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Jesus is the Way to God by Greg Clements
© 2021 by Greg Clements Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document as long as no fee of any kind is charged and this copyright notice is included in the document.
I probably started on this document and worked on it from time to time beginning in 2018. During the Coronavirus pandemic 2020 and 2021 I worked on the document several times a week. The last revision was made April 15, 2021
Resources: I used http://www.biblegateway.com/ Bible Gateway to search various translations of the Bible, Nave’s Topical Bible, etc.
NET (NET) Bible. THE NET BIBLE, NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, COPYRIGHT © 1996 BY BIBLICAL STUDIES PRESS, L.L.C. This Bible is a free download from www.bible.org. The First edition without notes is free from https://netbible.com/download. The second edition with notes is $4.95 download as of 2018. The NET 2nd edition can be read online for no cost at https://netbible.org/bible/Romans+1 (starts at Romans Chapter 1).
(ESV) English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org
(VINE) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary 1996 Thomas Nelson Publishers
(NBC) The New Bible Commentary Revised 1970 Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(Morris) The Gospel According to John by Leon Morris 1971 Erdmans Publishing Co; This is a volume in the New International Commentary on the New Testament, F.F. Bruce, General Editor
(Quest) The Quest Study Bible 1983 Zondervan
(glc) Thoughts from Greg Clements … I put this (glc) in this document sometimes to emphasize that the following are my thoughts. I tried to reference the material I pulled from other sources (Morris, NBC, Vine, etc).
Some of the Bible studies I create are posted on www.gpclements.com .
The verses below are those that I viewed as speaking most directly that Jesus is the way to have a good relationship with God, to have eternal life. There are many other portions of the Bible that I did not copy and paste here that imply that Jesus is the way to God.
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Section 1
The following portion of a study of the Gospel of John was copied from my document on Google Drive - “John - Gospel - GLC Sunday School,” but I removed the questions I would have asked the class in Sunday School.
READ John 14:1 – 4 (We Have a Place With the Father)
John 14:1-4 “ “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. 3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”” (NET)
glc-v1 God is believable The Bible is reliable and contains testimonies that confirm God is believable, trustworthy, and so much more. Read my document “The Bible is Reliable.”
glc- v1 Jesus did many great miracles that the disciples would recall since they were present. Jesus let these works testify of him, and his believability, to the world. Some blinded themselves to these works (Jewish leaders).
glc- v2 God wants believers to live with him permanently in heaven.
1 Peter 1 : 3,4
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
2 Cor 4: 13-15 God will raise us and present us to Jesus
glc- v3 Jesus has told them they can’t go where he is going. The disciples have said they don’t know where Jesus is going. See John 13:33-37. So they will need some help in getting there. Jesus will come back to provide that help.
READ JOHN 14:5 – 14 (Jesus is the Way to the Father)
John 14:5-7 “5 Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”” (NET)
glc- Thomas gives a human, earthly, response. Jesus gives a spiritual response. People come to the Father through Jesus. This is God’s plan to restore our relationship with him. We sinned and continue to sin by disobeying God and doing actions in our lives that go against God’s nature. God is sinless and does not permit sin to be around him in heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid and pays the price so God forgives our sins and welcomes us to fellowship with him. We should do good works on Earth but those good works can never cover the price for our sin. If we reject Jesus we reject God the Father’s plan for our redemption from sin.
Romans 5:8--11 “ 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”(NET)
glc v9 We are saved through Jesus..v10 We are reconciled to God through Jesus death and saved by his life. v11 We have received reconciliation to God through Jesus.
glc We are saved, put into right relationship with God, on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins
John 3:36 “”36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.(NET)
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Section 2 Other passages from John
glc-John 4:14 The water of life is from Jesus.
John 5:21-27 “ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22 Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, 27 and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man.“ (NET)
glc-We get eternal life from Jesus.
John 6:27-40 “ Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life—the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”
28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” 29 Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires—to believe in the one whom he sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time!”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” “ (NET)
glc-believing in Jesus leads one to eternal life.
John 8:23,24 “ 23 Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 24 Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”” (NET)
glc-Believing in Jesus is the way to have forgiveness for our sins.
John 10:24-28 “The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.” (NET)
glc-Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in him.
John 11:23-26 “ Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “ (NET)
glc-Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in him.
