To the Praise
of the
Glory of His Grace
Ephesians 4:4-6
Ephesians 4:4–6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The great reason now as to why Christians are to pursue unity between each other lies in the fact that there is but one body by virtue of Christ, one Spirit given through Christ, and one hope of being gathered together by Christ. Ultimately for every true Christian there is also but one Lord Who reigns over them, one faith believed by them, and one baptism of the Spirit that confirms their relationship with one God and the Father of all who believe. This same heavenly Father is above all, through all, and in all He saves. Because there is so much spiritual unity in those who believe and so much that each Christian shares with others chosen in Christ, then it is beyond reason why so much contention and division[1] exists in the church. It can only be because it is the flesh[2] and not the Spirit that truly governs so many of those who profess to be Christian in their lives.
One body. Just as there was but one body of the Savior, Who died upon the cross, even so there is but one holy and consecrated group of people saved by Him,[3] from also one sacrifice for sin the Lord has formed, His own heavenly congregation. This body[4] is defined as God’s holy temple[5] and is what constitutes the church of Christ. Hence, just as there is one Jerusalem, one Bethlehem, and one temple mount, so is there only a single, solitary heavenly people formed by God through His Son.[6] In reality, this consecrated body of the chosen are even now citizens of heaven,[7] apart from which there is no connection to heaven at all―so that if a man is not a true member of the body of Christ,[8] forgiven by His blood,[9] and made alive by His resurrection and ascension and possesses familial connection with the Savior,[10] then he is not of the family of God, nor does the Lord esteem him as His own.
One Spirit. Just as there is but one body formed by Christ, there is also but one Spirit and one heavenly gift[11] that proves a man to have true relationship with God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9).
(Benson Commentary, Rom. 8:9) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ—Thus residing in him, and governing him, whatever he may pretend; he is none of his—Not a disciple or member of Christ; not a Christian; not in a state of salvation. A plain, express declaration, which admits of no exception. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Just as there is one universal body of the Savior, so is there only one Spirit sent from heaven, which confirms entrance into it. This is why Jesus taught that for true admittance into the kingdom of heaven, a man must be born again[12] and undergo spiritual regeneration,[13] which both confirms and produces heavenly sonship. The Holy Spirit is also the Lord’s pledge and His anointing seal[14] that believers possess, indicating a lasting covenant with Him, even as physical circumcision demonstrated this for Israel.[15] Just as circumcision distinguished the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles, so does the Holy Spirit distinguish those consecrated by God from an unbelieving and ungodly world, estranged and separate from Him. Ultimately the Holy Spirit is that heavenly and spiritual anointing that seals the redeemed and openly confirms them as part of God’s heavenly kingdom and family. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (II Cor. 1:21–22). To be accounted by God as a spiritual son and sealed as His own is the Lord’s pledge of receiving greater blessings and riches to come.[16] By the Lord sealing a believer as His own,[17] through anointing him with the Holy Spirit, there is the promise of heavenly citizenship and a future of heavenly habitation with the Son of God. Being sealed with the Holy Spirit therefore proves spiritual adoption[18] and provides spiritual assurance that all who possess the Spirit will share with the Son of God in heaven. Because the Holy Spirit is God’s pledge and does not originate from man, then God has placed all responsibility upon Himself to fulfill His own Word. And just as Jesus was sealed by God and confirmed to be God’s Son through His divine birth,[19] further evidenced by the miracles He performed[20] and His resurrection from the dead,[21] so also is the believer sealed by the heavenly Father through the Spirit Jesus sends[22] to those saved through His death and resurrection. Practically, the Holy Spirit is the only veritable proof given to any that they have been made children of God[23] and have been purposed for heavenly habitation.[24] Adding to this reality is the truth that actually being born of God resides not in the will of man but is solely an action prompted by the mind and will of God.[25] It is not something that an individual can produce for himself any more than an unconceived child could will his own human birth into the world. In truth, every true Christian’s adoption into the kingdom originates solely from the desire and will of the heavenly Father. It is He, Who choses someone to be in Christ[26] and He, Who creates heavenly sonship through belief in Him. This is why no man can receive the Spirit via or through his own power, nor can he become a child of God through mere personal will simply because all spiritual sonship is the work of God[27] and can never be produced through the will, desire, or fancy of any man. It is a gift from God[28] and must originate from Him. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).
