“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV)

It was in the beginning

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NIV)

It is alive and active

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (John 4:12 NIV)

It is God breathed and useful

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Cor. 3:16-17 NIV)

It is right and true

“For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.” (Psalm 33:4 NIV)

Therefore…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 NIV)

He saves us because of His mercy

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6 NIV)

He died on the cross to save us

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:6-8 NIV)

Our salvation is paid for by the precious blood of Christ

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb. 7:25 NIV)

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19 NIV)

You are His and He calls you by name

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isa. 43:1 ESV)

He made you and you are His

“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 ESV)

Whether you live or die, you are the Lord’s

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” (Rom. 14:8 ESV)

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

“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)

 Therefore...

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:8 NIV)

“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deut. 13:4 NIV)

Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)

Take up the cross and follow Jesus

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 19:38 NIV)

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark. 8:34 NIV)

Follow God’s example as dearly loved children

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” (Eph. 5:1 NIV)

Therefore

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John. 12:26 NIV)

“The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.” (Isa. 43:21 NASB)

Enter His courts with praise

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4 ESV)

Praise Him with dancing and music

“Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

All nations praise Him

“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalms 117:1-2 ESV)

Let everything with breath praise Him

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 ESV)

Continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to Him

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” (Heb. 13:15 ESV)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV)

We are commanded to love one another

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34 ESV)

You cannot hate others and love God

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20 ESV)

Love covers a multitude of sins

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Love with brotherly affection

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Rom. 12:10 ESV)

Love in deed and in truth

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 ESV)

Love one another to show your love for God

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)

 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

Call out to the Lord when stressed

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:5-6 ESV)

God provides a way of escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

God’s divine power will destroy strongholds

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5 ESV)

In this you rejoice

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV)

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NIV)

Faith – Bible Dictionary definition:

“Belief, trust, and loyalty to a person or thing. Christians find their security and hope in God as revealed in Jesus Christ, and say "amen" to that unique relationship to God in the Holy Spirit through love and obedience as expressed in lives of discipleship and service.” – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary

Faith - Bible’s definition:

The most definitive definition of faith in the Bible is, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1 NIV)

It’s impossible to please God without faith

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 NIV)

The above verse explains that faith comes by doing  two “musts”

1. You must believe that He is.

2. You must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Faith is asking and believing without doubt

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6 NIV)

Examples of faith in action

An old woman has a child: “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Heb. 11:11 NIV)

A blind man is healed: “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:52 NIV)

Therefore…

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7 NIV)

 “Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will increase greatly.” (Job 8:7 NASB)

“Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'” (Isa. 46:10 NASB)

Jesus is the first and the last

“Then He said to me, ‘It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost’l (Rev. 21:6 NASB)

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last.” (Rev. 1:17 NASB)

God has done from the beginning to the end

“He has made everything appropriate in its time He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.” (Eccles.  3:11 NASB)