John 11:49-52 “ Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” 51 (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)” (NET)
glc-Jesus died to bring forgiveness of sins to the whole world. Those who believe in Jesus and ask to have their sins forgiven do have their sins forgiven. Read the book of Romans.
John 17:1-5 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you— 2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.” (NET)
glc-v2 Jesus has authority to give eternal life.
John 20:30,31 “Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (NET)
glc-The eyewitness testimonies of Jesus’ miracles should help you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This belief will give you eternal life.
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Section 3 Other Passages from the Gospels
Matthew 1:20-21 “When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”” (NET)
glc- Jesus provides salvation from sin.
Matthew 19:23-29 “23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 25 The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 29 And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. “(NET)
glc v26 Our human efforts cannot save us (allow us into the kingdom of God). v28 Jesus will be on a throne in heaven. He is God. v29 Those who follow Jesus in faith will inherit eternal life.
Matthew 20:25-28 “ But Jesus called them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 26 It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (NET)
glc- Jesus died on the cross to be our ransom for our sins.
Luke 7:48-50 “48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”” (NET)
glc-Jesus (being God) forgives sins.
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Section 4 Other Passages from the New Testament
Acts 2:37,38 “ Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (NET)
glc-The people asked what they should do. Peter tells them to repent, accept Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. All who accept Jesus receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:7-12 “7 After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”” (NET)
glc v12 “saved” is the Greek word sothenai. Belief in Jesus gives salvation.
Acts 5:30-32 “30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”” (NET)
glc-Jesus is exalted by God’s side in heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gives forgiveness of sins to those who believe in Jesus.
Acts 5:40-42 “and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 42 And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.” (NET)
glc-The disciples were willing to keep telling the truth about Jesus even though they were beaten and risked being killed by the Jewish authorities. The disciples were eyewitnesses to Jesus and continue to tell us the truth today through the words in the New Testament.
Acts 6:7 “The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.” (NET)
glc-Many priests put their faith in Jesus. These people would have seen Jesus in Jerusalem and would have seen how he was the fulfillment of the OT. They risked being put out of their religious position by putting their faith in Jesus. This shows that they knew the importance of believing in Jesus. We should also make believing in Jesus a priority.
Acts 13:21-26 “Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do.’ 23 From the descendants of this man God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised. 24 Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly, ‘What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!’ 26 Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.” (NET)
glc- The message of salvation was delivered by Jesus.
Acts 13:36-39 “For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay, 37 but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.” (NET)
glc-Forgiveness for sins comes through Jesus. We cannot get forgiveness through the Old Testament Law and rituals.
Acts 15:5-11 “5 But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses.”
6 Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”“ (NET)
glc- We receive salvation for eternal life by faith in Jesus, not by following religious traditions v8 God knows the person’s heart, the person’s faith..
Acts 16:25-33 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out loudly, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. 33 At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away.” (NET)
glc-Believe in Jesus and you will be saved from your sins.
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You will read in the chapters of Acts that Paul and other believers described Jesus as “the Christ.” They used Old Testament scriptures and gave their testimony that Jesus was risen from the dead. Many Gentiles believed in Jesus (and were saved) as a result.
Acts 20:28 “ 28 Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross enables people to come into right relationship with God, to be the church of God.
Acts 22:14-16 “Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has already chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a command from his mouth, 15 because you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’” (NET)
glc-Paul received forgiveness for his sins by calling on Jesus’ name (believing in Jesus) .
Acts:24:24,25 “Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”” (NET)
glc-Paul witnessed to Felix, the Roman governor of the region. Paul’s message was to have faith in Jesus. The topic of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment frightened Felix. We do not have to be frightened. If we have faith in Jesus will be made righteous, be helped with self-control, and will be protected from God’s judgment and wrath.
Acts 26:12-18 ““While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests, 13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (NET)
glc-In this section of Acts, Paul gives his defense before King Agrippa. He testifies that Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus and gave him a ministry to the Gentiles. Paul is to reveal God’s way to the Gentiles so they can receive forgiveness from sins and be sanctified by having faith in Jesus.
Acts 26:22,23 “I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: 23 that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”” (NET)
glc-Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. Jesus rose from the dead after the crucifixion.
Acts 28:28-31 ““Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!” 30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. “ (NET)
glc-Paul is now in Rome, under house arrest. He continued to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul could have been released if he would have renounced Jesus to make the Jews, his accusers, happy.
