once again did not let Jonah say no.

Following the calling of Moses and Jonah, is it possible to successfully refuse or reject God’s calling on your life? No. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].” The message of the Scripture is that if the Lord God is calling you to minister for Him, He will not let you say no. He will pursue you until you say “yes.” The question now is, what ministry will you receive and how will you operate it? Scripturally, the Lord God can give part of the ministry that you could have had to someone else. In addition, you may not enjoy the ministry that you end up with, but then at least you are obedient, like Jonah.

Sadly, many people these days are battling in an attempt to refuse or reject God’s call on their lives. As a matter of fact, doing this is fighting a losing battle. Deep down in your heart, you know without a doubt that the Lord God is calling you into His service but you just can’t imagine yourself becoming a minister or His servant. The Lord God has revealed Himself and His calling on your life in different ways. He has confirmed His calling on your life through the Scriptures, godly counsel, spiritual leaders, dreams, visions, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations. Perhaps, you’ve even stopped attending church in an attempt to get your mind off the things of God, but He keeps reminding you of His calling on your life.
Jeremiah 20:9 says, “But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” Yet, you still keep trying to reject His calling. Trying to reject God’s call on your life as Jonah did is something that will put you in a more or less situation like that of Jonah whereby nothing in your life is moving as planned and on your own, you’ll be moving on towards distress, trouble, disaster and destruction as was the case with Jonah. Repent as Jonah did (Jonah 2), trust and serve the Lord God, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Secret to answer God’s call for your life – 2 Chronicles 30:8

2 Chronicles 30:8 says, “Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.” When it comes to hearing and answering God’s call for your life, 2 Chronicles 30:8 is the scripture to embrace. It presents a powerful three-step principle on how to be used by God. This three-step principle remains the secret or answer to the question of how you prepare yourself to be used by God Almighty. This three-step principle can be presented with the following three words: Yield, Enter, and Serve. Likewise, Jesus Christ said in Luke 9:23, “Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” By doing these things, you’ll make yourself receptive to God’s call as well as ready to be used by God anywhere and at any time depending on His will. It’s our prayer that after examining these secrets to answer God’s call on your life, you’ll be equipped with what it takes to be successful in doing God’s work thereby winning more souls into His Kingdom.

1. Completely Yield Yourself to God’s Will

Webster’s definition of yielding reads
1) to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as
a: to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of anotherhand over possession of
b: to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit
c: to relinquish one’s possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority) yield precedence
d: to surrender or submit (oneself) to another
e: to give up (one’s breath, life, or spirit) and so die
2) to be fruitful or productive. 
Below are characteristics of genuine yielding:

  • Yielding is fully letting God have His way in your life.
  • Genuine yielding prioritizes God’s will over your will.
  • It has to do with completely surrendering yourself to God.
  • True yielding acknowledges the confession; Not MY will but THY will be done in my life.
  • Through yielding, we become profitable to God’s kingdom.
  • Consecration and Sanctification are the two words used in the Bible for yielding.
  • Yielding is setting aside yourself for the sole purpose of God’s use.
  • By yielding ourselves, we are made available for God to use according to His will.
  • Our availability for God’s use depends on how much we give Him.
  • Hence, anyone who gives just a little of themselves to God will be used in a small way but anyone who gives much of themselves and their time to God will be used mightily in ways beyond human understanding.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Luke 9:23 says, And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
John 12:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Matthew 10:38 says, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Romans 6:11 says, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

2. Enter into God’s Sanctuary

Entering into God’s sanctuary is an important Christian exercise that we can’t afford to omit in answering the question “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” This is to say that if you are serious about answering God’s call in your life, you’ll need to build a deep relationship or establish a covenant with Him. It is the process of establishing a faithful relationship with God that we refer to as entering His sanctuary. Entering God’s sanctuary is not necessarily going to a Christian assembly which we’ve come to refer to as a Church. It is more of getting into your secret place, where you regularly talk with God in all quietness. Referring to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.” Likewise, Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

God’s sanctuary can as well be perceived as your heart, a place where His Spirit dwells. This is a call for you to treasure your heart as you strive hard to always keep it clean so that God’s spirit won’t be grieved. You do this by paying attention to what proceeds forth from your heart thereby making sure that it is in line with the will of God. In the same light, you should pay attention and align your thoughts, words, and actions according to the will of God. Remember to fill your heart with the Love of God and that of your neighbor. By so doing, you’ll reflect the loving nature of God Almighty thereby gaining mercy and favor on His side.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
1 Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Acts 15:9 says, “And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Matthew 15:11 says, “It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”
Below are some of the spiritual exercises that will grow your relationship with God and maintain you in His sanctuary:

a. Praying without ceasing

As Christians, we are called to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, started with prayers and ended with prayers. It is without a doubt that a prayerful life was the key to achieving success in the Divine Mission which was attributed to Him by God the Father. It is in the light of following His footsteps that we ought to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. If you expect God to use you, you must value the aspect of regularly communicating with Him. It is through a prayerful life that you will identify what God wants you to do. Prayer is a two-sided communication line – that is, as you speak to God, He is also speaking to you. Hence, you should learn to listen and hear from God because He is always saying something.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing,
Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Luke 11:9 says, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “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,
Matthew 6:9-13 says, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

b. Regularly reading and meditating on your Bible

The Bible is an authoritative means through which God speaks, teaches, and confirms His Holy Will to mankind. It is one of the greatest means of communication with God. The Bible teaches us about the great things which God has done, those that He is still doing, and those that He will do in times to come. God’s word is to our spirit what food is to our body. Failure to hear God’s word is likely to lead to what we refer to as spiritual starvation. By daily and regularly studying God’s word, you are equipped with what it takes to do His will as well as minister it to others.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “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 competent, equipped for every good work.
Romans 15:4 says, “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 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Hebrews 4:12-14 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Matthew 4:4 says, But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Matthew 7:24 says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

c. Thanksgiving to God at all times

It is our Christian duty to be thankful to God at all times and in all circumstances. That is, we are to thank God for everything that comes our way – whether good or bad. We do this because God is always in control; nothing happens without His knowledge. Hence, we can say without a doubt that God is aware of all things that are happening to us. In short, He is in total control of all things that come our way. That’s why we should not dwell our hearts on worries. Always remember that God is working and turning all things for the good of His children. Let’s support this message by reading from Jeremiah 29:11 – “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 7:17 says, “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”
Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Psalm 100:1-5 says, “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.

d. Singing praises to God

Offering praises to God is more of an outer expression of the inward joy and happiness in one’s heart. This is generally done in acknowledgment of God’s goodness, immeasurable and unconditional love. True praise is a spontaneous action that is mental, physical, emotional, and highly verbal. In reading across the Bible, we hear more of the vocalization of praise than dances or other expressions of praise. Remember that it was the vocal praise that brought down the great walls of Jericho. Hence, it is without a doubt that vocal praise moves God into action as He locates His people in mercy and favor. The Greek word for praise is “Story.” The moment something proclaims the work of God, it is offering praise. In simple terms, praise is telling a story of God’s goodness, might, power, love, mercy, compassion, and sovereignty.

Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Psalm 100:1-2 says, “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!
Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Psalm 147:1 says, “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.”
James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”
Acts 16:25 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,”
Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Psalm 150:1-6 says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …

e. Worship

Worship is a spiritual exercise being carried out in the presence of God Almighty. It is more of a personal experience with God, the Father of Creation. Since it requires a personal experience with God, you’ll need to have been baptized (filled) with the Holy Ghost in order to genuinely worship God for who He is. Remember the words of Jesus Christ when He said that all those who worship God MUST do so in Spirit and Truth. In worship, the Holy Spirit fills us with what is necessary to truly acknowledge God for who He is. It provides us with the necessary reasons to genuinely worship God in spirit and truth. Genuine worship is not necessarily due to what God has done but for who He is. This is more likely when the Holy Spirit renews your mind and convinces you of God’s unfailing, unconditional, and immeasurable love. You can also learn what the Bible says about Prophetic Worship.

John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”
John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Luke 4:8 says, And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”
Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 99:5 says, “Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
Psalm 66:4 says, “All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Matthew 4:10 says, Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

f. Praying in the Spirit

Note that praying in the spirit is different from your normal or daily prayer routine. Here, you willingly allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you with its own words. Praying in the spirit can involve praying in tongues, prophesying into the air, and carrying out an intercessory prayer. When praying in the spirit, you speak many things which you would not speak under normal prayers. That is, the Spirit prays for those things through you that you normally should have prayed for but you are not aware of. At times, we lack words to pray or simply do not know how to pray. However, as we yield to praying in the spirit, the Spirit of God within us prays for all those things we ought to pray for and also intercedes on our behalf and that of our close ones before God. You can as well read the following: Understanding how praying in tongues opens supernatural dimensions and How to be filled with the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Ephesians 6:18 says, “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,”
Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
Colossians 3:14-17 says, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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.

3. Serve the Lord your God

Behold, serving God is an act of voluntary service. There are many ways through which you can serve God. You can serve God when you minister to Him in worship, showing Him homage, and when you witness His love, sovereignty, goodness, mercy, favor, and faithfulness to others. Note that your greatest service to God Almighty is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ which is a call for mankind to sincerely repent from their sins and turn to God. There are also many places in which you can serve God in Spirit and Truth. You can serve God in your local Christian assembly, you can serve God in a private location, and you can serve God in a different country. In short, you can serve God anywhere and at any time according to His will. Your service to God is reflected by certain characters and values in your life:

a. Holiness

Holiness is one of the key elements in answering the question of “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” It is the power of God within you that strengthens and guides you to walk no longer in sin. This power is achieved through Christ by being faithful to His teachings. Jesus Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the faithful thereby making them Holy before God. In Christ, we’ve all been given the power to overcome our corrupted flesh and reflect God’s righteous nature. Holiness is what causes a separation to manifest. A genuine follower of Christ who strives for righteousness on daily basis appears different in thoughts, words, and actions as compared to those who claim just by mouth to be of Christ. He/she who becomes righteous in Christ is easily detected by a change in morals, thoughts, words, and actions.

Leviticus 20:26 says, “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.
1 Samuel 2:2 says, “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 says, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Romans 6:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Matthew 5:48 says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Leviticus 19:2 says, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

b. Ministry

A person can as well serve God by working in the ministry. We can’t afford to omit ministry work when answering the question of how to prepare yourself to be used by God. Behold brethren, let no one deceive you for we have all been called into ministry in the presence of God. Indeed, we’ve been called as ministers, ministers of love, reconciliation, mercy, truth, and faithfulness to God Almighty. We’ve all been commissioned by Christ to spread the Good News of Repentance and Life Everlasting to the four corners of the World thereby restoring to God all His lost children. You can also serve God by joining local Christian ministries in your assembly. Here, you can willingly serve as a Minister, Usher, Deacon, Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle, Prophet, or any other ministry that is available and that God has called and anointed you in it.

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “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.
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 says, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; …
Romans 10:13-15 says, For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

c. Witnessing

Still, on how to prepare yourself to be used by God, we’ll say that witnessing is a great way to serve God in Spirit and Truth. This is more of a personal practice that does not necessarily require that you teach, preach or share out tracks. In simple terms, witnessing is all about telling others about the mighty things that God has done in your life out of His unfailing, unconditional, faithful, and immeasurable love. A witness is someone who has clearly seen or heard about something he/she can give a consistent account of how it took place. Here, the person gives his/her witness based on what they say or heard thereby persuading the audience to believe. In our case, when you witness, you are giving a testimony of Jesus Christ, the savior of the World.

Mark 16:15 says, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Jeremiah 1:7-8But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
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.
Acts 1:8 says, “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.”
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

d. Loving

Loving is the greatest way of serving God. Christ spoke through His Apostles saying that “anyone who does not love does not know God.” This is because God has a loving nature. An objective look across the Bible will reveal that it revolves around Love – that is the love of God and the love of your neighbor. It is for this reason that some have gone to the very extent of calling the Bible “God’s Love Letter” to mankind. For God so loved the world that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ so that anyone who hears, believes, and obeys his teachings will not die but have everlasting life in Heaven (John 3:16). Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the World but to invite everyone to Sincerely Repent and start obeying the Commands of God.

Love is a lasting value in the Kingdom of God. Christ Himself summarized the Law of Moses and the teachings of the Prophets into loving God with all your being and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Through love, we clearly reflect the nature of God and Jesus’ mark of ownership. It is Jesus’ command that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:29-31; John 15:12). In this way, we will please God in the things that we do. Hence, we should never stop loving or get tired of loving. Behold, he/she who does not love does not know God just as the scriptures point out (1 John 4:7-8). On the other hand, he who loves is one who knows God, and one who knows God will live forever in His presence. When we say we Love God or our neighbor, our thoughts, words, and actions must reflect this saying.
Mark 12:29-31 says, 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.”
John 15:12 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1 John 4:7-8 says, “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.

A Holy Calling

2 Timothy 1:9 – “for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],”

Jeremiah 1:4-5Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.


Isaiah 49:1-2 – “Listen to me, O coastlands,
    and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called me from the womb,
    from the body of my mother he named my name.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
    in his quiver he hid me away.


Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

John 20:21-22 – “Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 23:34 – “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city,

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Mark 16:15-18 – “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.””

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.

Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

John 5:19So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

John 5:17 – But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

1 Peter 4:10 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”

Group 1- A Holy Calling

Matthew 28:18-19 – “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 8:12Again 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.”

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.

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

1 Peter 2:9 – “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.”

Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Group 2- A Holy Calling

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 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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.”

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 –Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Group 3 – A Holy Calling

Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;Group 4 – A Holy Calling

Luke 10:19 – “I have given you authority to trample on snakesGroup 5- A Holy Calling

Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

Romans 8:26 –In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

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.

Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Acts 19:1-41 – “And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. …

Romans 8:1-39 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. …

Group 6 – A Holy Calling

John 7:37 – “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

Romans 14:4 – Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Romans 5:1-21 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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. …

Hebrews 13:21 – “Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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.”

Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Acts 2:38And 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.”

Group 7- A Holy Calling

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …

John 16:1-33 – ““I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ …

1 John 4:2 – “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

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.

John 10:1-42 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” …

Group 8 – A Holy Calling

Psalm 54:4 – “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 90:17 – “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 – “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. …

John 8:24 – “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Hebrews 6:1-20 – “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, …

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 14:23 – “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Group 9 – A Holy Calling

Colossians 1:29 – “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Genesis 1:26Then 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.”

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 14:1-31“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.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …

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. …

Group 10 – A Holy Calling

1 Timothy 2:4 – “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 7:1-25 – “Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. 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. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. …

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,

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. …

Acts 17:31 – “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.”

Group 11 – A Holy Calling

John 3:14 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

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 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.

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.

Ephesians 4:28 – “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

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.”

Proverbs 12:11 – “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Hebrews 6:10 – “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

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.”

Group 12 – A Holy Calling

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

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 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. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. …

John 6:1-71 – “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” …

John 20:1-31 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. …

Group 13 – A Holy Calling

James 1:2 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” …

Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

John 17:1-26 – “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. …

Group 14 – A Holy Calling

Hebrews 13:5Keep 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.”

Revelation 17:1-18 -“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” …

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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 6:46 – “Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

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 15 – A Holy Calling

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.

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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.

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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.”

1 Peter 5:3 – “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Group 16 – A Holy Calling

Galatians 2:8 – “(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

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.”

John 6:27 – “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Group 17 – A Holy Calling

Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

John 3:2 – “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.”

Isaiah 40:1-31 – “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 10:25 – “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Isaiah 26:12 – “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”

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 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—

1 Thessalonians 4:11 – “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Group 18 – A Holy Calling

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:11 – “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

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. …

Isaiah 65:1-3 – “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here am I, here am I,” to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;

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. …

Group 19 – A Holy Calling

Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “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; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

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; …

Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Revelation 14:12 – “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

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.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Group 20 – A Holy Calling

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. …

1 Chronicles 17:1-27 – “Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. …

Proverbs 14:1 – “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

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. …

Also Read

God Has Called Us For His Purpose

God Has Called Us For His Purpose

God Has Called Us For His Purpose. When reading the Bible, we frequently hear of people being called by the Lord God Almighty for a specific ministry or service. There are many examples of people being called by the Lord God in the Bible for His service. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Ezekiel, and many others were called by the Lord God Almighty to be His Prophets. Likewise, Paul was called by the Lord God: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God(Romans 1:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1). Likewise, the Old Testament priests were called by the Lord God to their special work (Hebrews 5:4; cf. Exodus 28:1). To be called by the Lord God Almighty is to be chosen by Him for certain purposes. When a person is aware of God’s calling in his/her life and surrenders to it, he/she starts living out the Lord God’s purpose for his/her life.

Isaiah 49:1 says, “Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands,
And pay attention, you peoples from far away.
The Lord has called Me from the womb;
From the body of My mother He has named Me
.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5 says, Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Galatians 1:14-18 says, “And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me]. Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.

God Has Called Us For His Purpose

The Lord God Almighty called the entire nation of Israel to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Likewise, the church, redeemed by the blood of the beloved Son of God, Jesus Christ, is called: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). The Lord God’s calling of Israel was to showcase His salvation to the pagan world. Sadly, Israel rejected that call by following idols and as a result never flourished in the way the Lord God wanted to prosper them. Nevertheless, the Lord God’s call today is to all those redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to showcase to the world God’s love, mercy, grace, and salvation (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:16). The Lord God is actively involved with His Universe than many people actually think. The Lord God is sovereign over the Universe and all creation as confirmed by Isaiah 46:9–11. Although the Lord God created humankind to be freewill beings and as such possess the freedom to make choices, His choices have already been made (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:10–18). Likewise, Romans 11:29 says, “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.”

John 3:16 says, “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Behold, we are called by the Lord God to Salvation. In the New Testament, the Greek word ekklesia translated “church” means “a called-out assembly,” or “the called out ones.” God’s call to salvation involves conforming us “to the image of his Son.” Both His election and call to salvation are part of an eternal plan for us that guarantees our inheritance in heaven: “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:29–30). After salvation, we are further called to grow in Christian virtue and serve the Lord God by good works. As a matter of fact, it is this maturation process in the Christian faith that confirms our calling by the Lord God (2 Peter 1:5–10). The Lord God has provided us with Spiritual Gifts to aid us in our call to service in His vineyard. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He sees fit and then calls us into a field of service that makes use of those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1–11).

Biblical Facts About Being Called By God

Behold, each and every Christian has a calling in his/her life. In fact, we were designed before the foundation of the world to be His workmanship, glorifying Him as we bring forth the fruit He desires.
Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “ just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

Generally, the Lord God’s call to service usually begins with a burden for a particular need that relates to His kingdom. Some are called to the political arena where they can contribute to ending things like child abuse, and human trafficking, as well as contributing to the well-being of society in one way or the other for the glory of God. Others are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers, Worship leaders, Bible translators, or to a host of other avenues that honor and glorify the Lord God (Matthew 23:34; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Ephesians 4:11). In this way, each one makes use of the gifts the Spirit has given to bring honor and glory to God’s name. We discover our call to a specific area of service by walking closely with the Lord God, loving Him, obeying Him, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices  (Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 1:10). With time, we’ll grow spiritually and develop sensitivity to the voice of the Lord God. He can confirm His call in any way of His choice. Most of the time, confirmation can come through Scripture, godly counsel, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations.

Responding To God’s Call

When the Lord God calls us, He leads us into an awareness of the call. When we accept His calling on our lives, He prepares and equips us to be successful in His service. In the field, our callings are manifested through the works we are able to accomplish by the strength and gifts that God prepared and equipped us with. For example, a person may begin to have a burden for a particular foreign nation and its people regarding their salvation and spiritual well-being. The burden was placed there by the Lord God as part of His calling. The person makes further research about that nation and enrolls in a missions-focused school as his/her way to prepare for the work ahead. Once on the mission field, he/she is willing to suffer hardships and separation from family and friends because the call of God is his/her greatest motivation and focus. Apostle Paul wrote, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Notice that God’s call on Apostle Paul’s life became his motivating force. Acts 9:15–16 says, But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.”