One hope of your calling. Every believer’s spiritual election[29] has but one universal and celestial hope, which is joining the Son of God in heaven.[30] This future hope is the culmination of what being granted the right to become a son of God promises. There is also no greater spiritual belief that produces internal purification[31] than the hope of being glorified with the Savior[32] and being made to share in a heavenly body like unto His own. It is this spiritual hope that internally purifies the heart and soul of a man. It is also this hope[33] that the apostle Paul prayed the Ephesians might become enlightened to.[34]
It has always been the will of God and His plan to provide both a hope and a future for His people. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jer. 29:11). Other translations of this verse give a clearer understanding of its true meaning:
(NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
(ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The reason God is spoken of as the God of hope[35] is that He provides through divine power heavenly hope for those previously without God and without hope in this world.[36] The hope that God gives to the believer through Jesus Christ is a lively hope, which has its genesis in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (I Pet. 1:3).
(Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, I Pet. 1:3) Unto a lively hope.—Or, into a living hope. Before this regeneration there was nothing to look forward to—at best a kind of dead-alive surmise that there might be something beyond the weary world. But as the animal we have imagined would find himself suddenly new-begotten into a state in which he was conscious of himself and of God, so we found ourselves new-begotten into a state of definite and most energetic expectation of whole sæcula sæculorum—worlds beyond worlds—of bliss before us.
It is through Christ’s resurrection from the dead that spiritual regeneration[37] has become available and men can receive the Spirit of Christ within.[38] It is also this supernatural transformation from before being born only of the flesh,[39] and in sin,[40] to then being born of the Spirit,[41] that gives hope of sharing with Christ in heaven. It is worthy of mention that it is only the Lord’s holy and divine nature that is eternal,[42] even as all things natural, physical, and material must eventually dissolve and fade away.[43] Consequently to possess life in the heavenly kingdom to come, an individual must receive the nature of which this kingdom will be comprised. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption (I Cor. 15:50).
(Benson Commentary, I Cor. 15:50) Now this I say, brethren—This I offer to your consideration as a great and important truth, that we must first undergo an entire change; for flesh and blood—Such as we are now clothed with; cannot inherit the kingdom of God—Cannot enter that happy place which Christ hath gone to prepare for the reception of his people, (John 14:7[44]) cannot possess that kingdom which is wholly spiritual, because it affords no objects suited either to the senses or to the appetites of such a body.
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(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, I Cor. 15:50) Flesh and blood—Bodies organized as ours now are. “Flesh and blood” denotes such bodies as we have here, bodies that are fragile, weak, liable to disease, subject to pain and death. They are composed of changing particles; to be repaired and strengthened daily; they are subject to decay, and are wasted away by sickness, and of course they cannot be suited to a world where there shall be no decay and no death.
It is also the prize of sharing with Christ and being made like Him that believers are challenged to press toward with the hope of receiving as a reward for their faith. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).
(Pulpit Commentary, Phil. 3:14) The high calling; the upward, heavenward calling. God is calling us all upward, heavenward, by the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is the Word of God. Comp. Hebrews 2:1,[45] “Partakers of the heavenly calling.” The words, “in Christ Jesus,” are to be taken with “the high calling.” It is God who calls: he calls us in the person of Christ, by the voice of Christ, “Come unto me.” “It was his will that thou shouldst run the race below; he gives the crown above.
One Lord. To be saved by God demands that sinners make God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Lord of their lives. It is also the lordship of Jesus Christ that forms the foundation for unity among all those saved by Him. Since all Christians share the same Lord, there should never exist anything among them other than spiritual unity.