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Romans 1:16,17 “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”” (NET)
glc-Paul preached the gospel that people should put their faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus brings salvation.
Romans 3:20-24 “ For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed— 22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (NET)
glc-We obtain the righteous label in God’s eyes by having faith in Jesus. Before this passage, there are sections of Romans that describe that doing good works is good. The theme of the New Testament is that the good works we do follow from having faith in Jesus and recognizing the good work God has done in us (forgiving sin, granting eternal life in heaven) as we have believed in Jesus.
Romans 3:27-30 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! 28 For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! 30 Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. “ (NET)
glc-Our confidence for salvation is through our faith, not our good works.
Romans 5:1,2 “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. “ (NET)
glc-Faith in Jesus brings us peace with God and access into the grace (unmerited favor) of God.
Romans 5:8-11 “ 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”(NET)
glc v9 We are saved through Jesus..v10 We are reconciled to God through Jesus death and saved by his life. v11 We have received reconciliation to God through Jesus.
glc We are saved, put into right relationship with God, on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.
Romans 6:11 “So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (NET)
glc-This is somewhat of a summary of the first 10 verses of Romans 6. As we put our faith in Jesus, and proclaim that faith through baptism, we have a spiritual transformation that causes us to have eternal life.
Romans 6:23 “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NET)
glc-God gives us the free gift of eternal life through our faith in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (NET)
glc-Those who put their faith in Jesus have their sins forgiven and God will not condemn them.
Romans 8:9-11 “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus belong to God, they are accepted by God. All those who have faith in Jesus have the Holy Spirit in them and will be raised to life in heaven after their body dies on Earth.
Romans 10:1-4 “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation. 2 For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth. 3 For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus are righteous in God’s sight.
Romans 10:8-13 “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 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. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NET)
glc-Believe Jesus was raised from the dead (and believe all associated with Jesus...he is the Son of God...his sacrifice on the cross paid the price for your sin). Put your faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 “Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus have wisdom from God; have righteousness (right standing before God); have sanctification and redemption. Those who have faith in Jesus have forgiveness for their sins and will have eternal life in heaven. We have no reason to have confidence in our position or wealth or good deeds. We should only have confidence that we have faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? .... and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (NET)
glc-Those who do not have faith in Jesus often have behavior that goes against God’s ways. Those who have faith in Jesus are washed and sanctified and justified. They have forgiveness for their sins (...and should no longer act the way they did before they put their faith in Jesus.)
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 “ Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. “ (NET)
glc-Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. His death on the cross paid the price God required for the forgiveness of our sins. He was buried and rose from the dead as proof that he is God and in fulfillment of prophecies about him in the Old Testament. Most of the eyewitnesses were still alive when 1 Corinthians was written.
1 Corinthians 15:16-18 “ For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.” (NET)
glc-v17 If Jesus was not raised from the dead then he would not be shown to be God and would not be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. But he is alive! And we have forgiveness for our sins by having faith in Jesus and asking him to forgive our sins.
1 Corinthians 15:21-23 “ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. “ (NET)
glc-Those who are in Christ, who have faith in Jesus, will have eternal life with God. When Jesus returns he will claim his own, those who have faith in him.
1 Corinthians 15:56,57 “ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! “ (NET)
glc-We have victory over sin through our faith in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.” (NET)
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “ So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! 18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” 21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” (NET)
glc-When we have faith in Jesus we become a new creation. We become reconciled to God on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross that brings forgiveness for our sins.
2 Corinthians 11:2-4 “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!” (NET)
glc-Paul is telling the Corinthians that Jesus he has preached to them is the only way to God. Paul’s message was that Jesus lived a sinless life and his death on the cross was the sacrifice for our sins that was acceptable to God. By having faith in Jesus’ sacrifice we have our sins forgiven and become acceptable to God.
Galatians 1:3-5 “ Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid for our sins. Those who have faith in Jesus are rescued. This was God’s plan through eternity.
Galatians 1:6-8 “ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel— 7 not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!” (NET)
glc-There is no other gospel, good news, than the gospel that Jesus paid the price for our sins.
Galatians 2:16 “yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus are justified (have sins forgiven) because Jesus was faithful to fulfill his sacrifice on the cross.
Galatians 2:11-14 “” Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.(NET)
glc-We do not obtain a right relationship with God by doing good works or obeying religious laws. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross enables people to obtain a right relationship with God by having faith in Jesus.