In answering God’s call, we must obey His instructions in Scripture. By being faithful to the call of obedience, the Lord God can call us to more specific areas as well as increase our responsibility in his vineyard.
Luke 16:10 says, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.
Matthew 25:21 says, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 12:1-29 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. …

Resisting/Refusing to Accept/Surrender to God’s Call

The Bible tells us that Jonah was called by the Lord God but refused to surrender to the call; rather, he ran the other way (Jonah 1:1–3). In spite of that, the Lord God pursued His disobedient servant until Jonah submitted himself to the call. With clear knowledge and understanding of Jonah’s disobedience beforehand, the Lord God had already prepared a big fish to swallow him and spit him out when he was humbled enough to repent (Jonah 1:17—2:1). When Jonah was back on dry land, the word of the Lord came to him for a second time, giving him another chance to obey. Jonah 3:1-3 says, “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.”

It’s without a doubt that the Lord God Almighty could have rescued the Israelites from captivity in Egypt without Moses’ help. But He chose to do it through Moses (Matthew 19:26). Appearing to Moses at the burning bush, the Lord God said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt … and I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7-8). Surprisingly, the Lord God said, “Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Notice that the Lord God had a plan to deliver His people; His plan was Moses. However, in response to God’s call, Moses immediately began making excuses. From the Bible, we can deduce 4 different excuses made by Moses in an attempt not to accept or surrender to God’s call on his life:

1) I am not Adequate for the Task (Lack of Confidence) – Exodus 3:11-12

Exodus 3:11-12 says, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.
Who am I,” Moses asked. In fact, he felt inadequate, and he was eventually right to feel that way. By himself, he was inadequate, just as each and every one of us is. Amazingly, the Lord God in reply said to Moses, “certainly I will be with you.” Notice that the deliverance of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt didn’t depend on the ability of Moses but on the presence, mightiness, power, sovereignty, strength, and sufficiency of the Lord God. From this Scripture, it’s clear that when the Lord God calls people to serve His purpose, He always provides

Fascinatingly, in Exodus 3:11-12, no longer is Moses the bold, strong 40 years old man in Egypt, who could singlehandedly kill an Egyptian slave master and successfully flee away from the Egyptian army unhurt. It seems the last 40 years in the wilderness did erase his confidence. From a prince to a pauper, it’s clear that Moses suffered a serious demotion from royalty to one of Egypt’s most-wanted assassins who was on the run. This probably explains why after all these years of tending sheep in the desert with no prospects of any change on the horizon, Moses had a serious sense of personal inferiority. But what Moses failed to know was that the Lord God had His eyes on him all the time. Behold, the Lord God had chosen him to accomplish a task greater than anything he could have imagined. As a matter of fact, the last 40 years of tending sheep weren’t wasted. Rather, they had taught Moses a lot about leadership, for sheep are renowned for:
1) Wandering away, completely unaware of dangers that may lurk ahead of them.
2) Their crowd mentality, mob mentality, herd mentality, or pack mentality.
3) Their complete dependence on the shepherd to guard and provide for them.

Behold, if Moses could lead sheep, then he could certainly lead people.
Moses had gained field experience in leading the sheep around the Median desert, leading them in finding food and water, and protecting them from wild animals. And as such, we think that Moses was best placed to lead the Israelites out of captivity and into the promised land. Although his objection sounds like an expression of deep humility, it’s not really about humility but lack of confidence, not lack of confidence in self but lack of confidence in the Lord God who called him. Given that the Lord God had seemingly abandoned Moses just when he was intervening to use his strength and position to ameliorate the plight of the Israelites who were held captive in Egypt, could he still trust Him for the future especially as it involved Pharaoh? (Exodus 2:11-22). Absolutely yes, Moses could trust the Lord God for the future and just everything that he needed. God’s reply, “I will be with you” was all that Moses needed. The expression “be with you” indicates intimacy, protection, guidance, provision, and comfort. In other words, everything that Moses would need, the Lord God would provide. Notice that this expression of encouragement in Exodus 3:12a was the same expression of encouragement that Jesus Christ gave to His disciples just before He ascended back to heaven and before they would face tremendous tests of their newfound faith: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

2) I don’t Know Enough (A Lack of Knowledge of God) – Exodus 3:13-22

Exodus 3:13-14 says, Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
Here, we see that Moses was worried about what to say should in case the Israelites challenge his authority and integrity by testing his personal knowledge of God. In fact, Moses was afraid the Israelites might ask him a question he couldn’t answer. Notice that he had to know the correct answer or else his authority would be in doubt. And knowing who he had been and what he had done, the Israelites were more likely to challenge him. Given his track record, they were likely to be suspicious of him.

Behold, if Moses didn’t answer correctly their hypothetical question as to God’s identity, they certainly would not welcome him, talk less of following him. The Lord God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” And behold, whenever we say, “I don’t know enough,” “I’m not smart enough,” I’m not capable,” the Lord God Almighty says, but “I AM.” With this in mind, we should always trust Him because He is loving, worthy, faithful, and never fails.

3) People won’t take me Serious (Lack of Credibility with the People) – Exodus 4:1-9

Exodus 4:1 says, Then Moses answered [the Lord] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’”
The Lord God had already promised Moses, “They will listen to what you say” (Exodus 3:18). Still, Moses protested. Notice that now it’s not a matter of the Israelites questioning who had sent him, but whether they would believe him and obey him. Now it’s more of a matter of personal credibility. Well, Moses certainly had cause to wonder if they would believe him. Remember, his track record wasn’t that great. Indeed, he had earlier attempted to protect the Hebrew slave who was being mistreated by the slave master, but then he had disappeared for up to 40 years. The people were likely to question his whereabouts for all these years, who he had become, and whether or not he would abandon them again.

Amazingly, the Lord God graciously gives him three miraculous signs by which he could prove his credibility and convince the Israelites that he had been sent to them by I Am, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. First, his miraculous rod – when he threw it to the ground, it became a serpent and when he took hold of it again it became a rod again (Exodus 4:2-5). Second, his hand – when he put it into his cloak, it became leprous and when he put it into his cloak again it was immediately restored to perfect health (Exodus 4:6-7). Third, water from the river Nile – when Moses poured it on dry land it would become blood (Exodus 4:9).

4) A Lack of Oral Ability – Exodus 4:10-12

Exodus 4:10-12 says, Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.”
Behold, public speaking happens to be a problem for many people. In fact, it’s a daunting task for many people. Moses found himself in a situation whereby he was called by the Lord God to speak to a multitude as vast as the Israelites and to the pharaoh, the very man who wanted to kill him and from whom he had fled many years ago for his life. Again, the Lord God graciously provides comfort and assurance to Moses. Surely, the Creator Himself is able to empower us to speak for Him and to give us the right words to speak at the right time (Luke 12:12).

