Bible Questions Answered:
“...I see a lot of difference between some of my friends that are christian. Some can do every thing I do, some say they cant do it. Why that difference?”
Hadarah/ Pune, India
Bible Answers:
These kinds of things didn't startle the Lord, He knew only too well, that men would rather be saved by their own good works, then bow down to Him, confessing, and forsaking their sins, claiming Him as their Saviour.
Many "claimed," Him, but He did not "claim," them.
Matthew 7:16-23 KJV
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 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.
22 Many 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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
In life, there will always be the false and the true, the counterfeit and the genuine.
(MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN:)
ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD:
I Corinthians 15:58 KJV
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
ABSTAINING FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL:
I Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
CONFESSION:
Matthew 10:32,33 KJV
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
Romans 10:9,10 KJV
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.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
FORSAKING FLESHLY LUSTS:
Romans 8:1,5,8,9,13 KJV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 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.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 13:14 KJV
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
I Corinthians 9:27 KJV
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Galatians 5:13,16,17,24 KJV (Read the whole chapter.)
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 6:8 KJV
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Colossians 3:5-6 KJV
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
I John 2:16 KJV
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
LIVING A LIFE OF HUMILITY:
James 4:10 KJV
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
I Peter 5:5,6 KJV
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
HUNGER AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Matthew 5:6 KJV
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Luke 6:21 KJV
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
IMAGE OF CHRIST:
II Corinthians 4:10 NLT
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
Philippians 2:5 KJV
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
IN CHRIST:
John 15:1-7 KJV
1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman.
2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
INCREASING IN FAITH:
Luke 17:5 KJV
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Ephesians 6:16 KJV
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
INDEWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT:
John 14:17 KJV
Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Romans 8:9 KJV
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.
I John 4:13 KJV
Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because he hath given us of His Spirit.
NEAR TO GOD:
Hebrews 10:22 KJV
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
James 4:8 KJV
Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST JESUS:
II Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15 NLT
It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.
PATIENCE:
Luke 21:19 KJV
In your patience possess ye your souls.
Hebrew 10:36 KJV
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
James 1:4 KJV
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing
James 5:7,8 KJV
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
PRAYER:
I Chronicles 16:11 KJV
Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually.
John 16:24 KJK
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Ephesians 6:18 KJV
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
Pray without ceasing.
REJOICING:
Psalm 19:8 KJV
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 33:1 KJV
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalm 45:15 KJV
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace.
Psalm 107:22 KJV
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalm 118:15 KJV
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
Psalm 126:6 KJV
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
I Thessalonians 5:16 KJV
Rejoice evermore.
RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Luke 1:6 KJV
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Hebrews 12:14 KJV
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
STEADFAST:
John 8:31 KJV
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;
John 15:9 KJV
As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.
Acts 14:22 NLT
where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
I Corinthians 15:58 KJV
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Colossians 2:5 KJV
For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
SACRIFICE:
Mark 10:28-30 NLT
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow You,” he said.
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for My sake and for the Good News,
30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
Luke 5:27,28 KJV
27 And after these things He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and He said unto him, Follow Me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
THANKFULNESS:
Colossians 3:17 KJV
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
TRUST:
Job 13:15 KJV
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him.
Psalm 56:3,4,11 KJV
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (D.L.Moody's favorite Bible verse.)
4 In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