Galatians 3:26 “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.”
Galatians 4:4,5 ” But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.” (NET)
glc-By having faith in Jesus we become sons of God; we become part of God’s family.
Ephesians 1:3-8 “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will— 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.” (NET)
glc-By having faith in Jesus we obtain spiritual blessings from God. Jesus’ sacrifice pays the price for our sins and makes us blameless in God’s sight. Jesus’ blood causes God to forgive our sins.
Ephesians 1:13 “And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,” (NET)
glc-When you believed in Jesus you received the Holy Spirit inside you.
Ephesians 2:8-10 “8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” (NET)
glc-Our faith in Jesus brings us salvation. We cannot earn salvation or right standing with God. After faith in Jesus we should be doing good works that God wants us to do.
Philippians 3:8-9 “8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things —indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.” (NET)
glc- Faith in Jesus gives righteousness to us.
Philippians 3:20,21 “ But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.” (NET)
glc-Jesus is our savior.
Colossians 1:13,14 “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (NET)
glc-We have forgiveness of our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Colossians 1:19,20 “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. “ (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross reconciles to God those who have faith in Jesus.
Colossians 1:21-23 “And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, 22 but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him— 23 if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides reconciliation (forgiveness of sins) to those who have and keep their faith in Jesus.
Colossians 2:6-8 “Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. “ (NET)
glc-Men create philosophies that are not in agreement with God’s plan of having Jesus be the way people are reconciled to God. Avoid those philosophies.
Colossians 2:11-14 “” In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. 13 And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 14 He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.(NET)
glc-Circumcision was the Old Testament requirement for the people of God, Israel. Now the requirement is faith in Jesus. Those who have faith in Jesus are no longer dead to God in their sins. Jesus’ work on the cross takes away the condemnation that existed for our sins.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “ Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (NET)
glc-By believing, having faith in, Jesus you also believe that God will bring all Christians to heaven. And we will have eternal life in the presence of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:8-10 “ But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep, we will come to life together with him. “ (NET)
glc- Keep your faith fresh and you certain hope for salvation in your mind. God’s plan is for salvation for Christians through Jesus’ work on the cross.
1 Timothy 1:15,16 “ This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them! 16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” (NET)
glc-Sinners are saved through Jesus’ work on the cross. Faith in Jesus leads us to eternal life with him in heaven.
1 Timothy 2:5,6 “For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. “ (NET)
glc-Jesus is the one path to take to have forgiveness of sin and to be in right relationship with God. Jesus’ sacrifice was for all who have faith in him.
2 Timothy 1:8-11 “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel. 9 He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!” (NET)
glc-Jesus saved (forgave sins and gave them the right to have eternal life in heaven) those who have faith in Jesus. We are not saved by the good actions we do. God’s plan from before the creation of the world was to have Jesus be the sacrifice for our sins so we could have eternal life with God.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 “ You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” (NET)
glc-Read my document “2018 01 18 Is The Bible True” for discussion of why we can trust the Bible. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.” (NET)
glc-The grace of God appeared when Jesus came into the world. Faith in Jesus brings salvation. Jesus sacrifice on the cross brings forgiveness and sanctification to those who believe in Jesus.
Titus 3:4-7 “But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”” (NET)
glc-God’s mercy saves us, not our works.
Hebrews 1:3 “ The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross accomplished the cleansing for sins for those who have faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 7:18-28 “ 18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, 19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”— 22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 And the others who became priests were numerous because death prevented them from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.” (NET)
glc- The OT law was ineffective in making people righteous and in right standing permanently with God. We draw near to God on the basis of the better covenant through Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus intercedes for us and saves us from our state of sin when we come to God through him. Those who have faith in Jesus are saved from their sins and have a right relationship with God because Jesus offered himself to pay for our sins.
Hebrews 8:6 “”But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises. (NET)
glc-We enter into a saving covenant with God by putting our faith in Jesus. Jesus is our mediator to God on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Hebrews 9:11-15 “But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, 12 and he entered once for all into the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
15 And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.” (NET)
glc-Jesus was without sin and became the acceptable sacrifice for our sins. Those who have faith in Jesus are purified from their sins and will receive eternal life with God in heaven.