I am not willing – Exodus 4:13-17

Exodus 4:13-17 says, But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you]. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”

Please, Lord, Send someone else,” Moses said (Exodus 4:13). Indeed, Moses said this despite God’s grace, patience, and provision for his weakness and fears. Behold, this was not an excuse/objection, but it reveals the real issue. Notice that for every excuse/objection Moses had made, the Lord God offered His promise and provision. Upon running out of excuses/objections, Moses revealed what the real issue was: I am not willing or I don’t want to do this or get someone to do it. As a matter of fact, this is usually the real issue; we are simply not willing to step out in faith and obey God’s call and instructions for us. Sadly, there are many other excuses that we make when the Lord God calls us. One might say, “I’m too old” (Moses was 80 years old) or another might say, like Jeremiah, “I am only a youth” (Jeremiah 1:7). In reality, whatever the excuse, it often boils down to lack of trust and an unwillingness to obey the Lord God Almighty.

Can I Reject God’s Calling to be a Minister or His Servant?

If I refuse God’s calling to be a minister or His servant, will I be punished? What are the consequences of refusing God’s calling? Can I reject God’s call on my life and go free? From the previously presented cases of Moses and Jonah, we can draw some very important Biblical conclusions about resisting/rejecting God’s call. But before that, let’s get some Scriptural facts about this topic:
Romans 14:12 says, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Peter 4:5 says, “But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
Revelation 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
Matthew 12:36-37 says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Luke 12:47-48 says, “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

From the Biblical examples of Moses and Jonah, we learn that when the Lord God calls us to be His servants or to minister for Him, it is wisest to obey. Moses refused to be God’s minister in the desert and as a result, God took part of his ministry away and gave it to someone else. Later in Numbers 20, we are told that Moses sinned and as a result, the Lord God did not let him go into the Promised Land. The Lord God gave his ministry to Joshua. With this in mind, it’s clear that the Lord God does not ultimately need you for the accomplishment of His purpose. If you refuse or get involved in sin, the Lord God can possibly give part or all of your ministry to someone else. In the Bible, we see an example of blatant and defiant refusal from Jonah. Jonah was a reluctant prophet who did not enjoy the ministry that the Lord God gave him. Although his ministry was phenomenally successful, he missed the joy of ministry because he refused. Still, notice that the Lord God once again did not let Jonah say no.

Following the calling of Moses and Jonah, is it possible to successfully refuse or reject God’s calling on your life? No. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].” The message of the Scripture is that if the Lord God is calling you to minister for Him, He will not let you say no. He will pursue you until you say “yes.” The question now is, what ministry will you receive and how will you operate it? Scripturally, the Lord God can give part of the ministry that you could have had to someone else. In addition, you may not enjoy the ministry that you end up with, but then at least you are obedient, like Jonah.

Sadly, many people these days are battling in an attempt to refuse or reject God’s call on their lives. As a matter of fact, doing this is fighting a losing battle. Deep down in your heart, you know without a doubt that the Lord God is calling you into His service but you just can’t imagine yourself becoming a minister or His servant. The Lord God has revealed Himself and His calling on your life in different ways. He has confirmed His calling on your life through the Scriptures, godly counsel, spiritual leaders, dreams, visions, fruitful results, natural gifting, and/or a sense of “rightness” that does not conflict with any of the other Scriptural confirmations. Perhaps, you’ve even stopped attending church in an attempt to get your mind off the things of God, but He keeps reminding you of His calling on your life.
Jeremiah 20:9 says, “But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” Yet, you still keep trying to reject His calling. Trying to reject God’s call on your life as Jonah did is something that will put you in a more or less situation like that of Jonah whereby nothing in your life is moving as planned and on your own, you’ll be moving on towards distress, trouble, disaster and destruction as was the case with Jonah. Repent as Jonah did (Jonah 2), trust and serve the Lord God, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Secret to answer God’s call for your life – 2 Chronicles 30:8

2 Chronicles 30:8 says, “Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.” When it comes to hearing and answering God’s call for your life, 2 Chronicles 30:8 is the scripture to embrace. It presents a powerful three-step principle on how to be used by God. This three-step principle remains the secret or answer to the question of how you prepare yourself to be used by God Almighty. This three-step principle can be presented with the following three words: Yield, Enter, and Serve. Likewise, Jesus Christ said in Luke 9:23, “Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” By doing these things, you’ll make yourself receptive to God’s call as well as ready to be used by God anywhere and at any time depending on His will. It’s our prayer that after examining these secrets to answer God’s call on your life, you’ll be equipped with what it takes to be successful in doing God’s work thereby winning more souls into His Kingdom.

1. Completely Yield Yourself to God’s Will

Webster’s definition of yielding reads
1) to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as
a: to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of anotherhand over possession of
b: to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit
c: to relinquish one’s possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority) yield precedence
d: to surrender or submit (oneself) to another
e: to give up (one’s breath, life, or spirit) and so die
2) to be fruitful or productive. 
Below are characteristics of genuine yielding:

  • Yielding is fully letting God have His way in your life.
  • Genuine yielding prioritizes God’s will over your will.
  • It has to do with completely surrendering yourself to God.
  • True yielding acknowledges the confession; Not MY will but THY will be done in my life.
  • Through yielding, we become profitable to God’s kingdom.
  • Consecration and Sanctification are the two words used in the Bible for yielding.
  • Yielding is setting aside yourself for the sole purpose of God’s use.
  • By yielding ourselves, we are made available for God to use according to His will.
  • Our availability for God’s use depends on how much we give Him.
  • Hence, anyone who gives just a little of themselves to God will be used in a small way but anyone who gives much of themselves and their time to God will be used mightily in ways beyond human understanding.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Luke 9:23 says, And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
John 12:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Matthew 10:38 says, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Romans 6:11 says, “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

2. Enter into God’s Sanctuary

Entering into God’s sanctuary is an important Christian exercise that we can’t afford to omit in answering the question “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” This is to say that if you are serious about answering God’s call in your life, you’ll need to build a deep relationship or establish a covenant with Him. It is the process of establishing a faithful relationship with God that we refer to as entering His sanctuary. Entering God’s sanctuary is not necessarily going to a Christian assembly which we’ve come to refer to as a Church. It is more of getting into your secret place, where you regularly talk with God in all quietness. Referring to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.” Likewise, Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

God’s sanctuary can as well be perceived as your heart, a place where His Spirit dwells. This is a call for you to treasure your heart as you strive hard to always keep it clean so that God’s spirit won’t be grieved. You do this by paying attention to what proceeds forth from your heart thereby making sure that it is in line with the will of God. In the same light, you should pay attention and align your thoughts, words, and actions according to the will of God. Remember to fill your heart with the Love of God and that of your neighbor. By so doing, you’ll reflect the loving nature of God Almighty thereby gaining mercy and favor on His side.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
1 Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Acts 15:9 says, “And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Matthew 15:11 says, “It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”
Below are some of the spiritual exercises that will grow your relationship with God and maintain you in His sanctuary:

a. Praying without ceasing

As Christians, we are called to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, started with prayers and ended with prayers. It is without a doubt that a prayerful life was the key to achieving success in the Divine Mission which was attributed to Him by God the Father. It is in the light of following His footsteps that we ought to pray at all times and pray without ceasing. If you expect God to use you, you must value the aspect of regularly communicating with Him. It is through a prayerful life that you will identify what God wants you to do. Prayer is a two-sided communication line – that is, as you speak to God, He is also speaking to you. Hence, you should learn to listen and hear from God because He is always saying something.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing,
Mark 6:46 says, “And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Luke 11:9 says, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Ephesians 6:18 says, “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,
Matthew 6:9-13 says, Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