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Eph. 4:5) The argument here is, that there ought to be unity among Christians, because they have one Lord and Saviour. They have not different Saviours adapted to different classes; not one for the Jew and another for the Greek; not one for the rich and another for the poor; not one for the bond and another for the free. There is but one. He belongs in common to all as their Saviour; and he has a right to rule over one as much as over another. There is no better way of promoting unity among Christians than by reminding them that they have the same Saviour. … Let two men who have never seen each other before, meet in a distant land, and feel that they have the same Redeemer, and their hearts will mingle into one. They are not aliens, but friends. A cord of sympathy is struck more tender than that which binds them to country or home and though of different nations, complexions, or habits, they will feel that they are one. Why should contentions ever arise between those who have the same Redeemer?
Biblically Jesus Christ and obedience to Him are the only path to salvation, and no man, without exception, can come to, approach, and/or be accepted by God other than through the One sent to declare Him. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb. 5:9). This verse is emphatic when it reveals that the Lord’s salvation is offered to them that obey him and only those people; consequently, if there is not obedience to the Son of God, then there exists no realistic hope of receiving salvation from Him. There is no ambiguity on this topic, and to disregard the necessity of it must be to one’s own peril. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, John 14:6) No man cometh to the Father but by me—To come to the Father is to obtain his favor, to have access to his throne by prayer, and finally to enter his kingdom. No man can obtain any of these things except by the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. By coming by him is meant coming in his name and depending on his merits. We are ignorant, and he alone can guide us. We are sinful, and it is only by his merits that we can be pardoned. We are blind, and he only can enlighten us. God has appointed him as the Mediator, and has ordained that all blessings shall descend to this world through him. Hence he has put the world under his control; has given the affairs of men into his hand, and has appointed him to dispense whatever may be necessary for our peace, pardon, and salvation, Acts 4:12; Acts 5:31.[46]
Jesus reveals that there is no other path to heaven other than making Him, Lord of your life.[47] This implies that both His words[48] and His Spirit are given complete and utmost control over both body and soul. Where once the sinner could do as he willed,[49] now there must be a willing compliance, agreement, and conformity to God’s will. This begins with and must include the freewill choice of making God’s Son Lord, Master, and Sovereign Ruler over ourselves. It is this that the Lord requires for any to be saved; and if this condition is not met, then the sinner must give an account and suffer the punishment for all sin he has committed against God.[50] Understandably, the Lord will not allow His Son’s universal and eternal authority, which has already been granted to Him,[51] to be either compromised or not be adhered to. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). By Jesus’ resurrection from the dead it is proved that Jesus Christ is Lord, both of the dead and the living.[52] Since Jesus has been enthroned as King of the heavens, it is a great insult to God for sinners not to recognize, submit to, and hail Him as Lord of the earth.
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Acts 2:36) The word “lord” properly denotes “proprietor, master, or sovereign.” Here it means clearly that God had exalted him to be the king so long expected; and that he had given him dominion in the heavens, or, as we should say, made him ruler of all things. … Sinners, in opposing the Saviour, are at war with their living and mighty sovereign and Lord. He has all power, and it is not safe to contend against the judge of the living and the dead.
One faith. In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is but one faith. This faith includes belief in Jesus’ lordship, that a man must be born again to enter heaven,[53] that all men are sinners and unworthy of God,[54] a confession of the Godhead,[55] the doctrine of repentance,[56] faith,[57] and denial of self,[58] and the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s offering Himself for sin.[59] On these biblical precepts rest the faith of Jesus Christ. If there is a departure from even one of these established biblical doctrines, then it is not the faith of Jesus Christ that is being practiced. It also should be emphasized and not forgotten that what is absolutely not included and is not demanded by God to be saved is being a member of a particular church or denomination—that he must follow some peculiar religious tradition or be of the “right” religious affiliation to be saved. This is simply because there is but one foundation, Jesus Christ, and it is He, and not any man or group of men, nor any rule of man, that constitutes true faith in God. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3:11).
