To Sin Or Not To Sin, That Is The Question
The Greatest Of All Deceptions
“To Sin Or Not To Sin” is a biblical look at the question of sinning “Christians.” This is a newly published book that clearly shows the will of God, as far as sin, and the believer is concerned. This book is filled with five hundred and twenty nine Scripture verses, that go completely against the Devil doctrine of “Once saved, always saved,” or, “You can’t lose your salvation.” This book points out some of the Scriptures that clearly show that a practice of sin is not all right with God! The interesting, or unusual thing about this book is the fact that from page two to twenty four, of this forty page book, you will not find even one word from the author, no, not even a small comment, this section contains nothing but the Holy Scriptures.
The Devil has spent about two thousand years trying his best to defeat the truth written in the Bible, he has done a very good job of it. More people are deceived about what salvation is, and how to receive it, than those that know the truth. This book is an effort to dispel the deception of the devil,
Do you understand that Matthew 24:24 is meant to be a
warning for all of us?
Matthew 24:24. "For
false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and
wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. And
1 Timothy: 4:1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times
some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and
doctrines of demons. Let us take
warning, many false doctrines and practices are in the Church now. Things that
God never intended to be taught, are being taught.
Many preachers, preach, and
teach the Devil doctrine, this doctrine of the Devil teaches that you can
continue in a practice of sin, and still call yourself a Christian. If it
really is all right with God for us to remain in our sin, sinning daily, in
word, thought, and deed, then we should be able to find many
Scriptures that say that very thing in the Bible.
I have for many years,
challenged people with this question, “Where, in all sixty
six books of the Bible, do you find ONE Scripture that says that it is
all right for a Christian to have a practice of sin? NO ONE
has ever called me back, to show me where such a thing is written in the Bible!
If they succeeded, they would have found a contradiction in the Bible, because
1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed
abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
In this little booklet I am
presenting five hundred and twenty-nine Scriptures that go directly against
such a Devil teaching.
If a person can read the
Bible and not come away with the knowledge that God doesn’t want us to practice
sin, then I would say that he, or she, has missed the main point of this Holy
Book. John the Baptist and Jesus both started their ministries with these
words, REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The meaning
of the word repent, in the Greek is, “Turn from sin!” In the Aramaic it meant
“Stop Sinning!” All four Gospels were originally written in Aramaic.
This booklet is divided into
three parts, the first part is called
“Five Hundred And Twenty Nine
Scriptures that clearly show that a practice of sin, is not all right with God!”
The second part is called,
The third part is called,
“How to become a
real Christian”
Part One
“Five Hundred And Twenty Nine
Scriptures that clearly show that a practice of sin is not all right with God!”
Mat 5:48. "Therefore
you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Mat 7:21-23 "Not
everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he
who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. "Many will say to Me on
that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast
out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will
declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness.'
Mat 10: 22. "And you
will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured
to the end who will be saved.
Mat 16:24-25. Then Jesus
said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save
his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.
Mat 11-13. "And many
false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love
will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he shall be
saved. (Jesus said this many times)
1 John 2: 1-6. My little children, I am writing
these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the
propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the
whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep
His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and
does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but
whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By
this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought
himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 2: 29. If you know that He is righteous,
you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
1 John 3: 2-10. Beloved, now we are children of
God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He
appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And
everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is
lawlessness. And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in
Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen
Him or knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who
practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who
practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The
Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the
devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and
the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice
righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 5: 18. We know that no one who is born of
God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch
him.
3 John 11. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil,
but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has
not seen God.
Jude 5-8. Now I desire to remind you, though you
know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the
land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And
angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He
has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same
way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are
exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. Yet
in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject
authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Jude 24-25. Now to Him who is able to keep you
from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless
with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.
Amen.
Revelation 21: 27. and nothing unclean and no one
who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those
whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22: 11-17. "Let the one who does
wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let
the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is
holy, still keep himself holy." "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My
reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the
end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right
to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the
dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the
idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. "I, Jesus, have
sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root
and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." And the Spirit and
the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come."
And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of
life without cost.
Hebrews 10: 26-31. For if
we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no
longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of
judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone
who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two
or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve
who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the
blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit
of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It
is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 6: 3-9. And this we
shall do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been
enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers
of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to
repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him
to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and
brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled,
receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is
worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. But,
beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that
accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
Mat 8-9. "And if your
hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it
is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two
feet, to be cast into the eternal fire. "And if your eye causes you
to stumble, pluck it out, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter
life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into the fiery hell.
Mar 13: 13. "And you
will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the
end, he shall be saved.
