“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own…” (1 Cor. 6:19 ESV)

The Holy Spirit gives birth to your spirit

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17 ESV)

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9 ESV)

The Holy Spirit helps you

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) 

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Cor. 2:13 ESV)

The Holy Spirit gives you power to witness

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

The Holy Spirit enables you to speak the Word of God with boldness

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 ESV) 

The Holy Spirit helps you live righteously

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:16-18 ESV)

The Holy Spirit intercedes for you

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26-27 ESV)

Ask God for the Holy Spirit

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 ESV)

Therefore

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:12-15 ESV)

Quotes

 “O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling and scatter there Thy cheerful beams.” - Saint Augustine

“The Gospel comes in power and the Holy Spirit, with much assurance. If you call upon the name of the Lord, God will transform you on the inside, give you the shock of your life, and give you everlasting life on top of that.” -Ray Comfort

Jesus holds the highest authority over everything in heaven and on earth. Someday, all will submit to that truth: God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name:

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.His virgin birth.” (Phil 2:9-11 NIV)

The Bible tells us that Jesus is more than the Messiah, more than the Savior; He is the Lord of all!  And He is God with us!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (Matt 1:23 NASB)

Why we believe this truth

• His sinless life

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Heb. 4:15 NIV) 

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29 NIV) 

• His miracles

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22 NIV)

• His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23 NIV)

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:21 NLT) 

• His bodily resurrection 

“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:24 NIV)

“I passed on to you as of first importance]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4 NIV)

• His ascension to the right hand of the Father

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 NIV)

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” (Heb. 1:1-4 NIV)

• His personal return in power and glory

“So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:28 ESV)

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thess 5:16 -17 ESV) 

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.” (Rev. 22:12 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt. 24:44 ESV) 

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11 NKJV)

Quote:

“O, Thou precious Lord Jesus Christ, we do adore Thee with all our hearts. Thou art Lord of all.  Charles Spurgeon

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Col. 2:9; NIV)

Warning about “Another Jesus” who is false

The apostle Paul warned the church about false prophets who would teach another Jesus. “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor. 11:4). The notion that Jesus isn’t God is actually a belief in the wrong Jesus.

The Bible directly and indirectly states that Jesus is God

“In  the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” … “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” (John 1:1, John 1:14) - Other verses: John 20:28, Rom. 9:5; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13, Heb. 1:8, 1 John 5:20, John 13:3, 17:5, Col. 1:15–19, 1 Tim. 3:16, and Heb. 1:3

The names applied to Jesus

He is called… 

·      God - “A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isa. 40:3 NIV)

·      Mighty God & Everlasting Father – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6 NIV)

·      Immanuel, “God with us” – “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel. (which means “God with us”). (Matt. 1:22–23 NIV).

·      Son of God – “But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom(Heb. 1:8 NIV) – Other verses: 1 Tim. 3:16; John 10:36

·      Lord – “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28)

The Bible ascribes the characteristics of deity to Jesus

Jesus is described as…

·      Eternal: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6) - Other verses: Micah 5:2; John 1:1–2; 8:58; 17:5; 24; Col. 1:15, 17; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 1:8

·      Omnipresent: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”  (Matt. 18:20) – Other verses:  Matt. 28:20; John 3:13

·      Omniscient: “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.  He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” - (John 2:24, 25) – Other verses: 16:30; 21:17; Revelation 2:23

·      Omnipotent: “…who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Phil. 3:21) – Other verses:  Isaiah 9:6; Rev. 1:8; cf. John 5:17; Heb. 1:3; Matt. 28:18

·      Immutable: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb. 13:8 NIV) -and Heb. 1:10-12

Jesus performed works which only God as creator can do

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3, 10) – Other verses:  Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2,10 

Jesus is the upholder of all things

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17) – Other verses: Heb. 1:3; cf. Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 17:2; Eph. 1:22

Jesus forgives sin

“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home.” (Matt. 9:2–7) - Other verses: Mark 2:7; Luke 7:47, 48; Col. 3:13

Jesus will raise the dead and execute judgment

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25) – Other verses: John 5:25, 28–29; 6:39, 40, 54; John 5:22

Jesus Himself claimed deity and He taught His disciples to pray in His name

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23, 24 NIV)

Jesus claimed that He and the Father were one and that He was the Son of God

“I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30) – Other verses: John 19:36; 14:9; 17:11

Therefore

Jesus claimed that to know Him was to know God, to see Him was to see God, to receive Him was to receive God, to believe Him was to believe in God and to honor Him was to honor God, while to hate Him was to hate God.