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, I Cor. 3:11) Which is Jesus Christ—…The meaning is, that no true church can be reared which does not embrace and hold the true doctrines respecting him—those which pertain to his incarnation, his divine nature, his instructions, his example, his atonement, his resurrection, and ascension. The reason why no true church can be established without embracing the truth as it is in Christ is, that it is by him only that people can be saved; and where This doctrine is missing, all is missing that enters into the essential idea of a church. The fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion must be embraced, or a church cannot exist and where those doctrines are denied no association of people can be recognized as a church of God.
Ultimately if Jesus Christ is not Lord of a man’s life and recognized as the sole Head of His church, then what may be regarded as Christian faith is not really faith at all. This is also why if the Son of God is not the foundation of Christian doctrine, and this cannot be merely in word,[60] then whatever other religious counterfeit has been formed has its origin in man and is neither of God nor will it be endorsed by Him so that if Jesus Christ is not the true center of a man’s faith and practice, then he actually possesses no legitimate faith at all, and whatever is practiced surely does not have its source in the Father and His Son, Whom He sent to save the world. Not to understand and believe this truth is to risk and actually abandon having connection to the Savior at all.
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[1] I Cor. 1:10–13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
[2] I Cor. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Jas. 3:14–16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas. 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
[3] I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Gal. 3:26–28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[4] I Cor. 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Eph. 1:22–23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[5] Eph. 2:20–22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
[6] Eph. 2:4–6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Rom. 8:29–30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[7] Phil. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[8] Eph. 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Col. 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
I Cor. 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Eph. 4:15–16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Rom. 12:4–5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
[9] Matt. 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[10] Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[11] Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. 2:8–9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[12] John 3:5–8 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
I Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[13] Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[14] Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
[15] Gen. 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
[16] I Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[17] Rev. 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
[18]18 Rom. 8:15–17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
[19] Isa. 9:6–7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Matt. 1:18–25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
[20] Jesus turns water into wine: John 2:1–11
Jesus heals the man’s withered hand on the Sabbath: Matt. 12:9–14, Mark 3:1–6, Luke 6:6–11
Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead: Luke 7:11–17
Jesus heals the woman with an issue of blood: Matt. 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:42–48
Jesus raises Jarius’ daughter back to life: Matt. 9:18, 23–26, Mark 5:21–24, 35–43, Luke 8:40–42, 49–56
Jesus feeds the 5,000: Matt. 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:10–17, John 6:11–15
Jesus heals the deaf and dumb man: Mark 7:31–37
Jesus heals the blind man at Bethsaida: Mark 8:22–26
Jesus whithers the fig tree on the road from Bethany: Matt. 21:18–22, Mark 11:12–14
[21] Matt. 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
I Cor. 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Rom. 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
I Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Rev. 1:5–6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
[22] John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
[23] I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
II Cor. 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
I John 3:2–3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[24] Eph. 1:13–14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
[25] John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 1:48–49 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Eph. 1:3–5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According 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: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
I Pet. 2:9–10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Jer. 1:5–8 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
[26] John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Eph. 1:4 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:
[27] Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[28] Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. 2:8–9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[29] Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Rom. 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Deut. 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
[30] John 14:2–3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[31] I John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[32] Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Heb. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Rom. 8: 16-18 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[33] I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Phil. 3:20–21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
I Cor. 15:42–44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[34] Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[35] Rom. 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
[36] Eph. 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[37] Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[38] Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[39] John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Ezek. 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[40] Ps. 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[41] I John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
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:
I Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
I John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[42] Isa. 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Ps. 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
I Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[43] II Pet. 3:10–11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
[44] John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
[45] Heb. 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
[46] Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
[47] Rom. 10:9 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.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Phil. 2:9–11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[48] John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[49] John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
[50] 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.
II Thess. 1:8–9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
[51] Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[52] Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
[53] John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[54] Rom. 3:10–19 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
[55] Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[56] Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
[57] 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.