Luke 13: 23-28. And someone
said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?"
And He said to them, "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I
tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. "Once the head of
the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock
on the door, saying, `Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to
you, `I do not know where you are from.' "Then you will begin to say,
`We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets'; and He will
say, `I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you
evildoers.' "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when
you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God,
but yourselves being cast out.
John 15: 14. "You
are My friends, if you do what I command you.
Romans 6: 6. knowing this,
that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done
away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;
Romans 6: 1-2. What shall we
say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never
be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6: 12-18. Therefore
do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do
not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of
unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.. For sin shall
not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then?
Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for
obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting
in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to
God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to
that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed
from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6: 20-23. For when
you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are
now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having
been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in
sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8: 5-14. For those
who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but
those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the
mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and
peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not
subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and
those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh
but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if Christ is
in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because
of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. So then,
brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh for if you are living
according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are
putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being
led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
John 8: 10-11. And
straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one
condemn you?" And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said,
"Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."]
John 14: 21-24. "He
who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and
he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will
disclose Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord,
what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not
to the world?" Jesus answered and said to 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 abode with him. "He who does not love Me does
not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the
Father's who sent Me.
Romans 11: 17-23. But if
some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted
in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that
it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say
then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Quite
right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do
not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches,
neither will He spare you. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to
those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His
kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be
grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.
John 15: 2-6. "Every
branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that
bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. "You are already
clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and
I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the
vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you
are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for
apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he
is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them
into the fire, and they are burned.
Romans 12: 1. I urge you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living
and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of
worship.
Romans 13: 11-14. And this
do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep;
for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost
gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in
carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in
strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision
for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-11. Or
do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do
not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some
of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 10: 1-14. For
I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the
cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the
cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the
same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which
followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was
not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these
things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as
they also craved. And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is
written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to
play." Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three
thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and
were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were
destroyed by the destroyer.. Now these things happened to them as an example,
and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No
temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure
it.Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10: 21. You
cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of
the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
1 Corinthians 15: 33-34. Do
not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.". Become
sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge
of God. I speak this to your shame.
Galatians 5: 19-25. Now the
deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I
forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live
by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2: 1-10. And you were
dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit
that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly
lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and
of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God,
being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even
when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him
in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He
might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should
boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4: 17-32. This I
say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer
just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being
darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the
ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they,
having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the
practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn
Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in
Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of
life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in
accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of
your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been
created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside
falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are
members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go
down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let him
who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his
own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him
who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only
such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment,
that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit
of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 5: 1-17. Therefore
be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as
Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But do not let immorality or any
impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and
there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are
not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty,
that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty
words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the
fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the
unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is
disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But
all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything
that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, Therefore be
careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your
time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what
the will of the Lord is.
Colossians 9-13. For this
reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you
and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy
of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according
to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the
inheritance of the saints in light. For He delivered us from the domain of
darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Colossians 1: 21-23. And
although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in
evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through
death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond
reproach if indeed you continue
in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope
of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation
under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Colossians 3: 1-10. If
then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things
above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you
also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of
your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and
greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the
wrath of God will come, and in them you also once walked, when you were living
in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander,
and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid
aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is
being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created
him
2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9. dealing
out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal
destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power,
2 Thessalonians 2: 7-12. For
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains
will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be
revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an
end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord
with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and
with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did
not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason
God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is
false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but
took pleasure in wickedness.
1 Timothy 5: 20-22. Those
who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may
be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without
bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone too
hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep
yourself free from sin.
2 Timothy 2: 19.
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord
knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of
the Lord abstain from wickedness."
Titus 3: 3-9. For we also
once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived,
enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy,
hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and
His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we
have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly
through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be
made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy
statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so
that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds. These
things are good and profitable for men. But shun foolish controversies and
genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable
and worthless.
Hebrews 2: 1-3. For this
reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift
away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and
every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we
escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken
through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,
Hebrews 3: 12-19. Take care,
brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in
falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as
long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of
Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;
while it is said, "while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His
voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'' For who provoked Him
when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who
sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that
they should not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And
so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 12: 14-17. Pursue
peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the
Lord. 15. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no
root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that
there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright
for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to
inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though
he sought for it with tears.
James 1:21-25. Therefore
putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in
humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But
prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude
themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like
a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at
himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides
by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man
shall be blessed in what he does.
Titus 1: 15-16. To the pure,
all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is
pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to
know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient,
and worthless for any good deed.