Hebrews 9:24-28 “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. 27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, 28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ one sacrifice paid the debt for the sins of all people. All who put their faith in Jesus have confidence in facing the judgment of God because God accepts Jesus sacrifice for sins.
Hebrews 10:10 “By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. “ (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice makes holy those who put their faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 10:19-23 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. “ (NET)
glc-There is no uncertainty about God’s accepting us because the blood of Jesus has made us acceptable to God. When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice of his body for our sins we are permitted to go through the curtain that separates God from people. Jesus’ sacrifice has cleaned our hearts to separate us from the condemnation of an evil conscience. Our permissions and our confidence to be with God comes from our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. Our sins are washed away when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Hebrews Chapter 11 … read about faith
1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (NET)
glc-The resurrection of Jesus confirms Jesus’ ministry and message. Those who have faith in Jesus have salvation from their sins and have a confident hope in their inheritance of eternal life in heaven.
1 Peter 1:18-23 “ You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. “ (NET)
glc-The empty way of life is a life trying to follow rules and do works to try to become acceptable to God. Faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross brings forgiveness of our sins and purifies our souls. Those who have faith in Jesus have a spiritual birth from God. One result of having this new birth is that we love others.
1 Peter 2:4,5 “So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus have a right relationship with God and can bring acceptable worship to God.
1 Peter 2:24,25 “ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid for our sins. Those who have faith in Jesus are no longer under sin’s control (Read Romans chapter 6). We still sin (1 John 1:8,9) but we can make the decision to stop sinning and ask for forgiveness from God. We have been healed from the death effect of sin in our lives. God can also heal us physically. I received a miraculous healing in the 1990s from a kidney stone. An x-ray showed the stone was present on Thursday afternoon. Friday morning I was to have it removed in the Fremont hospital. Pastor Nathan Ennis and Lee Steinbach came to the hospital before the procedure and prayed for my healing. A half hour later a new x-ray showed there was no kidney stone and I went home. Not all are healed physically (Paul did not receive healing he asked for.). This is God’s choice. But all who trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins are healed spiritually.
1 Peter 3:15-18 “ But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. 16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit. “ (NET)
glc- Jesus was sinless but he died for sinners (me and you). Those who have faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross are brought into a right relationship with God.
1 Peter 3:21,22 “And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.” (NET)
glc-We are not saved by religious ceremony, but by faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
1 John 1:7 “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.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross cleanses us from sin.
1 John 2:1,2 “(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, 2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice was not just for Jews. The atonement provided by Jesus is for everyone.
1 John 2:22,23 “Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.” (NET)
glc-The truth is that Jesus is the Christ. Those who have faith in Jesus have a right relationship with God the Father.
1 John 4:9,10 “By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. 10 In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (NET)
glc-God’s plan was that Jesus come to Earth and make spiritual life with God possible. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice causes God to forgive our sins. But we need to have faith in Jesus for our sins to be forgiven. If we reject Jesus we reject forgiveness from God.
1 John 4:15 “If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. “ (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus as the Son of God have a right relationship with God.
1 John 5:11,12 “ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.” (NET)
glc-Those who have faith in Jesus have eternal life (now on Earth and with God in heaven)
Jude 20,21 “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 maintain yourselves in the love of God while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.” (NET)
glc-Keep your faith in Jesus strong and look forward to the eternal life in heaven that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made possible.
Jude 24,25 “ Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.” (NET)
glc- Jesus has made it possible to stand before God without sin because our sin has been forgiven on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus is Lord.
Revelation 1:4-6 “ From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.” (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross set us free from our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice was able to set us free from our sins. The “cost of his own blood” refers to his death on the cross. His death was the acceptable sacrifice needed to put those who believe in Jesus into a right relationship with God.
Revelation 1:7,8 “7 (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.) 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God—the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come—the All-Powerful! “ (NET)
glc-Jesus, Alpha and Omega, is Lord God. See Revelation 1:17 for “first and last” applied to Jesus. See Revelation 21:6 for Alpha and Omega applied to Jesus.
Revelation 5:6-9 “Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). 9 They were singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. “ (NET)
glc-Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross pays the price for us to belong to God in heaven.
Revelation 14:1 “Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” (NET)
glc-The names of Jesus and God the Father will be written on the foreheads of those who are taken out of the tribulation. Jesus is honored like the Father is honored.
