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Pledging Money To Church

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Pledging Money To Church

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Money To Church? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

Pledging Money To Church

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

Pledging Money To Church

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

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What The Bible Says

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance?

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What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledging Allegiance

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

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What The Bible Says

Should A Christian Make A Promise?

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Should A Christian Make A Promise

Should A Christian Make A Promise? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

Should A Christian Make A Promise?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

Should A Christian Make A Promise?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Group 2 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Group 3 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Group 4 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

Group 5 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Group 6 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 7 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

Group 10 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 11 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Group 12 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 13 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Group 14 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

Group 16 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – Should A Christian Make A Promise

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

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What The Bible Says

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance?

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Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Group 2 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Group 3 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Group 4 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Group 5 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Group 6 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 7 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Group 10 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 11 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Group 12 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 13 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Group 14 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

Group 16 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

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What The Bible Says

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag?

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Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Group 2 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Group 3 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Group 4 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Group 5 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Group 6 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 7 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Group 10 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Group 11 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Group 12 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 13 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Group 14 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

Group 16 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Group 17 – Should A Christian Pledge Allegiance To The Flag

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

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What The Bible Says

What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows?

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What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Keeping Your Oaths/Vows

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

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What The Bible Says

What Does The Bible Say About Pledges?

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What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

What Does The Bible Say About Pledges? A pledge is a formalized promise, and there is nothing wrong with making a promise. Truthfully speaking, there is nothing sinful about saying a pledge, as long as the pledge does not take away from our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. When a couple gets married, they exchange vows, pledging faithfulness to each other – in the old phrasing, “I plight thee my troth.” When a person lays a hand over his/her heart and recites the pledge to the flag, he/she is promising loyalty to his/her country, recognizing that we are “all under God.” Likewise, when a witness takes the stand in a courtroom, he/she promises to tell the truth. And as we previously said, there is nothing wrong with making a promise, as long as it does not compromise one’s relationship with his/her Maker, God Almighty.

A promise is a pledge or vow to take any action or assurance that something will definitely happen. With this in mind, we can say that there is nothing inherently wrong with making a promise. As a matter of fact, the Bible records a great number of promises that God Himself has made. Our promises are important, especially when we make promises to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.” Promises can be honorable, beautiful, and made for the good of others. However, they must be kept so that they do not turn into sin.

What Does The Bible Say About Pledges?

What The Scriptures Say About Pledges

The Scriptures are calling on each and everyone to keep his/her promises. Promises can be easily broken or made with the wrong motivation, which may result in damage to ourselves or others. There are many things that believers should take into consideration before making a promise. As believers, we should make sure that our promises are not those to hurt anyone. Remember that Jesus Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34–40). We should make sure that our promises are in line with the ways of God. Likewise, we should make sure that the intention to keep to our promise is there before making it. We should also be in possession of the power to keep to the promise. We should keep the promises that we make to those around us just as we would love to have them keep those they make to us.

As Christians, we ought to be faithful in keeping promises just like our Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant – a special promise based on a personal relationship – to send a Savior who would “crush [Satan’s] head” and deliver mankind from sin (Genesis 3:15). Likewise, God made more covenants with Noah and all mankind (Genesis 9:8–17), with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11 and 30:1–10), with David (2 Samuel 7:8–16), and with believers in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Behold, God has made promises to care for His people (Psalm 9:9–10; Matthew 6:31–33; Romans 8:28), promises to forgive sins and grant salvation to those who come to Him through Christ (John 3:36; Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:9), and promises to those who obey His Commands (Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 40:31; James 1:5). Throughout time, God has been faithful to all His promises.

Pledging Allegiance to the Flag

It is worth noting that allegiance in the context of saying a pledge to a national flag simply means “loyalty as a citizen.” We can say that to pledge one’s allegiance to a country is to subject oneself to that country’s rule and promise to abide by its laws. And since a nation’s flag is a symbolic representation of that nation, to pledge allegiance to the flag is the same thing as pledging loyalty to the nation itself. Therefore, the pledge of allegiance to a country is simply a promise to be a good citizen of that country. Being a good citizen is a Christian duty. Titus 3:1 calls on all Christians to “be subject to rulers and authorities . . . obedient . . . ready to do whatever is good.” The only time we should disobey the ruling authorities is when they issue commands that directly conflict with God’s Word (read Acts 5:29).

In addition, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 22:21 that “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Through these words, Jesus Christ is acknowledging that civil government plays a role in this earthly realm. Therefore, the government can be seen as our “Caesar,” to whom we are to render proper respect – paying our taxes and obeying the laws of the land. Nevertheless, some people consider Matthew 5:34 as a prohibition against saying a pledge. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” However, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God. Romans 13:7 says, “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

What you should know about Vows/Oaths

While some people are taking Jesus Christ for His words in Matthew 5:34, others believe that His words should be understood in a particular context. There, Jesus says, “Do not swear an oath at all.” With this in mind, many people are against taking oaths. However, those who believe that the words should be taken in a particular context argue that Jesus is speaking of rash or flippant oaths. They believe that Jesus Christ could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong – as God, Himself takes oaths (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 6:17), and Paul took a vow (Acts 18:18).

Whatever the case, Jesus Christ taught about vows/oaths: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Matthew 5:33–37).

What Does The Bible Say About Pledging?

James 5:12 – “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.“

Matthew 5:33-37 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.“

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.”