“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” (John 14:7 NLT) - Other verses: John 8:18; John 12:45; 14:9; Mark 9:37; John 12:44; 14:1; John 5:23; John 15:23

Quote

“Now the Christian meaning of the term “deity of Christ” is fairly clear. The Christian believes that there is a personal God, Creator and Ruler of the universe, a God who is infinite, eternal and unchangeable. So when the Christian says that Jesus Christ is God, or when he says that he believes in the “deity of Christ,” he means that that same person who is known to history as Jesus of Nazareth existed, before He became man, from all eternity as infinite, eternal and unchangeable God, the second person of the holy Trinity.” -  J. Gresham Machen, What is the Deity of Christ?

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

We are where?!!

Recently, I was scheduled to attend a conference in Pennsylvania, which was a long commute from where I live in Washington State. After hours of travel, I landed at the airport and used my go-to rideshare app to request a ride to my hotel. I typed in the hotel name, confirmed it in the app, and waited for the driver to arrive.

Once in the car, exhausted from the journey, I dozed off during the long ride. Eventually, the driver tapped the brakes and said, “We’re here.” I woke up—only to discover we weren’t at my hotel at all. Instead, we had arrived at a strip mall with a name similar to the hotel, but it was miles away in the opposite direction. My heart sank. After all that travel, I had missed the very meeting I had come for—simply because I was headed to the wrong destination.

That moment reminded me of something Jesus said:

“On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
(Matthew 7:22–23, NLT)

These people Jesus was talking about were sincere—but sincerely wrong. They believed they were on the right path, just as I had, but they weren’t. They were religious, active, and even did impressive things in Jesus’ name—but they were not born again, and therefore, not saved (1 John 3:3).

It’s a sobering truth!

Sincerity is not the same as salvation. Just like my driver took me somewhere I didn’t intend to go—based on a small but critical error—many will one day realize they were headed the wrong direction spiritually. And tragically, their final destination will not be heaven, but eternal separation from God (Matthew 25:41).

The time to double-check your spiritual destination is now!

Jesus is the only way, don’t get it wrong! make sure you are in fact headed to the right place! Jesus said it clearly, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

There is no more important issue than your eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible is abundantly clear on how a person can be saved: You must admit that you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior who died for your sins and rose again. This involves faith and repentance, turning away from your sins and accepting God's grace.

Here are the simple facts according to the Bible

We are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23). We are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). Sin is what makes us unsaved. Sin is what separates us from God. Sin is what has us on the path to eternal destruction. Because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite. What we need to be saved from is eternal destruction (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).

How can you be saved and what do you need to do?

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). God has already done all of the work. All you must do is receive, in faith, the salvation God offers (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fully trust in Jesus alone as the payment for your sins. Believe in Him, and you will not perish (John 3:16). God is offering you salvation as a gift. All you have to do is accept it. Jesus is the way of salvation (John 14:6).

Here is a simple prayer you can use

Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Did you do it?

Have you, in faith, received Jesus Christ as your Savior because of what you have read here? If so, please let me know by replying to this email message and state: “I trusted in Christ as Savior today.”

And, I pray that you have!

Sincerely, yours in Christ,

Mike French

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28 ESV)

An old joke is, “I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but it turned out to be a freight train!” To many, in view of the evil they see all around them, that’s not funny. Watching the scary events reported daily in the news can make things appear dark and hopeless. But Jesus offers enormous hope, especially for perilous times. It’s important to view the world through the light of Jesus. We can walk in His light and have His understanding of things, no matter how dark they appear. I love what someone once said, “I looked at the end of the book (the Bible), and we won!”

