The most elementary doctrine of Christ is the foundation of repentance from
dead works and of faith toward God.[1] John, son of Zechariah and forerunner of
Christ, proclaimed a baptism of repentance.[2] Jesus came proclaiming the gospel
of God saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent
and believe in the gospel"[3]. He sent his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of
God and to preach that people should repent.[4] And when he had been exalted to
God’s right hand, the apostles proclaimed the same gospel saying, “Repent and be
baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”[5] To the Gentiles as
well as the Jews, God has granted the repentance that leads to life.[6] For in
the name of Jesus, repentance and forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem.[7] God’s kindness is meant to lead us to
repentance.[8] The Lord is patient toward us, not wishing that any should
perish, but that all should reach repentance.[9] Yet the day of the Lord will
come like a thief, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be
exposed.[10] The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being
kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.[11]
God commands all people everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day in which
he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of
this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.[12] Unless we
repent, regardless of severity of our sins, we will likewise perish with the
wicked.[13] To escape the wrath to come we must bear fruits in keeping with
repentance.[14] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire.[15] Jesus, who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and with fire, holds a
winnowing fork to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his
barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.[16] Those of a hard and
impenitent heart are storing up wrath for themselves on the day of wrath when
God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.[17] He will render to each one
according to his works; to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory
and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but to those who are
contentious and do not obey the truth, but unrighteousness, there will be wrath
and fury.[18]
That which you sow does not come to life
unless it dies.[19] In repentance we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to
God in Christ Jesus.[20] For all of us who die with Christ and are baptized into
the name of Jesus Christ are baptized into his death .[21] We were buried
therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of
life.[22] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live
with him.[23] Therefore, we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies.[24]
And we are not to present ourselves to sin as instruments for unrighteousness,
but to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and our members to
righteousness.[25]
God is light, and in him is no darkness
at all.[26] If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we
lie and do not practice the truth.[27] If we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us
from all sin.[28] We are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which
leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.[29] But thanks
be to God, for those who were once slaves of sin but now have become obedient
from the heart to the standard of teaching to which they were committed, and,
having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.[30] As
servants of God, the fruit we get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal
life.[31]
God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey him.[32] By
believing, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee
of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.[33] Christ has fulfilled
the promise, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.’[34] It is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire.[35]
Truly, the Spirit we receive is our declaration of adoption as children of God,
to whom we cry “Abba! Father!”[36] For if Christ is in you, although the body is
dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.[37] We are
washed, we are sanctified, we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and by the Spirit of our God.[38] Unless one is born again he cannot see the
kingdom of God. It is the Spirit that gives life. Unless one is born of the
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. The true worshipers shall worship
the Father in spirit and in truth.[39]
In sanctification of the
Spirit, God has purposed us for obedience to Jesus Christ and for the sprinkling
of his blood. We are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and
spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God, working out our own
salvation with fear and trembling.[40] Like newborn infants we are to grow up to
salvation pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness,
gentleness in fighting the good fight of the faith and taking hold of the
eternal life to which we were called.[41] We should not be sluggish, but
imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.[42] Heed
the call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God
and their faith in Jesus.[43] For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our
original confidence firm to the end.[44] Many will be hated for his name's sake,
but the one who endures to the end will be saved.[45]
Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.[46]
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.[47] In flaming fire,
vengeance shall be inflected on those who do not know God and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.[48] God has called his people to bring
about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.[49]
A person is justified by works and not by faith alone.[50] Faith by itself, if
it does not have works, is dead.[51] As the body apart from the spirit is dead,
so also faith apart from works is dead.[52] If we have abandoned the love we had
at first, Jesus will come and remove our place, unless we repent.[53] Many are
lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, therefore he will spit them out of his
mouth. They say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing
that they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Be zealous and
repent.[54]
The unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the
greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of
God.[55] The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like
these. Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.[56] Let
