Not the wisdom of men, but what the Holy Spirit teacheth,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
— 1 Corinthians 2:13 (ASV)
Live in faith, not just have faith.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith."
— Romans 1:16-17 (ASV)
How far does His love reach? The Word is clear.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life."
— John 3:16 (ASV)
"And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."
— 1 John 2:2 (ASV)
"For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men."
— Titus 2:11 (ASV)
What does the Father truly desire?
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
— 2 Peter 3:9 (ASV)
"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."
— 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ASV)
"As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live."
— Ezekiel 33:11 (ASV)
The invitation is open. What does He ask of us?
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely."
— Revelation 22:17 (ASV)
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed."
— Deuteronomy 30:19 (ASV)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
— Romans 10:13 (ASV)
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
— Isaiah 1:18 (ASV)
How far did the cross reach?
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive."
— 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (ASV)
"But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man."
— Hebrews 2:9 (ASV)
"Who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony to be borne in its own times."
— 1 Timothy 2:6 (ASV)
The Spirit works, and man responds. What does the Word show?
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye."
— Acts 7:51 (ASV)
"How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
— Matthew 23:37 (ASV)
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come... and he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely."
— Revelation 22:17 (ASV)
How does a person receive salvation?
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory."
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (ASV)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
— Romans 10:9 (ASV)
"He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God."
— John 3:18 (ASV)
God did not command or decree these things. The building of altars to Baal and burning their sons as burnt offerings.
"Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind."
— Jeremiah 19:4-5 (ASV)