Titus 2: 11-14. For the
grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to
deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and
godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of
the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people
for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and
exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
1 Peter 2: 21-25. For you
have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was
any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return;
while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who
judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that
we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were
healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned
to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 4: 1-5. Therefore,
since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to
live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for
the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have
carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality,
lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. And
in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same
excess of dissipation, and they malign you; but they shall give account to
Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 1: 13-19. Therefore,
gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on
the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient
children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your
ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all
your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am
holy." And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges
according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of
your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things
like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your
forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless,
the blood of Christ.
2 Peter 2: 1-22. But false
prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers
among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even
denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon
themselves.. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the
way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you
with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their
destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned,
but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for
judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher
of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of
the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to
destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who
would live ungodly thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed
by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that
righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day
after day with their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the
godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day
of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires
and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they
revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do
not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like
unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed,
reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those
creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They
count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes,
reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of
adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart
trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way they have gone
astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages
of unrighteousness, but he received a rebuke for his own transgression; for a
dumb donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the
prophet. These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom
the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity
they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the
ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves
of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if
after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are
overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would
be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having
known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has
happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own
vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the
mire."
Matthew 1:21. "And she
will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save
His people from their sins."
Matthew 3:7-8. But when he
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
"Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance;
Matthew 5:20. "For I
say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes
and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:29-30. "And
if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it
is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your
whole body to be thrown into hell.
"And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it
from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body
perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter
by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to
destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is
small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
Matthew 7: 17-20. "Even
so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. "A
good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. "Every
tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 8: 11-12. "And
I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table
with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons
of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 12: 32. "And
whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him;
but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven
him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
Matthew 12: 50. "For
whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and
sister and mother."
Matthew 13:19-21 "When
anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one
comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on
whom seed was sown beside the road.. "And the one on whom seed was sown on
the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives
it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and
when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls
away
Matthew 13: 40-43.
"Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so
shall it be at the end of the age. "The Son of Man will send forth His
angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and
those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire;
in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "Then the
righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.
Matthew 47-50. "Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish
of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they
sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw
away. "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth,
and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the
furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 18-19. Now in the
morning, when He returned to the city, He became hungry. And seeing a lone fig
tree by the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it except leaves only;
and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from
you." And at once the fig tree withered.
Matthew 25: 31-46. "But
when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He
will sit on His glorious throne. "And all the nations will be gathered
before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and
the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right,
`Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. `For I was hungry, and you gave Me
something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and
you invited Me in; 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 invite You in, or
naked, and clothe You? `And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to
You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to
the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them,
you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on His left, `Depart
from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the
devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was
thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not
invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you
did not visit Me.' "Then they themselves also will answer, saying,
`Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or
sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' "Then He will answer
them, saying, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to
one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will
go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Mark 4:14-20. "The
sower sows the word. "And these
are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they
hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. "And in a similar way these are the
ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word,
immediately receive it with joy; and
they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when
affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall
away. "And others are the ones on
whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the
word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the
desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes
unfruitful. "And those are the
ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept
it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
Mark 4:25. "For whoever
has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has
shall be taken away from him."
Mark 6:12. And they went out
and preached that men should repent.
Mark 9:43-50. "And if
your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life
crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the
unquenchable fire, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not
quenched.] "And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is
better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into
hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]
"And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you
to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast
into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
"For everyone will be salted with fire. "Salt is good; but if the
salt becomes un-salty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Mark 10:17-25. And as He was
setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began
asking Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God
alone. "You know the commandments, `Do not murder, Do not commit adultery,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and
mother.'" And he said to Him,
"Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up." And looking
at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, "One thing you lack:
go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure
in heaven; and come, follow Me." But at these words his face fell, and he
went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus, looking
around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are
wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were amazed at His
words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it
is to enter the kingdom of God! "It is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 12: 28. And one of the
scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them
well, asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" Jesus
answered, "The foremost is, `Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' "The second
is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other
commandment greater than these."
Luke 6: 46-49. "And
why do you call Me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? "Everyone
who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom
he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a
foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that
house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. "But the one
who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house
upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and
immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
Luke 8: 17. "For nothing
is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be
known and come to light. "Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever
has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he
thinks he has shall be taken away from him."
Luke 9:23. And He was saying
to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to
save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the
one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole
world, and loses or forfeits himself?
Luke 9: 61. And another also
said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to
those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his
hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 12: 40-46. "You
too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not
expect." And Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable
to us, or to everyone else as well?" And the Lord said, "Who then is
the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his
servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?. "Blessed is that
slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. "Truly I say to you,
that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. "But if that slave
says in his heart, `My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to
beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the
master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an
hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with
the unbelievers.