Rom. 10:9–10 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. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 6:28–29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Acts 16:30–31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[58] Luke 9:23–24 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
[59] I Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[60] Matt. 7:21–23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
To the Praise
of the
Glory of His Grace
Ephesians 4:4-6
Ephesians 4:4–6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The great reason now as to why Christians are to pursue unity between each other lies in the fact that there is but one body by virtue of Christ, one Spirit given through Christ, and one hope of being gathered together by Christ. Ultimately for every true Christian there is also but one Lord Who reigns over them, one faith believed by them, and one baptism of the Spirit that confirms their relationship with one God and the Father of all who believe. This same heavenly Father is above all, through all, and in all He saves. Because there is so much spiritual unity in those who believe and so much that each Christian shares with others chosen in Christ, then it is beyond reason why so much contention and division[1] exists in the church. It can only be because it is the flesh[2] and not the Spirit that truly governs so many of those who profess to be Christian in their lives.
One body. Just as there was but one body of the Savior, Who died upon the cross, even so there is but one holy and consecrated group of people saved by Him,[3] from also one sacrifice for sin the Lord has formed, His own heavenly congregation. This body[4] is defined as God’s holy temple[5] and is what constitutes the church of Christ. Hence, just as there is one Jerusalem, one Bethlehem, and one temple mount, so is there only a single, solitary heavenly people formed by God through His Son.[6] In reality, this consecrated body of the chosen are even now citizens of heaven,[7] apart from which there is no connection to heaven at all―so that if a man is not a true member of the body of Christ,[8] forgiven by His blood,[9] and made alive by His resurrection and ascension and possesses familial connection with the Savior,[10] then he is not of the family of God, nor does the Lord esteem him as His own.
One Spirit. Just as there is but one body formed by Christ, there is also but one Spirit and one heavenly gift[11] that proves a man to have true relationship with God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9).
(Benson Commentary, Rom. 8:9) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ—Thus residing in him, and governing him, whatever he may pretend; he is none of his—Not a disciple or member of Christ; not a Christian; not in a state of salvation. A plain, express declaration, which admits of no exception. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Just as there is one universal body of the Savior, so is there only one Spirit sent from heaven, which confirms entrance into it. This is why Jesus taught that for true admittance into the kingdom of heaven, a man must be born again[12] and undergo spiritual regeneration,[13] which both confirms and produces heavenly sonship. The Holy Spirit is also the Lord’s pledge and His anointing seal[14] that believers possess, indicating a lasting covenant with Him, even as physical circumcision demonstrated this for Israel.[15] Just as circumcision distinguished the seed of Abraham from the Gentiles, so does the Holy Spirit distinguish those consecrated by God from an unbelieving and ungodly world, estranged and separate from Him. Ultimately the Holy Spirit is that heavenly and spiritual anointing that seals the redeemed and openly confirms them as part of God’s heavenly kingdom and family. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (II Cor. 1:21–22). To be accounted by God as a spiritual son and sealed as His own is the Lord’s pledge of receiving greater blessings and riches to come.[16] By the Lord sealing a believer as His own,[17] through anointing him with the Holy Spirit, there is the promise of heavenly citizenship and a future of heavenly habitation with the Son of God. Being sealed with the Holy Spirit therefore proves spiritual adoption[18] and provides spiritual assurance that all who possess the Spirit will share with the Son of God in heaven. Because the Holy Spirit is God’s pledge and does not originate from man, then God has placed all responsibility upon Himself to fulfill His own Word. And just as Jesus was sealed by God and confirmed to be God’s Son through His divine birth,[19] further evidenced by the miracles He performed[20] and His resurrection from the dead,[21] so also is the believer sealed by the heavenly Father through the Spirit Jesus sends[22] to those saved through His death and resurrection. Practically, the Holy Spirit is the only veritable proof given to any that they have been made children of God[23] and have been purposed for heavenly habitation.[24] Adding to this reality is the truth that actually being born of God resides not in the will of man but is solely an action prompted by the mind and will of God.[25] It is not something that an individual can produce for himself any more than an unconceived child could will his own human birth into the world. In truth, every true Christian’s adoption into the kingdom originates solely from the desire and will of the heavenly Father. It is He, Who choses someone to be in Christ[26] and He, Who creates heavenly sonship through belief in Him. This is why no man can receive the Spirit via or through his own power, nor can he become a child of God through mere personal will simply because all spiritual sonship is the work of God[27] and can never be produced through the will, desire, or fancy of any man. It is a gift from God[28] and must originate from Him. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).