b. Regularly reading and meditating on your Bible

The Bible is an authoritative means through which God speaks, teaches, and confirms His Holy Will to mankind. It is one of the greatest means of communication with God. The Bible teaches us about the great things which God has done, those that He is still doing, and those that He will do in times to come. God’s word is to our spirit what food is to our body. Failure to hear God’s word is likely to lead to what we refer to as spiritual starvation. By daily and regularly studying God’s word, you are equipped with what it takes to do His will as well as minister it to others.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “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 competent, equipped for every good work.
Romans 15:4 says, “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 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Matthew 24:35 says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Hebrews 4:12-14 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Matthew 4:4 says, But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Matthew 7:24 says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

c. Thanksgiving to God at all times

It is our Christian duty to be thankful to God at all times and in all circumstances. That is, we are to thank God for everything that comes our way – whether good or bad. We do this because God is always in control; nothing happens without His knowledge. Hence, we can say without a doubt that God is aware of all things that are happening to us. In short, He is in total control of all things that come our way. That’s why we should not dwell our hearts on worries. Always remember that God is working and turning all things for the good of His children. Let’s support this message by reading from Jeremiah 29:11 – “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 7:17 says, “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”
Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Psalm 100:1-5 says, “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.

d. Singing praises to God

Offering praises to God is more of an outer expression of the inward joy and happiness in one’s heart. This is generally done in acknowledgment of God’s goodness, immeasurable and unconditional love. True praise is a spontaneous action that is mental, physical, emotional, and highly verbal. In reading across the Bible, we hear more of the vocalization of praise than dances or other expressions of praise. Remember that it was the vocal praise that brought down the great walls of Jericho. Hence, it is without a doubt that vocal praise moves God into action as He locates His people in mercy and favor. The Greek word for praise is “Story.” The moment something proclaims the work of God, it is offering praise. In simple terms, praise is telling a story of God’s goodness, might, power, love, mercy, compassion, and sovereignty.

Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Psalm 100:1-2 says, “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!
Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Psalm 147:1 says, “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.”
James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”
Acts 16:25 says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,”
Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Psalm 150:1-6 says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …

e. Worship

Worship is a spiritual exercise being carried out in the presence of God Almighty. It is more of a personal experience with God, the Father of Creation. Since it requires a personal experience with God, you’ll need to have been baptized (filled) with the Holy Ghost in order to genuinely worship God for who He is. Remember the words of Jesus Christ when He said that all those who worship God MUST do so in Spirit and Truth. In worship, the Holy Spirit fills us with what is necessary to truly acknowledge God for who He is. It provides us with the necessary reasons to genuinely worship God in spirit and truth. Genuine worship is not necessarily due to what God has done but for who He is. This is more likely when the Holy Spirit renews your mind and convinces you of God’s unfailing, unconditional, and immeasurable love. You can also learn what the Bible says about Prophetic Worship.

John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”
John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Psalm 95:6 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Luke 4:8 says, And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
Psalm 29:2 – “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”
Psalm 96:9 says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 99:5 says, “Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
Psalm 66:4 says, “All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Matthew 4:10 says, Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

f. Praying in the Spirit

Note that praying in the spirit is different from your normal or daily prayer routine. Here, you willingly allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you with its own words. Praying in the spirit can involve praying in tongues, prophesying into the air, and carrying out an intercessory prayer. When praying in the spirit, you speak many things which you would not speak under normal prayers. That is, the Spirit prays for those things through you that you normally should have prayed for but you are not aware of. At times, we lack words to pray or simply do not know how to pray. However, as we yield to praying in the spirit, the Spirit of God within us prays for all those things we ought to pray for and also intercedes on our behalf and that of our close ones before God. You can as well read the following: Understanding how praying in tongues opens supernatural dimensions and How to be filled with the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Ephesians 6:18 says, “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,”
Jude 1:20 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
Colossians 3:14-17 says, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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.

3. Serve the Lord your God

Behold, serving God is an act of voluntary service. There are many ways through which you can serve God. You can serve God when you minister to Him in worship, showing Him homage, and when you witness His love, sovereignty, goodness, mercy, favor, and faithfulness to others. Note that your greatest service to God Almighty is spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ which is a call for mankind to sincerely repent from their sins and turn to God. There are also many places in which you can serve God in Spirit and Truth. You can serve God in your local Christian assembly, you can serve God in a private location, and you can serve God in a different country. In short, you can serve God anywhere and at any time according to His will. Your service to God is reflected by certain characters and values in your life:

a. Holiness

Holiness is one of the key elements in answering the question of “how do I prepare myself to be used by God?” It is the power of God within you that strengthens and guides you to walk no longer in sin. This power is achieved through Christ by being faithful to His teachings. Jesus Christ is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the faithful thereby making them Holy before God. In Christ, we’ve all been given the power to overcome our corrupted flesh and reflect God’s righteous nature. Holiness is what causes a separation to manifest. A genuine follower of Christ who strives for righteousness on daily basis appears different in thoughts, words, and actions as compared to those who claim just by mouth to be of Christ. He/she who becomes righteous in Christ is easily detected by a change in morals, thoughts, words, and actions.

Leviticus 20:26 says, “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.
1 Samuel 2:2 says, “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 says, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Romans 6:22 says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Matthew 5:48 says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Leviticus 19:2 says, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

b. Ministry

A person can as well serve God by working in the ministry. We can’t afford to omit ministry work when answering the question of how to prepare yourself to be used by God. Behold brethren, let no one deceive you for we have all been called into ministry in the presence of God. Indeed, we’ve been called as ministers, ministers of love, reconciliation, mercy, truth, and faithfulness to God Almighty. We’ve all been commissioned by Christ to spread the Good News of Repentance and Life Everlasting to the four corners of the World thereby restoring to God all His lost children. You can also serve God by joining local Christian ministries in your assembly. Here, you can willingly serve as a Minister, Usher, Deacon, Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher, Apostle, Prophet, or any other ministry that is available and that God has called and anointed you in it.

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “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.
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 says, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; …
Romans 10:13-15 says, For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

c. Witnessing

Still, on how to prepare yourself to be used by God, we’ll say that witnessing is a great way to serve God in Spirit and Truth. This is more of a personal practice that does not necessarily require that you teach, preach or share out tracks. In simple terms, witnessing is all about telling others about the mighty things that God has done in your life out of His unfailing, unconditional, faithful, and immeasurable love. A witness is someone who has clearly seen or heard about something he/she can give a consistent account of how it took place. Here, the person gives his/her witness based on what they say or heard thereby persuading the audience to believe. In our case, when you witness, you are giving a testimony of Jesus Christ, the savior of the World.

