GOD’S GIFT OF LIFE BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
The Sinful Made Right by Faith in Jesus Christ
“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His Blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and The One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
(Romans 3:21–26, NIV)
Jesus Died So Sinners Could Live
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:1–8, NIV)
Eternal Life: The Gift of God in Jesus Christ
“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:19–23, NIV)
No Condemnation in Jesus Christ
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
(Romans 8:1–4, NIV)
Nothing Can Separate from Jesus Christ
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, Who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:31–39, NIV)
Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive The Gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his Message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
(Acts 2:36–41, NIV)
Key Scripture for Puget Sound Bible Fellowship
Jesus’ Command to All Faithful Local Churches
“Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18–20, NIV)
Jesus is Returning Soon
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free Gift of the Water of Life.“
(Revelation 22:12–17, NIV)
The God Who Creates Clean Hearts
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your Presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors Your Ways, so that sinners will turn back to You.”
(Psalm 51:10–13, NIV)
Jesus’ Power Made Perfect in Our Weakness
“Jesus said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9–10, NIV)
The Bible is Fully Sufficient for Belief and Practice
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:16–17, NIV)
“For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
(Hebrews 4:12–13, NIV)
“Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has My Word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not My Word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?“
(Jeremiah 23:28–29, NIV)
God’s Word: Don’t add to it. Don’t take anything away from it.
Jesus: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
(Matthew 5:17–19, NIV)
“I warn everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”
(Revelation 22:18–19, NIV)
“Consult God’s Instruction and the Testimony of Warning. If anyone does not speak according to this Word, they have no light of dawn.“
(Isaiah 8:20, NIV)
“Every Word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His Words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”
(Proverbs 30:5–6, NIV)
“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.”
(Deuteronomy 4:2, NIV)
This is what the LORD says to me with His strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
“Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread.
He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah He will be a Stone that causes people to stumble and a Rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem He will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”
Bind up this Testimony of Warning and seal up God’s Instruction among My disciples.
I will wait for the LORD, Who is hiding His face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
(Isaiah 8:11–18, NIV)