One hope of your calling. Every believer’s spiritual election[29] has but one universal and celestial hope, which is joining the Son of God in heaven.[30] This future hope is the culmination of what being granted the right to become a son of God promises. There is also no greater spiritual belief that produces internal purification[31] than the hope of being glorified with the Savior[32] and being made to share in a heavenly body like unto His own. It is this spiritual hope that internally purifies the heart and soul of a man. It is also this hope[33] that the apostle Paul prayed the Ephesians might become enlightened to.[34]
It has always been the will of God and His plan to provide both a hope and a future for His people. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jer. 29:11). Other translations of this verse give a clearer understanding of its true meaning:
(NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
(ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The reason God is spoken of as the God of hope[35] is that He provides through divine power heavenly hope for those previously without God and without hope in this world.[36] The hope that God gives to the believer through Jesus Christ is a lively hope, which has its genesis in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (I Pet. 1:3).
(Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, I Pet. 1:3) Unto a lively hope.—Or, into a living hope. Before this regeneration there was nothing to look forward to—at best a kind of dead-alive surmise that there might be something beyond the weary world. But as the animal we have imagined would find himself suddenly new-begotten into a state in which he was conscious of himself and of God, so we found ourselves new-begotten into a state of definite and most energetic expectation of whole sæcula sæculorum—worlds beyond worlds—of bliss before us.
It is through Christ’s resurrection from the dead that spiritual regeneration[37] has become available and men can receive the Spirit of Christ within.[38] It is also this supernatural transformation from before being born only of the flesh,[39] and in sin,[40] to then being born of the Spirit,[41] that gives hope of sharing with Christ in heaven. It is worthy of mention that it is only the Lord’s holy and divine nature that is eternal,[42] even as all things natural, physical, and material must eventually dissolve and fade away.[43] Consequently to possess life in the heavenly kingdom to come, an individual must receive the nature of which this kingdom will be comprised. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption (I Cor. 15:50).
(Benson Commentary, I Cor. 15:50) Now this I say, brethren—This I offer to your consideration as a great and important truth, that we must first undergo an entire change; for flesh and blood—Such as we are now clothed with; cannot inherit the kingdom of God—Cannot enter that happy place which Christ hath gone to prepare for the reception of his people, (John 14:7[44]) cannot possess that kingdom which is wholly spiritual, because it affords no objects suited either to the senses or to the appetites of such a body.
***
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, I Cor. 15:50) Flesh and blood—Bodies organized as ours now are. “Flesh and blood” denotes such bodies as we have here, bodies that are fragile, weak, liable to disease, subject to pain and death. They are composed of changing particles; to be repaired and strengthened daily; they are subject to decay, and are wasted away by sickness, and of course they cannot be suited to a world where there shall be no decay and no death.
It is also the prize of sharing with Christ and being made like Him that believers are challenged to press toward with the hope of receiving as a reward for their faith. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).
(Pulpit Commentary, Phil. 3:14) The high calling; the upward, heavenward calling. God is calling us all upward, heavenward, by the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is the Word of God. Comp. Hebrews 2:1,[45] “Partakers of the heavenly calling.” The words, “in Christ Jesus,” are to be taken with “the high calling.” It is God who calls: he calls us in the person of Christ, by the voice of Christ, “Come unto me.” “It was his will that thou shouldst run the race below; he gives the crown above.
One Lord. To be saved by God demands that sinners make God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Lord of their lives. It is also the lordship of Jesus Christ that forms the foundation for unity among all those saved by Him. Since all Christians share the same Lord, there should never exist anything among them other than spiritual unity.