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

Proverbs 17:18 – “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

Group 1 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Exodus 22:26 – “If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,”

Job 22:6 – “For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.“

Matthew 10:33 – “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Job 24:3 – “They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:6 – “No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.”

Deuteronomy 24:10 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.”

Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,“

Group 2 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Ezekiel 18:16 – “Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,“

Acts 5:1-42 – “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. …“

Ezekiel 18:12 – “Oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,“

Deuteronomy 24:17 – “You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge,”

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.”

Proverbs 22:26 – “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.“

Proverbs 20:16 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

Group 3 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Ezekiel 18:7 – “Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,”

Amos 2:8 – “They lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.”

Genesis 38:20 – “When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.“

Proverbs 11:15 – “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.“

Ezekiel 33:15 – “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die.“

Job 24:9 – “(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)“

Proverbs 27:13 – “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.“

Group 4 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Samuel 17:18 – “Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from 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.’”

Malachi 1:14 – “Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

John 18:37 – Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Haggai 1:5-8 – “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”

Group 5 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

2 Corinthians 9:10 – “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-11 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 – “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Revelation 1:1 – “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Group 6 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.“

2 Corinthians 8:12 – “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.”

2 Corinthians 9:6 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Isaiah 36:8 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

Malachi 1:11 – “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”

Proverbs 28:27 – “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.”

Group 7 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.“

Proverbs 6:1-5 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.“

2 Kings 18:23 – “Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.”

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.”

Group 8 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.“

Deuteronomy 24:10-13 – “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 24:12-13 – “And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.”

Genesis 38:17-18 – “He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”

Group 9 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

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.“

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.”

Hebrews 13:16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:5 – “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

Galatians 6:6 – “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Romans 12:13 – “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 – “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,“

Group 10 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

John 4:51 – “As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.”

Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Mark 12:41 – “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.”

Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“

Matthew 25:35-40 – “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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …“

Group 11 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Matthew 6:31 – “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’“

Matthew 6:33-34 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Malachi 3:11-12 – “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“

Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?“

Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Group 12 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Matthew 5:37 – “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“

Malachi 1:8-10 – “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.“

Group 13 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Isaiah 32:8 – “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.“

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

Malachi 1:6-7 – “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised.”

Proverbs 20:25 – “It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.”

Habakkuk 2:6 – Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!”

Proverbs 6:1 – “My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,“

Psalm 50:10 – “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.”

Group 14 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

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?“

Haggai 1:9-11 – “You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 Timothy 6:9 – “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

2 Peter 3:1-18 – “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ...”

Group 15 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Timothy 5:12 – “And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.“

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

2 Corinthians 9:13 – “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,“

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 – “We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Acts 4:36 – “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

2 Corinthians 9:11 – “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 – “And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.“

Group 16 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:5 – “And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.“

Acts 4:34-35 – “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:1-21 – “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. 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. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...”

Group 17 – What Does The Bible Say About Pledges

Matthew 6:27 – “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?“

Luke 18:22-25 – When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 22:9 – “Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.“

Proverbs 28:22 – “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”

Psalm 89:34 – “I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.“

Matthew 5:33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’“

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What The Bible Says

What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ?

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What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ

What Does It Mean To Have Faith In 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 It Means To Have Faith In Jesus Christ

What The Scriptures Say About Accepting And Believing 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.”

What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ?

Acts 16:31 – And 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 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 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 14:6 – Jesus 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 Have Faith In 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 10:13 – For “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 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ

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 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In 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.“

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 Have Faith In 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. …“

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 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In 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?“

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 6 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In 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 2:38-39 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

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 Have Faith In 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 Have Faith In Jesus Christ

John 3:3 – Jesus 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 15:9 – And 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 It Mean To Have Faith In 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 Have Faith In 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.”

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 Have Faith In Jesus Christ

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 16:16 – Simon 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 3:9 – Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Group 12 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In 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.”

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 13 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ

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

John 14:23-24 – Jesus 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 – What Does It Mean To Have Faith In Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9-13 – Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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 Have Faith In 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 Have Faith In Jesus Christ

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. …“

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.”

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Faith, Grace, What The Bible Says

How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus?

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How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus

How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus? 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 Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ?

What The Scriptures Say About Believing And Accepting 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.”

How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ?

Acts 16:31 – And 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 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 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 14:6 – Jesus 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 Do I Pray To Accept 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 10:13 – For “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 – How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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. …“

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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. …“

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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. ...”

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 Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

Acts 2:38-39 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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 – How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

John 3:3 – Jesus 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 15:9 – And 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 Do I Pray To Accept 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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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 3:9 – Nicodemus 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 16:16 – Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Group 12 – How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

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

John 14:23-24 – Jesus 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 – How Do I Pray To Accept Jesus Christ

Romans 10:9-13 – Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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,“

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,“

Group 16 – How Do I Pray To Accept 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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What The Bible Says

The Danger Of Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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The Danger Of Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

The Danger Of Asking Jesus Into Your Heart. Is there any? 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.”

The Danger Of Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

What The Scriptures Say About Accepting And 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.”

The Danger Of Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

Acts 16:31 – And 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 2:38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

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

Group 1 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 10:13 – For “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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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.“

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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?“

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 6 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 2:38-39 – And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

John 3:3 – Jesus 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 15:9 – And 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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 16:16 – Simon 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 3:9 – Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Group 12 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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

John 14:23-24 – Jesus 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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 10:9-13 – Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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 – Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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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