Luke 14:27. "Whoever
does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14: 33. "So
therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own
possessions.
Luke 14: 34-35.
"Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what
will it be seasoned? "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure
pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Luke 21: 16-19. "But
you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and
friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all
on account of My name. "Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
"By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Luke 21: 36. "But
keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to
escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the
Son of Man."
John 3: 19-21. "And
this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the
darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. "For everyone
who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds
should be exposed. "But he who practices the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
John 4: 24. "God is
spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
John 8: 29-30. "And He
who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things
that are pleasing to Him." As He spoke these things, many came to
believe in Him. (More than a hundred)
John 8: 31-36. Jesus
therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide
in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are
Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that
You say, `You shall become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly,
truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
"And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain
forever. "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free
indeed.
John 12: 24-26. "Truly,
truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. "He who
loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it
to life eternal. "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and
where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father
will honor him.
John 15: 10-11. "If
you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My
Father's commandments, and abide in His love. "These things I have
spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
Romans 1: 5. through whom we
have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of
faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake,
Romans 2: 4-6. Or do you
think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of
your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself
in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who
will render to every man according to his deeds:
Romans 14: 11-12. For it is
written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, So then
each one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Romans 16: 19. For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil.
1 Corinthians 1:2. to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 5: 9-13. I
wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all
mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers,
or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. But
actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he
should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a
drunkard, or a swindler not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to
do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among
yourselves.
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. Do
you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the
games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as
not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet
my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I
myself should be disqualified.
2 Corinthians 5: 17.
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed
away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 7: 1. Therefore,
having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 4: 1-3. I, therefore,
the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to
preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 6: 13-14.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the
evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore,
having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of
righteousness,
Philippians 1: 6. For I
am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will
perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1: 9-11. And
this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge
and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in
order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been
filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1: 27. Only
conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that
whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are
standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel;
Philippians 2: 1-8. If
therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of
love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and
compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the
same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from
selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard
one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your
own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this
attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He
existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made
in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2: 11-15. and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without
grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and
innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
Philippians 4: 13. I can
do all things through Him who strengthens me.
1 Thessalonians 3:5. For
this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about
your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor
should be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3: 8. for
now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
1 Timothy 1: 18-19. This
command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies
previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,
keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered
shipwreck in regard to their faith.
1 Timothy 4: 1-2. But the
Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith,
paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the
hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
1 Timothy 4: 14-16. Do not
neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through
prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains
with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident
to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in
these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself
and for those who hear you.
2 Timothy 3: 1-7. But
realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be
lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to
parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips,
without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness,
although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. For among
them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down
with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3: 12-13. And
indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But
evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived.
Hebrews 10: 36-39. For you
have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive
what was promised. For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come
and will not tarry. But My righteous one shall live by faith; But we are
not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the
preserving of the soul.
Hebrews 12: 1-3. Therefore,
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay
aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against
Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
James 2: 14-26. What use is
it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that
faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily
food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be
filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body,
what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by
itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works;
show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my
works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also
believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow,
that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified
by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was
working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and
the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it
was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of
God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in
the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she
received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body
without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
1 Peter 2: 9. But you are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own
possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Peter 4: 15-18. By no
means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a
troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel
ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. For it is time for judgment
to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will
be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is
with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless
man and the sinner?
2 Peter 1: 3-11. seeing that
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,
through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and
excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent
promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for
this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral
excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge,
self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance,
godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly
kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they
render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted,
having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore,
brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and
choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2 Peter 3: 10-11. But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away
with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth
and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed
in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
2 Peter 3: 17-18. You
therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being
carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own
steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
1 John 1: 5-7. And this is
the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and
in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship
with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1: 9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
1 John 2: 9. The one
who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until
now.
1 John 2: 15-17. Do not
love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from
the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also
its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 3: 14-15. We know that we have passed out of
death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in
death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no
murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3: 17-18. But whoever has the world's goods,
and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the
love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with
tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 4: 7-8. Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4: 17. By this, love is perfected with us,
that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so
also are we in this world.
1 John 4: 20. If someone says, "I love
God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love
his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
1 John 5: 1-5. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe
His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born
of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world
our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God?
Revelation 2: 1-5. "To the angel of the church in
Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who
walks among the seven golden lamp stands, says this: `I know your deeds and
your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to
the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found
them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's
sake, and have not grown weary. `But I have this against you, that you have
left your first love. `Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and
repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will
remove your lamp stand out of its place unless you repent.