9. What does the Bible say?
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life
- John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Only through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross can we be reconciled with God. The Lord Jesus made the way to God available to us (1 Peter 3:18a). Because of this, it is possible for us to receive forgiveness for our sins and eternal life.
God is love, and He desires you to be saved
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- Ephesians 2:4,5a But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.
- 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
- 1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
- 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- 1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
God is not a respecter of persons
The Bible never says that God shows favoritism when it comes to salvation. He shows no partiality to certain people. No person is excluded in advance. However, God hates the sinful behavior of people and the state in which they find themselves without Him, but God just wants them to repent (Ezekiel 33:11, 2 Peter 3:9). He gave His Son to save them (John 3:16). Everyone (no one is excluded) who believes in God and confesses Jesus as Lord will be saved.
- 2 Chronicles 19:7b For there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking gifts.
- Acts 15:8,9a And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
- Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
- Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
- Romans 10:12,13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God rewards all who seek Him
- Hebrews 11:6b For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God is a Rewarder of those (all of those) who seek Him. So go seek Him, draw near to Him with confidence and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
- Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9b If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
- 2 Chronicles 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
- Ezra 8:22b The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
- Psalms 69:32b And your heart shall live that seek God.
- Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
- Isaiah 45:19b I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.
- Jeremiah 29:13,14a And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD.
- Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
- Amos 5:6a Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.
- Matthew 7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
God does what He promises in His Word
- Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
- Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised).
You can trust and appeal to the promises of God in His Word.
Jesus invites you to come to Him
- Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
You can come to the Lord Jesus with all your troubles, all your worries, the burden of your sins and even your questions about your faith. Jesus promises He will give you rest (for your spirit, your soul and your body). You can come to Him just as you are, empty handed.
God will not condemn you and neither reject you when you come to Him in sincerity
The Lord Jesus bore the punishment for the sin, as Substitute for all who come to Him (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:15,19,21 and 1 John 2:1b,2). Therefore God will not reject you and He will not condemn you when you sincerely repent and ask Him to forgive your sins and truly believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sins. Then He will see in you the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ.
- 2 Chronicles 30:9b For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
- John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
- John 3:18a He that believeth on him is not condemned.
- John 6:37b And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
If we confess our sins, then God forgives all our sins
- Psalm 32:5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
- Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
- Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
- Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God does demand that we ourselves forgive others (Matthew 6:14,15).
Whoever believe in Christ are chosen in Him
- Ephesians 1:4,5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
The Chosen One, Who redeems people even from before the foundation of the world is Jesus Christ (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 12:18 and 1 Peter 2:4,6). He was the Elected One, even before the foundation of the world, to save humanity (2 Timothy 1:9). Those who believe in Him, share in God's election. They are chosen in Christ.
Hell was originally meant for Satan and his angels, not for people
- Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
The above Bible verse says that hell was originally prepared for the devil and his angels. The Bible does not say that hell was originally intended for people. Throughout the Bible it is shown that it is God's will for all people to be saved. But this does not mean that all people will in fact be saved. Some people will end up in hell because of their own unwillingness and unbelief (Mark 16:16 and Hebrews 3:18,19).
God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance
- Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
- Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
- 1 Timothy 2:3b,4 God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
In your prayer, you can appeal to these Bible verses.
The above scriptures show God's mercy for sinners, but also His revealed will for us: a call to faith and repentance. God is full of grace and mercy, slow to anger and great in faithfulness (2 Chronicles 30:9b, Psalm 103:8 and Joel 2:13b).
God does not delight in our death, but He wants to save us for eternity. That's why He wants us to turn to Him, confess our sins and in faith accept His Son Jesus Christ.
The above scriptures show clearly that God doesn't want that anyone perishes. It is His will that all people will be saved.
Whoever believes in the Lord Jesus has everlasting life
Do you believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sins on the cross too? Do you trust Him with all your heart? Then you will have eternal life.
If you were to perish, it is not because you are not elected (this is no excuse), but because you did not believe in the Lord Jesus.
The following Bible verses provide evidence for the fact that people will perish because of their unbelief:
- Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
- John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
- John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him..
- John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
- John 11:25,26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
- Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed