The Bible Promise Book Discipleship Edition

day.

1. SALVATION

We’re short-lived, earthbound mortals, but God is an infinite, immortal, transcendent Being. We’re pitiful sinners, but God is holy, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto (1 Timothy 6:16). But we need to come into His presence to have eternal life. So the question is, How can we approach Him? How can we come into His presence?

Jesus said, No man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

People in the Bible were constantly asking Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17), or Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25). You notice that they thought doing good deeds made them worthy. They hoped Jesus’ answer would be something like, Give alms to the poor, or Don’t steal—something they were already doing.

But when they asked Jesus, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent (John 6:28–29). Years later, a similar conversation took place. A Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? and they answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:30–31).

The answer is just that simple: believe on Jesus.

Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

MARK 10:24–27

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 1:12

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 3:16

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 3:36

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

JOHN 6:37

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

JOHN 10:28

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas … and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

ACTS 16:29–31

A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

GALATIANS 2:16

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

GALATIANS 4:6

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

EPHESIANS 2:8–9

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

EPHESIANS 3:17

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

2 TIMOTHY 1:9

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.

TITUS 3:5

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 JOHN 5:12–13

2. GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS

Many scriptures proclaim the forgiveness and mercy of the Lord, but the passages that best show these attributes of God are Psalm 51 and 2 Samuel 12:9, 13.

In Psalm 51, King David’s heart is laid bare. He had sinned grievously, committing adultery with Bathsheba, then arranging to have her husband killed so he could take her as his own, and God had called him on it. This psalm is filled with raw emotion and honest confession—but the most outstanding thing about it is the great faith David has in God’s mercy.

According to the Law, adulterers and murderers were to be executed. There was no provision for these sins as there was for fornication or manslaughter (Deuteronomy 22:22–29; Numbers 35:16–25). But David cried out, trusting that God would forgive him—and God did (2 Samuel 12:9–13). For three thousand years, believers who have sinned have found refuge in this psalm, saying, If God could forgive David, He can forgive me.

David began by praying, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. But he finished by confidently requesting, Make me to hear joy and gladness, and Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation (Psalm 51:1–2, 8, 12).

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.

NUMBERS 14:18

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments.

DEUTERONOMY 7:9

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

PSALM 40:11

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

PSALM 69:16

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

PSALM 103:8–14

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

ISAIAH 63:7

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

JEREMIAH 31:3

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

HOSEA 6:6

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

MICAH 7:18–19

For I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

JONAH 4:2

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

EPHESIANS 1:5–7

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.

EPHESIANS 2:4–5

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

HEBREWS 4:16

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

HEBREWS 8:12

Mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

JAMES 2:13

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 JOHN 1:9

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

1 JOHN 3:1

3. FAITH AND WORKS

Paul says, For by grace are ye saved through faith … not of works (Ephesians 2:8–9), but James asks, Though a man say he hath faith, and have not works … can faith save him? (James 2:14). Paul says, Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness (Romans 4:9), but James asks, Was not Abraham our father justified by works? and adds that by works was faith made perfect (James 2:21–22).

Many Christians therefore conclude that Paul and James contradict each other. But a closer look at the scriptures shows that Paul too preached the necessity of good works. You’re saved by grace alone, but if you’ve truly received the Spirit of Christ, good works will be sure to follow.

Paul wrote that the same grace of God that saves you will also teach you to live a godly life. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly (Titus 2:11–12).

Peter and James preached the same Gospel as Paul. When referring to Jews and Gentiles, Peter (speaking for James as well) declared, God … put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith…. But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they (Acts 15:8–9, 11).

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

MATTHEW 3:8

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

JOHN 14:15

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

JOHN 14:21

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed … that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

ACTS 26:19–20

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

ROMANS 11:6

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

EPHESIANS 4:1

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

EPHESIANS 2:8–10

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

COLOSSIANS 1:10

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

TITUS 1:16

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

TITUS 2:11–12

[Jesus Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,