Mark 16:15 says, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Jeremiah 1:7-8But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
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.
Acts 1:8 says, “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.”
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

d. Loving

Loving is the greatest way of serving God. Christ spoke through His Apostles saying that “anyone who does not love does not know God.” This is because God has a loving nature. An objective look across the Bible will reveal that it revolves around Love – that is the love of God and the love of your neighbor. It is for this reason that some have gone to the very extent of calling the Bible “God’s Love Letter” to mankind. For God so loved the world that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ so that anyone who hears, believes, and obeys his teachings will not die but have everlasting life in Heaven (John 3:16). Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the World but to invite everyone to Sincerely Repent and start obeying the Commands of God.

Love is a lasting value in the Kingdom of God. Christ Himself summarized the Law of Moses and the teachings of the Prophets into loving God with all your being and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. Through love, we clearly reflect the nature of God and Jesus’ mark of ownership. It is Jesus’ command that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:29-31; John 15:12). In this way, we will please God in the things that we do. Hence, we should never stop loving or get tired of loving. Behold, he/she who does not love does not know God just as the scriptures point out (1 John 4:7-8). On the other hand, he who loves is one who knows God, and one who knows God will live forever in His presence. When we say we Love God or our neighbor, our thoughts, words, and actions must reflect this saying.
Mark 12:29-31 says, 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.”
John 15:12 says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1 John 4:7-8 says, “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.

God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Jeremiah 1:4-5Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “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.


Isaiah 49:1-2 – “Listen to me, O coastlands,
    and give attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called me from the womb,
    from the body of my mother he named my name.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow;
    in his quiver he hid me away.


Deuteronomy 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

John 20:21-22 – “Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 23:34 – “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city,

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Mark 16:15-18 – “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.Group 1- God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Matthew 28:18-19 – “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 8:12Again 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.”

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.

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

1 Peter 2:9 – “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.”

Galatians 5:13 – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Group 2- God Has Called Us For His Purpose

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 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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.”

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Ephesians 6:11 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 –Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Group 3 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;Group 4 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Luke 10:19 – “I have given you authority to trample on snakesGroup 5- God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Colossians 2:9-10 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

Romans 8:26 –In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

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.

Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Acts 19:1-41 – “And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. …

Romans 8:1-39 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. …

Group 6 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Hebrews 13:21 – “Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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.”

Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Acts 2:38And 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.”

John 7:37 – “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”

Romans 14:4 – Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Romans 5:1-21 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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. …

Group 7- God Has Called Us For His Purpose

1 John 4:2 – “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

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.

John 10:1-42 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” …

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. …

John 16:1-33 – ““I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ …

Group 8 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Psalm 54:4 – “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 90:17 – “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 – “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. …

John 8:24 – “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Hebrews 6:1-20 – “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, …

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 14:23 – “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Group 9 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

John 14:1-31“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.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” …

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. …

Colossians 1:29 – “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Genesis 1:26Then 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.”

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.

Group 10 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

1 Timothy 2:4 – “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 7:1-25 – “Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. 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. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. …

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,

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. …

Acts 17:31 – “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.”

Group 11 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

John 3:14 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

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 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.

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.

John 6:1-71 – “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” …

John 20:1-31 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. …

Group 12 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Ephesians 4:28 – “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

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.”

Proverbs 12:11 – “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Hebrews 6:10 – “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

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.”

1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

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 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. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. …

Group 13 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

James 1:2 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” …

Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

John 17:1-26 – “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. …

Group 14 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Hebrews 13:5Keep 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.”

Revelation 17:1-18 -“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” …

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

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 6:46 – “Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.

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 15 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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.”

1 Peter 5:3 – “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

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.

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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 16 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

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.”

John 6:27 – “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Galatians 2:8 – “(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 17 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Hebrews 10:25 – “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Isaiah 26:12 – “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.”

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 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—

1 Thessalonians 4:11 – “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

John 3:2 – “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.”

Isaiah 40:1-31 – “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.” …

Group 18 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:11 – “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

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. …

Isaiah 65:1-3 – “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here am I, here am I,” to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;

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. …

Group 19 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – “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; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

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; …

Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Revelation 14:12 – “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

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.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – “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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Group 20 – God Has Called Us For His Purpose

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. …

1 Chronicles 17:1-27 – “Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. …

Proverbs 14:1 – “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

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. …

Also Read

Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior leads to eternal life. The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

What The Scriptures Say About Believing In Jesus Christ

Acts 16:31 says, And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind. A Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save because He has the power and desire to forgive the sins of those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Accept And Believe In Jesus Christ

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

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.

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

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.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Group 3 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Group 4 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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. …

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

Group 5 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

Group 6 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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 7 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

Group 8 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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.”

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Group 9 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Group 11 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Group 12 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

Group 13 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

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 14 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Group 15 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Group 16 – Accepting Jesus As Your Lord And Savior

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

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. …

Also Read

How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Learn How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life. The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

What The Scriptures Say About Accepting Jesus Christ

There is much that the Bible says about Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. In simple terms, a Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. Jesus is the Savior of the world in every aspect of this world. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save us because He has the power to forgive sins and the desire to save those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. In support John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Accept Jesus Christ Into Your Life

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

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.

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.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Group 3 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

Group 4 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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. ...”

Group 5 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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. …

Matthew 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

Group 6 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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 7 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

Group 8 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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.”

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Group 9 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

Group 11 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Group 12 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

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 13 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Group 14 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

Group 15 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Group 16 – How To Accept Jesus Into Your Life

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

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. …

Also Read

What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior?

What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior? The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

What It Means To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

What The Scriptures Say About Accepting Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

There is much that the Bible says about Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. In simple terms, a Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. Jesus is the Savior of the world in every aspect of this world. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save us because He has the power to forgive sins and the desire to save those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. In support John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Accept Jesus Christ Into Your Life

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior?

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.

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.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Group 3 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

Group 4 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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. ...”

Group 5 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Matthew 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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 6 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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.”

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Group 7 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Group 8 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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 9 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

Group 11 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Group 12 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

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 13 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Group 14 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Group 15 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

Group 16 – What Does It Mean To Accept Jesus As Your Personal Savior

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

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. …

Also Read

What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ?

What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ? The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ?

What The Scriptures Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

There is much that the Bible says about Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. In simple terms, a Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. Jesus is the Savior of the world in every aspect of this world. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save us because He has the power to forgive sins and the desire to save those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. In support John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Receive Jesus Christ Into Your Life

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ?

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.

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.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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. ...”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Matthew 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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. …

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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.”

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

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. …

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

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. …

Also Read

Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Discover the Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Scriptures About Receiving Jesus Christ

There is much that the Bible says about Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. In simple terms, a Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. Jesus is the Savior of the world in every aspect of this world. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save us because He has the power to forgive sins and the desire to save those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. In support John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Receive Jesus Christ Into Your Life

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

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.

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.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Group 3 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

Group 4 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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. ...”