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Eph. 4:5) The argument here is, that there ought to be unity among Christians, because they have one Lord and Saviour. They have not different Saviours adapted to different classes; not one for the Jew and another for the Greek; not one for the rich and another for the poor; not one for the bond and another for the free. There is but one. He belongs in common to all as their Saviour; and he has a right to rule over one as much as over another. There is no better way of promoting unity among Christians than by reminding them that they have the same Saviour. … Let two men who have never seen each other before, meet in a distant land, and feel that they have the same Redeemer, and their hearts will mingle into one. They are not aliens, but friends. A cord of sympathy is struck more tender than that which binds them to country or home and though of different nations, complexions, or habits, they will feel that they are one. Why should contentions ever arise between those who have the same Redeemer?
Biblically Jesus Christ and obedience to Him are the only path to salvation, and no man, without exception, can come to, approach, and/or be accepted by God other than through the One sent to declare Him. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb. 5:9). This verse is emphatic when it reveals that the Lord’s salvation is offered to them that obey him and only those people; consequently, if there is not obedience to the Son of God, then there exists no realistic hope of receiving salvation from Him. There is no ambiguity on this topic, and to disregard the necessity of it must be to one’s own peril. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, John 14:6) No man cometh to the Father but by me—To come to the Father is to obtain his favor, to have access to his throne by prayer, and finally to enter his kingdom. No man can obtain any of these things except by the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. By coming by him is meant coming in his name and depending on his merits. We are ignorant, and he alone can guide us. We are sinful, and it is only by his merits that we can be pardoned. We are blind, and he only can enlighten us. God has appointed him as the Mediator, and has ordained that all blessings shall descend to this world through him. Hence he has put the world under his control; has given the affairs of men into his hand, and has appointed him to dispense whatever may be necessary for our peace, pardon, and salvation, Acts 4:12; Acts 5:31.[46]
Jesus reveals that there is no other path to heaven other than making Him, Lord of your life.[47] This implies that both His words[48] and His Spirit are given complete and utmost control over both body and soul. Where once the sinner could do as he willed,[49] now there must be a willing compliance, agreement, and conformity to God’s will. This begins with and must include the freewill choice of making God’s Son Lord, Master, and Sovereign Ruler over ourselves. It is this that the Lord requires for any to be saved; and if this condition is not met, then the sinner must give an account and suffer the punishment for all sin he has committed against God.[50] Understandably, the Lord will not allow His Son’s universal and eternal authority, which has already been granted to Him,[51] to be either compromised or not be adhered to. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). By Jesus’ resurrection from the dead it is proved that Jesus Christ is Lord, both of the dead and the living.[52] Since Jesus has been enthroned as King of the heavens, it is a great insult to God for sinners not to recognize, submit to, and hail Him as Lord of the earth.
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Acts 2:36) The word “lord” properly denotes “proprietor, master, or sovereign.” Here it means clearly that God had exalted him to be the king so long expected; and that he had given him dominion in the heavens, or, as we should say, made him ruler of all things. … Sinners, in opposing the Saviour, are at war with their living and mighty sovereign and Lord. He has all power, and it is not safe to contend against the judge of the living and the dead.
One faith. In the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is but one faith. This faith includes belief in Jesus’ lordship, that a man must be born again to enter heaven,[53] that all men are sinners and unworthy of God,[54] a confession of the Godhead,[55] the doctrine of repentance,[56] faith,[57] and denial of self,[58] and the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s offering Himself for sin.[59] On these biblical precepts rest the faith of Jesus Christ. If there is a departure from even one of these established biblical doctrines, then it is not the faith of Jesus Christ that is being practiced. It also should be emphasized and not forgotten that what is absolutely not included and is not demanded by God to be saved is being a member of a particular church or denomination—that he must follow some peculiar religious tradition or be of the “right” religious affiliation to be saved. This is simply because there is but one foundation, Jesus Christ, and it is He, and not any man or group of men, nor any rule of man, that constitutes true faith in God. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3:11).
