Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Some Bible verses every Christian should know by heart, because they summarize the core of the gospel: sin, grace, salvation and assurance in Christ. Here are six Bible verses every Christian should know. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
6 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know
1. John 11:25–26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””
– John 11:25–26 (BSB)
There is no better verse than these two statements of Jesus: whoever believes in Him will live even though he dies, because all who believe in Him will never die. Jesus asked Martha this, and He is asking us too. Do you believe that if you trust in Christ you will never die? It means that if someone dies in faith, they will rise and never face the second death. No one who hopes in Him will be put to shame (Psalm 25:3; Romans 10:11).
2. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:21 (BSB)
God credits Jesus’ righteousness to us; otherwise no one could stand before Him. We need righteousness like Jesus’ to enter heaven, as John says: “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27). For our sake, He became our righteousness. Otherwise God could only see our sin and not the righteousness of Jesus.
3. 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
– 1 John 1:9 (BSB)
Why do some of us seem to carry around all our past sins? I once counseled a man who refused God’s forgiveness, and I told him he was rejecting God’s Word, because Scripture says that if we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just not only to forgive us but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His standard for forgiveness was higher than God’s. So this is not just a beautiful verse; it is the gospel message. We can be clean before God by confessing our sins, and we should do it as soon as possible, or we may lose fellowship with Him even though the relationship remains.
4. Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 6:23 (BSB)
Most of us have jobs and receive wages weekly or monthly; but did you realize that before we were saved, sin paid us death, eternal death? We cannot earn this free gift, or it would no longer be a gift; nor is it by works, because works cannot save anyone (Ephesians 2:8–9). We need to realize that what we would receive apart from Jesus is God’s wrath, but He took that wrath so that we would not have to bear it.
5. Acts 4:12
“Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
– Acts 4:12 (BSB)
In today’s world, where people say there are many ways to God, this verse may offend many. Is there only one way to eternal life? This is what Scripture teaches: there is no other way or person by which we are saved except Jesus (Acts 16:30–31). In fact you cannot come to Christ unless the Father draws you (John 6:44), so let go of the idea that you can save yourself. I admit there is more than one way to meet God, but one of them is a way you don’t want to take (Revelation 20:12–15). Jesus says to all of us, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24).
6. John 10:28–30
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
– John 10:28–30 (BSB)
Picture it: we are in Jesus’ hand, and He declares that “no one can snatch them out of My hand,” and even more powerfully, “no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” Is there a more wonderful promise of security for believers? And more, Jesus says, “Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away” (John 6:37), for “this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39).
Conclusion
I am sure you could name many other important verses. The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11), and “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). The psalmist’s joy was to do God’s will, and God’s will is revealed in Scripture (Romans 12:1–2). So read God’s Word, memorize it and keep it to know God’s good will; by doing so you hide His Word in your heart so that you might not sin against Him.
Memorizing the Verses Every Christian Should Know
The easiest way to memorize is to choose one verse each week, write it down, and read it aloud in the morning and before bed. After six weeks, you will have six foundational truths in your heart that every Christian should know, ready to remind yourself or share with others.
You may also like: 25 Most Popular Key Verses in the Bible and 10 Bible Verses About the Promises of God.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your Word is life and truth. Help us hide Your Word in our hearts so that we do not sin against You, and always be ready to testify to salvation in Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Thoa Trần
Adapted from: WhatChristiansWantToKnow.com
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