Revelation 7:13-17 “13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes—who are they and where have they come from?” 14 So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, 17 because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(NET)
glc Jesus’ sacrifice provides the means to wash ourselves from the effect of sin. Sin in our lives separates us from God. Jesus leads us to springs of living water.
Revelation 22:14 “14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates. “ (NET)
Revelation 21:6 Jesus gives us water from the spring of the water of life without the need for us to pay for it, without the need for good works to earn it.
Revelation 22:1 The water of life comes from the throne of God and Jesus.
glc- Jesus commands angels and uses them to carry his message. Jesus is the messiah prophesied in the OT. We are invited to put our faith in Jesus and receive the water of life without paying for it by our good efforts. We receive the water of life by putting our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.
Read Revelation 22:16-17”16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!” 17 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 wants it take the water of life free of charge.” (NET)
glc-Jesus invites you to trust in him and receive eternal life in heaven.
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Section 5. In the OT people came to God through belief...having faith in God.
Jeremiah 2:13 Israel rejected God, the life-giving water, and tried to get life by their own works.
Galatians 3:6-14 “6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”(NET)
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Section 6. Infants:
Deuteronomy 1:39 “39 Also, your infants, who you thought would die on the way, and your children, who as yet do not know good from bad, will go there; I will give them the land and they will possess it. “(NET)
2 Samuel 12:15-23 David expected to see his and Bathsheba’s first son, who died as an infant, in heaven.
Romans 1:19-20 Those who grow up and see evidence for God are without excuse, but infants haven’t seen that evidence.
Infants don’t sin by their decision. We trust in God’s mercy for them. Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139; Luke 1:14,15; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11,12
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Section 7 Other thoughts …..
I do believe God knows who will put their faith in Jesus (God is omniscient Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 147:5; Proverbs 15:3; Job 37:14-16; 1 John 3:20; Matthew 6:8; Matthew 10:29-30; Jeremiah 16:17; Psalm 139:4; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Luke 5:22; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Jeremiah 29:11; and more). I do believe God wants everyone to put their faith in Jesus (1 Timothy 2:4-6; Psalm 67:2; Isaiah 45:22; John 3:16). I do believe that some will not be saved, because they don’t come to Jesus (Luke 13:22-30; John 3:36; 1 John 5:12 ) … Jesus welcomes all who come to him. Each person has their own responsibility to choose to be forgiven from sin by Jesus.
God has no prejudices, he welcomes Jews and Gentiles, Men and Women,
Ephesians 2:11-20; Galatians 3:26-29
John 14:7 We know the Father by knowing Jesus....by observing how he worked on Earth, by observing what his priorities were, by observing what his attitudes were in various situations.
John 1:18 no man has seen the Father ...the only Son has declared him
The disciples, and everyone, needs to understand who Jesus really is. The disciples would more fully know Jesus after the crucifixion and resurrection.
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Section 8 Our Good Deeds are Not Enough
Acts Chapter 10
The centurion, Cornelius, was a devout, God-fearing man and did many acts of charity and prayed to God regularly (Acts 10:1-2). God does not show favoritism or restrict his attention to only one nation. God welcomes those who seek him and do right (Acts 10:34,35). But it is not enough to do right. Those who believe in Jesus receive forgiveness for their sins (Acts 10:43).
Read Philippians 3:4-11
glc We don’t earn a right relationship with God based on our human efforts or credentials. Paul had outstanding Jewish credentials but he knew he had to put those aside in comparison with credentials from Jesus. We obtain righteousness (right standing with God) based on Christ’s faithfulness to die on the cross for us. Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. We obtain righteousness from God on the basis of our faith, as we experience (believe and receive) the power of his resurrection..
Romans 2:6: “”6 He will reward each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. (NET)
glc … v12 We all sin and need Jesus’ sacrifice to remove our sin. The Gentiles may do some good works, but they also sin. No one lives a perfect life (other than Jesus).
glc v14 Some Gentiles have God’s law written on their hearts. But that is not salvation. The conscience of the Gentile may help them “do the right thing” from time to time but it does not provide salvation.
Ephesians 2:4-10 “” (4 But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— 6 and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.NET)
glc v9 We are not saved by the good works we do.
glc We do good works as a result of our salvation. When we are saved we can freely show love to others. We do good works to honor God who has saved us.
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Seek God. Read the Bible. Pray to God.
Hebrews 11:6 “ Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. “ (NET)
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