(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, I Cor. 3:11) Which is Jesus Christ—…The meaning is, that no true church can be reared which does not embrace and hold the true doctrines respecting him—those which pertain to his incarnation, his divine nature, his instructions, his example, his atonement, his resurrection, and ascension. The reason why no true church can be established without embracing the truth as it is in Christ is, that it is by him only that people can be saved; and where This doctrine is missing, all is missing that enters into the essential idea of a church. The fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion must be embraced, or a church cannot exist and where those doctrines are denied no association of people can be recognized as a church of God.
Ultimately if Jesus Christ is not Lord of a man’s life and recognized as the sole Head of His church, then what may be regarded as Christian faith is not really faith at all. This is also why if the Son of God is not the foundation of Christian doctrine, and this cannot be merely in word,[60] then whatever other religious counterfeit has been formed has its origin in man and is neither of God nor will it be endorsed by Him so that if Jesus Christ is not the true center of a man’s faith and practice, then he actually possesses no legitimate faith at all, and whatever is practiced surely does not have its source in the Father and His Son, Whom He sent to save the world. Not to understand and believe this truth is to risk and actually abandon having connection to the Savior at all.
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[1] I Cor. 1:10–13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
[2] I Cor. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Jas. 3:14–16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas. 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
[3] I Cor. 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Gal. 3:26–28 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[4] I Cor. 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Eph. 1:22–23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
[5] Eph. 2:20–22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
[6] Eph. 2:4–6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Rom. 8:29–30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[7] Phil. 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[8] Eph. 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Col. 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
I Cor. 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Eph. 4:15–16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Rom. 12:4–5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
[9] Matt. 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[10] Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[11] Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. 2:8–9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[12] John 3:5–8 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
I Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[13] Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[14] Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
[15] Gen. 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
[16] I Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[17] Rev. 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
[18]18 Rom. 8:15–17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
[19] Isa. 9:6–7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Matt. 1:18–25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
[20] Jesus turns water into wine: John 2:1–11
Jesus heals the man’s withered hand on the Sabbath: Matt. 12:9–14, Mark 3:1–6, Luke 6:6–11
Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead: Luke 7:11–17
Jesus heals the woman with an issue of blood: Matt. 9:20–22, Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:42–48
Jesus raises Jarius’ daughter back to life: Matt. 9:18, 23–26, Mark 5:21–24, 35–43, Luke 8:40–42, 49–56
Jesus feeds the 5,000: Matt. 14:13–21, Mark 6:30–44, Luke 9:10–17, John 6:11–15
Jesus heals the deaf and dumb man: Mark 7:31–37
Jesus heals the blind man at Bethsaida: Mark 8:22–26
Jesus whithers the fig tree on the road from Bethany: Matt. 21:18–22, Mark 11:12–14
[21] Matt. 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
I Cor. 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Rom. 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
I Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Rev. 1:5–6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
[22] John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
[23] I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
II Cor. 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
I John 3:2–3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[24] Eph. 1:13–14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
[25] John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 1:48–49 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Eph. 1:3–5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According 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: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
I Pet. 2:9–10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Jer. 1:5–8 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
[26] John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Eph. 1:4 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:
[27] Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[28] Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eph. 2:8–9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[29] Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Rom. 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Deut. 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
[30] John 14:2–3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
I Thess. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[31] I John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
[32] Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Heb. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Rom. 8: 16-18 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[33] I John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Phil. 3:20–21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
I Cor. 15:42–44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[34] Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[35] Rom. 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
[36] Eph. 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[37] Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[38] Gal. 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Col. 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[39] John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Ezek. 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[40] Ps. 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[41] I John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
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:
I Pet. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
I John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
[42] Isa. 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Ps. 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
I Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[43] II Pet. 3:10–11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
[44] John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
[45] Heb. 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
[46] Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
[47] Rom. 10:9 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.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Phil. 2:9–11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[48] John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[49] John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
[50] 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.
II Thess. 1:8–9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
[51] Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[52] Rom. 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
[53] John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
[54] Rom. 3:10–19 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
[55] Matt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[56] Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
[57] 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.
Rom. 10:9–10 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. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 6:28–29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Acts 16:30–31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Gal. 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[58] Luke 9:23–24 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
[59] I Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
[60] Matt. 7:21–23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.