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus enlightens everyone

“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9 ESV)

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46 ESV)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ((2 Cor. 4:6 ESV)

The wicked hates the light

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19-21 ESV)

Therefore

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7 ESV)

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8 ESV)

Quote

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people… (2 Chron. 7:13 NIV)

Often we don’t understand

It’s difficult to believe that God would send a catastrophic event among His people, but the above passage clearly says so. And often we don’t understand why. But God is God and we’re not, and He has good reasons that are above our limited understanding. We don’t know what God knows. Even so, He tells His people what they must do when it happens. One of the most quoted passages of Scripture is actually the rest of the above passage, which is often left off.

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

The answer is clearly given

Notice that the answer is directed to God’s own people: “my people, who are called by my name.” And they are clearly told what to do: “humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.” Then God says, “If they do this, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Therefore

The above is an obvious message to God's own people. And “if” they do as He directs, He will answer in the positive way He said. On the other hand, if they do not do what He said, the answer may be quite the opposite.

“For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (1 Peter 3:10:13 NIV)

Quotes

“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.” - Charles Grandison Finney

“The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.” - George Washington

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 85:6 ESV) 

Bowing and kneeling have long been associated with worship and reverence. The Hebrew word for “worship” actually means “bow down.” 

No one but God must be worshipped. 

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.” (Exo. 20:5 ESV)

“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 26:1 ESV)

“For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.” (Psalm 78:58 ESV) 

Every knee will bow before Jesus

“It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'” (Rom. 14:11 NIV) 

“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” (Psalm 5:7 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 ESV) 

“You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.” (Neh. 9:6 NASB)

Quote

“You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” - Jesus Christ (Luke 4:8 NKJV)

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
(Isa. 58:10 ESV)

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
(Prov. 11:25 ESV)

The two verses above express a powerful biblical principle; when you help others, you are helped, too!

A powerful turning point

A few years ago, my brother David came to live with us. He was very sick and extremely depressed, spending most of his time curled up in bed. During that time, our son John was volunteering with a ministry called Salt on the Street, where he handed out essential items to the homeless—on the streets and under bridges.

One day, as John was getting ready to head out, David happened to be nearby. John invited him to come along. David didn’t want to go, but I strongly encouraged him. He very reluctantly agreed.

When they returned later that day, I could hardly recognize David. His depression had completely lifted. He was genuinely happy he had gone. He had handed out socks and sandwiches to people in great need, many of whom thanked him personally. That experience became a turning point for David—and things only improved from there. Norman Vincent Peale explaned it well, “When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively. Somehow, the act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor.”

Help the Poor, the Weak, the Needy, Widows, and the Fatherless

As followers of Christ, helping others, especially those in need, is how we express God’s love to them.

Helping others is a command, not just a suggestion—every Christian must actively be about doing what God said, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” (Deut. 15:11 ESV)

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
(James 1:27 ESV)

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.”
(Isa. 1:17 ESV)

“And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’”
(Luke 3:10–11 ESV)

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 ESV)

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Roms. 15:1 ESV)

Warning

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
(Prov. 21:13 ESV)

Therefore

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Gal. 6:2 ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
(Prov. 19:17 ESV)

Quotes

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

“You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want in life.” — Zig Ziglar

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (James 2:19-20 NLT)

Different Kinds of Believing

The Bible states, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). While this is certainly true, there are different kinds and levels of believing. For instance, you can believe that God exists, but this belief alone is not enough to receive salvation. The passage above tells us that demons believe this fact, yet they tremble in terror. Believing with faith is more than just intellectual knowledge; it’s something you actively do.

Active, Not Passive, Belief

“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

• Declare with Your Mouth and Believe in Your Heart

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9 NIV).

• Good Deeds Follow Believing

In the passage above, action is expressed through the good deeds that follow one’s belief. “Faith without good deeds is useless” (James 2:20).

• Changed Heart with Actions

“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’” (Luke 19:8-9 NIV).

Warning: This Doesn’t Mean We Can Earn Our Salvation

Our belief and commitment to Jesus are reflected in the things we do. Our good deeds serve as evidence of our genuine and trusting faith.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Therefore

“Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14 NLT).

Quote

“Faith is something you do. It’s active, not passive. Real faith involves making a commitment to trust in Jesus.” – Rick Warren