1. Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus, who, being God by nature, did not consider equality with God something to cling to. On the contrary, he voluntarily lowered himself, taking on the nature of a servant and making himself similar to human beings. And, by manifesting himself as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, and death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:5-8)
2. John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
3. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)
4. Acts 4:11-12
Jesus Christ is “the stone that you builders rejected, and which has become the cornerstone.” In fact, in no other is there salvation, because there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.
(Acts 4:11-12)
5. 1 Timothy 2:5-6a
Because there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave his life as a ransom for all.
(1 Timothy 2:5-6a)
6. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
7. Genesis 1:1
God, in the beginning, created the heavens and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1)
Explanation of the verses
1. Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus, who, being God by nature, did not consider equality with God something to cling to. On the contrary, he voluntarily lowered himself, taking on the nature of a servant and making himself similar to human beings. And, by manifesting himself as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, and death on a cross!
(Philippians 2:5-8)
How much humility and how much love! Jesus, being God , did not cling to his divine rights from him. His love for you, for me and for all humanity was so great that he was willing to humble himself by becoming human.
Jesus put aside his divine nature. He did not stop being God but even being God he chose to live as a man. He came as a baby, grew up, ministered wherever he went, and finally, was willing to die a horrible and shameful death for love of each one of us.
Jesus gave us an example of humility, service and obedience to God the Father . He did everything out of love, so as not to leave us without eternal hope. He was the fulfillment of God’s promises and prophecies in the Old Testament (see Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 53:3-7).
2. John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
This may be the most powerful and well-known verse in the Bible. In it we find the summary of God’s plan to save the world from its sins . The basis of his plan was his immense love for each human being. God was willing to send Jesus, his Son, not only to live among us but to die for all of us. Jesus gave his life on the cross to bear the punishment for our sins in our place.
In this verse we see that God took the initiative. He loved the world, he sent his Son into the world and designed how we can receive eternal life. It is up to us to decide to receive and enjoy the eternal benefits of such a wonderful gift. How? Believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
3. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)
To sin is to willfully disobey divine law, to decide to do what is not just and right. God, in his infinite mercy, acts on our behalf when we go before him and confess our sins. The verse says that he forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. There is nothing too big or bad that God cannot forgive.
Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifice that pleases you is a broken spirit; you, O God, do not despise the broken and repentant heart.
God never despises or rejects those who approach him with humility and repentance. He forgives us, cleanses us and renews us. In him we can always have a new beginning.
4 verses on the importance of repentance
4. Acts 4:11-12
Jesus Christ is “the stone that you builders rejected, and which has become the cornerstone.” In fact, in no other is there salvation, because there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.
(Acts 4:11-12)
Here, Paul quotes Psalm 118:22 and declares that Jesus Christ is that cornerstone, the promised Messiah . However, many did not follow him. They chose to reject him, despise him and crucify him. Instead of recognizing him as the Savior, they killed him. But the actions and decisions of humans did not override reality: there is only salvation through Christ Jesus . That was his mission when he came into the world and he fulfilled it perfectly: he came to save us from our sins.
Still today, everyone who believes in Christ as Savior and Redeemer is freed from the power of sin and death. Thanks to the work of Christ on the cross we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light because in his name there is salvation.
He (God) freed us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1:13-14)
What is salvation and how is it obtained ?
5. 1 Timothy 2:5-6a
Because there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave his life as a ransom for all.
(1 Timothy 2:5-6a)
Jesus Christ is the only mediator, the only one who intercedes between God and men. There is no one else! A person who intercedes or mediates between two parties acts as an agent of peace and union. Jesus is our agent of peace .
God sent Jesus into the world as a sign of his love, to open the way to salvation and eternal life for us. Jesus freed us from spiritual death, in him we have eternal life, peace and unity with God the Father.
In Hebrews 7:25 we read the following about Jesus: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them .” Jesus continues to work on our behalf . That’s how great his love is.
Jesus: the way, the truth and the life
6. Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus Christ never changes: what the Bible tells us about him has always been true, is totally true today, and will be true for eternity.
What is Jesus like? Let’s look at the “I am” words of Jesus, words that he himself used to describe himself. Let us remember that he has not changed and will never change. What he said it was, it still is today.