Summary:
...Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works (for, By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin), lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works (for necessary uses), which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
...How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works (the deeds of the law) to serve the living God? Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
...Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you, Eph0432.) Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets.
...Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness: Being born again, not of corruptible seed (the word of man), but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
...Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
...I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
...But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. They could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
...Many of them which heard the word believed: Among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees (traditionalists) they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins,
Further reading:
(1) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, Pss1907.
(2) Also
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said,
Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not;
and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people
fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand
with their heart, and convert, and be healed, Isa0608-10.
(3) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world,
that they which see not might see; and that they which see might
be made blind, Jhn0939.
(4) And the disciples came, and said unto him (Jesus), Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. them. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them, Mat1310-17.
(5) And
he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of
the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these
things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not
perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest
at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be
forgiven them, Mrk0411,12.
(6) It is written, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are
closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified,
and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and
none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand,
Dan1209,10.
(7) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, 1Co0209-14.
(8) And my (Paul's) speech and my (Paul's) preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, 1Co0204-08.
(9) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, Rom1201,02.
(10) How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God? Heb0914.
(11) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have
received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things
of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word
of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if
our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the
image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus'
sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, 2Co0401-06.
(12) Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God, Jhn1235-43.
(13) Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak, Jhn1244-50.
(14) But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days, Act0318-24.
(15) Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it, Act2826-28.
(16) And
Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst
of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso
shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But
whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his
neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea, Mat1802-06.
(17) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory
of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall
cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall
arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee And the
Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness
of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they
gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall
come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall
fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall
be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come
unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries
of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall
bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises
of the Lord, Isa6001-06.
(18) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee, Pss5113. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.) Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets, Act1338-40.
(19) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins, Jas0519,20.
(20) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren, Luk2231,32.
(21) Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness, Isa0127.
(22) For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isa5203-07.
(23) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed (the word of man), but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever, 1Pe0118-23.
(24) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures, Jas0118.
(25) 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Jhn0112,13.
(26) Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day, 2Co0416.
(27) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you, Eph0423-32.
(28) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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, Col0310-17. The word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you, 1Pe0125.
(29) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works (for, By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin, Rom0320), 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, Eph0208-10.
(30) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, Mat25344-40.
(31) When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do, Luk1710.
http://www.precepts.org
e-mail: bryanspencer@precepts.org