there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, but instead let there
be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually
immoral or impure, or who is covetous has no inheritance in the kingdom.[57]
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath
of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with
them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light.[58] Take no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness, but instead expose them.[59] By this it is evident who are the
children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not
practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his
brother.[60] If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.[61] The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no
law.[62]
There is no other commandment greater than these: ‘You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.'[63] Indeed, we are to love our enemies and do good
to those who hate us and our reward will be great, and we will be sons of the
Most High.[64] Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who
loves another has fulfilled the law for or the whole law is fulfilled in one
word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.[65]" Anyone who does not love
does not know God, because God is love.[66] If we love one another, God abides
in us and his love is perfected in us.[67] This is his commandment, that we
believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another.[68]
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good
conscience and a sincere faith.[69] We know that we have passed out of death
into life, because we love. Whoever does not love abides in death.[70]
We must no longer walk as those who walk in the futility of their
minds and are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They
have become callous and have given themselves up to practice every kind of
impurity. But that is not truly the way of Christ!— assuming that you have
heard about him and were taught in him, to put off your old self, which belongs
to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to
be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new self, created
after the likeness of God in true righteousness and
holiness.[71]
According to the revelation of the
mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and has
been made known to all nations; the command of our eternal God to bring about
the obedience of faith.[72] Jesus came to open our eyes, so that we may turn
from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that we may receive
forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in
him.[73] For by grace we are saved through faith. And this is not our own doing;
it is the gift of God.[74] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also
obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in
hope of the glory of God.[75] In Christ Jesus we are sons of God, through
faith.[76] In faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of
righteousness.[77] Nothing counts for anything in Christ Jesus, but only faith
working through love.[78]
One's life does not consist
in the abundance of his possessions.[79] The righteousness of God is revealed
from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."[80]
The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe.[81] For it is impossible to please God without faith as it says, “but
my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no
pleasure in him."[82] Those who shrink back are destroyed, but those who have
faith preserve their souls.[83] By rejecting a good conscience, some have made
shipwreck of their faith and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their
former faith.[84] Many hear the good news, but unless the message is united by
faith with those who listen, it is of no benefit.[85] If anyone comes to Christ
and does not hate even his own life, he cannot be his.[86] Whoever seeks to
preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it.[87]
As believers who respond to the good news that Jesus, having been
exalted at the right hand of God and having been made both Lord and Christ -
receiving from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, we are given the
commandment, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.”[88] The promise is for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our
God calls to himself.[89] Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may
be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must
receive until the time for restoring all things about which God spoke by the
mouth of his holy prophets long ago.[90]
[1] Heb 6:1, Acts 20:21 [2]
Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, 19:4 [3] Mark 1:15, 9:42-43,45,47, Luke 4:43,
5:32, 8:10, 9:60, Acts 3:26 [4] Mark 6:7,12, Luke 9:1-2, 10:11, 24:47 [5] Acts
2:38 [6] Acts 11:18 [7] Luke 24:47 [8] Romans 2:4 [9] 2 Peter 3:9 [10] 2 Peter
3:10 [11] 2 Peter 3:7 [12] Acts 17:30-31 [13] Luke 13:1-5 [14] Luke 3:7-8 [15]
Luke 3:9, 13:6-9, John 15:1-8, Revelation 20:15 [16] Luke 3:15-17 [17] Romans
2:5 [18] Romans 2:7-8 [19] Romans 15:36 [20] Romans 6:2,10 [21] Romans 6:3 [22]
Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12, 2Corinthians 4:10-12 [23] Romans 6:8 [24] Romans
6:12 [25] Romans 6:13 [26] 1 John 1:5 [27] 1 John 1:6 [28] 1 John 1:7 [29]
Romans 6:16 [30] Romans 6:17 [31] Romans 6:22 [32] Acts 5:32 [33] Ephesians
1:13-14 [34] Acts 11:16-17 [35] Luke 3:16 [36] Romans 8:15-16 [37] Romans 8:10
[38] 1 Corinthians 6:11 [39] John 4:23 [40] 2 Corinthians 7:1, Philip. 2:12 [41]
1 Timothy 6:11-12 [42] Hebrews 6:12 [43] Revelation 14:12, John 14:15,21,23 [44]
Hebrews 3:14 [45] Mark 13:13, Rev. 2:26, James 1:12 [46] Hebrews 5:8-9 [47] John
3:36 [48] 2 Thess. 1:8 [49] Romans 1:5 [50] James 2:20,24 [51] James 2:17,20,24
[52] James 2:26 [53] Revelation 2:4-5 [54] Revelation 3:15-19 [55] 1 Corinthians
6:9-10 [56] Galatians 5:19-21 [57] Ephesians 5:4-5 [58] Ephesians 5:6-8 [59]
Ephesians 5:11 [60] 1 John 3:10, 5:2 [61] Galatians 5:25 [62] Galatians 5:22-23,
2Corinthians 6:6, 1 Timothy. 6:11 [63] Deut. 6:5, 11:13, Mark 12:30-31, Luke
10:27, Colossians 3:14 [64] Luke 6:27,35 [65] Romans 13:8, James 2:8, 1 Peter
1:22, Galatians 5:14 [66] 1 John 4:8-9 [67] 1 John 4:12 [68] 1 John 3:23,
13:34-35, 15:9-10,12,17, 1 John 3:10-11 [69] 1 Timothy 1:5 [70] 1 John 3:14 [71]
Ephesians 4:17-24 [72] Romans 16:25-26, 1John 5:2 [73] Acts 26:18 [74] Ephesians
2:8 [75] Romans 5:1-2 [76] Galatians 3:26 [77] Galatians 5:5 [78] Galatians 5:6
[79] Luke 12:15 [80] Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 [81] Romans 3:22 [82] Hebrews
10:38 [83] Hebrews 10:39 [84] 1 Timothy 1:19, 5:12 [85] Hebrews 4:2 [86] Luke
14:26 [87] Luke 17:33 [88] Acts 2:33, 36-38 [89] Acts 2:39 [90] Acts 19-21