Group 5 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Matthew 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

Group 6 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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.”

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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 7 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

Group 8 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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 9 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Group 11 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Group 12 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

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 13 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Group 14 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Group 15 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Group 16 – Bible Verses About Receiving Jesus Christ

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

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. …

Also Read

What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ?

What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ? The Bible clearly says and makes us understand that there is only one way to Heaven, Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This one way to Heaven that the Bible talks of is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and follow God’s plans in the Bible for our lives. It is important for us to understand that good works cannot save us and that faith in Jesus Christ alone can save us. In support, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

However, accepting Jesus as your personal savior involves an understanding of who Jesus is, what a Savior is, and what it truly means to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus Christ is often talked of as a good person, yet the Bible declares that He is much more. Behold, Jesus Christ is God in human form who came to live on earth (John 1:1). He lived, taught, performed miracles, suffered, died, and resurrected from the dead to prove He is Lord. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Apostle Paul says, “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ?

What The Scriptures Say About Receiving Jesus Christ

There is much that the Bible says about Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. In simple terms, a Savior is a rescuer, redeemer, or one who saves someone else. Jesus is the Savior of the world in every aspect of this world. He rescues us from sin and eternal punishment when we trust in Him by faith. Jesus is a Redeemer because He paid the cost of our sins through His death on the cross. Jesus Christ can save us because He has the power to forgive sins and the desire to save those who trust in Him. To accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is to acknowledge who He is in your own life. It is to believe and trust in Him. In support John 1:12 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

John 3:16 clearly says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Today, we invite you to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and receive this free gift of Eternal Life. Although there is no special prayer to do so, you can make use of this one: “Heavenly Father, locate me in your mercy and favor. I realize that I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son who died for my sins and rose from the dead to give me eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Steps On How To Receive Jesus Christ Into Your Life

1. Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

1 John 1:10 – “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

2. Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin through a sincere repentance

In Luke 13:5, Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9 – “If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

4. Make a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart (core being) man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you pray and invite Jesus into your life, believe that he has heard your prayer and is in your life as Lord and Savior. Also pray that He fills you with the Holy Spirit that will lead you into the Truth about Him and His Father.

Things To Do After Receiving Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Savior

1. Regularly read the Bible to know Jesus Christ and God’s will better

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to regularly read the Bible in order to learn His teachings and God’s will. We are to stick to the Bible as our guide and tool to knowing God’s will and rightly accepting the eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (aligning and applying) the word of truth.” Likewise, Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

2. Regularly pray or talk to God in prayer everyday

As Christians, our lives should be revolving around prayers offered to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Likewise, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In addition, Matthew 21:22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ

Upon making up your mind to follow Jesus Christ, you should embrace His teachings and ways. Get baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority when it comes to knowing God and doing His will. In support, Matthew 28:19 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Likewise, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” And 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All [Holy] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

4. Teach or spread the Good News about Jesus Christ

In Luke 8:16, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Likewise, Christians shouldn’t keep the good news about Jesus Christ only for themselves but should spread it throughout the earth for the good and salvation of mankind. In support, Mark 16:15 says, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Likewise, Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Is Asking Jesus Into Your Heart In The Bible?

The phrase “ask Jesus into your heart” is not in the Bible. And, unlike some Christian concepts (like the doctrine of the trinity) we don’t find Biblical passages that indirectly point to it, either. The closest we might come across is this passage in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The first thing we notice is that this verse is not saying anything about the heart. Nor does it say anything about a person asking Jesus for something; instead, Jesus knocks, and the person opens the door.

Another potential passage might be Ephesians 3:16-17, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Once again, however, this Biblical passage is not referring to a salvation message or asking something from Jesus Christ. It is addressed to the believers as Apostle Paul prays for them to grow in relationship with Him. Generally, when people talk about “asking Jesus into our hearts,” they are talking about becoming a Christian. These words not being in the Bible does not mean that the phrase is unbiblical or anti-biblical. Instead, the phrase points to some key components of coming to Jesus Christ. The use of such a phrase is not wrong or harmful on its own. Problems arise when such is used without explaining its meaning.

Meaning of the phrase to ask Jesus into your heart

Note that the idea behind “asking Jesus into our hearts” is that He would take center stage in our lives. When we say something is “near to our heart,” we mean that it is of great importance to us. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells with the believers (1 Corinthians 3:16). This idea of the Holy Spirit indwelling may be translated by some, especially for children, like Jesus coming to live in our hearts, though this is not technically accurate. In addition, the phrase “asking Jesus into our hearts” alone does not convey the fullness of the gospel or what it means to submit to Christ as Lord and Savior. That is, it doesn’t speak much about submitting to Christ’s Lordship, repentance, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we regularly hear other ways of referring to a person receiving or accepting Christ.

One prominent phrase that is often used instead of “asking Jesus into your heart” is “accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.” This phrase is twofold. First, accepting Christ as Lord means putting Him in charge of our lives and recognizing His authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Matthew 28:18). Second, recognizing Him as Savior shows our acknowledgment of our own sin and need for saving (Romans 3:23-24). Another phrase that some people use is “turning to Christ” or “turning to Jesus.” Such phrases help to remind us that we are turning away from a life of sin and turning towards Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ?

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.

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.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Acts 2:38And 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 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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.”

John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Group 1 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Revelation 3:20 – “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.”

Romans 10:13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

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.”

Group 2 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

Acts 2:21 – “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.”

Titus 3:5 – “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,

Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Group 3 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9-10 – “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.

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.

1 Peter 1:3-8 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. …

Group 4 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Matthew 10:32-33 – “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

John 14:2 – “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?

John 3:17 – “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.”

John 6:37 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

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.

Group 5 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”

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. ...”

Hebrews 9:27 – “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

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 6 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

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.”

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.”

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Acts 2:38-39And 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.”

John 3:15-17 – “That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “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 7 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

John 17:22 – “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

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.”

Proverbs 16:25 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

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.”

Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Romans 5:6-15 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. …

Group 8 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Luke 1:32 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,”

Romans 15:9And in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

John 3:3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

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.

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 9 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

John 3:18 – “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.”

Mark 2:28 – “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 14:1 – “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”

John 3:1-36 – “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. …

Group 10 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Ephesians 2:9 – “Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

John 3:9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

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.”

Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Group 11 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 2:11 – “For God shows no partiality.

Isaiah 48:6 – “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

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.’

1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 16:16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Group 12 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

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. …

Romans 6:1-7 – “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. …

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.

Group 13 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

John 14:23-24Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 – “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.”

Revelation 21:1-27 – “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, …

Group 14 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

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.”

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.

Ephesians 4:4 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Romans 10:9-13Because, 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.”

Ephesians 1:18 – “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Group 15 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

Romans 5:10 – “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Timothy 1:9 – “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

John 3:20 – “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

John 3:21 – “But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Colossians 2:6 – “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

Group 16 – What Does It Mean To Receive Jesus Christ

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. …

John 3:19 – “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.”

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. …

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