Christian Commitment : New Testament Passages

(This is Page 1 of 2) On this page Christian Commitment Transcends... Fear of Persecution, e!ection, and "eath # One$s Own %e&f On Page 2 Christian Commitment Transcends... 'ea&th, (one), and Propert) # Fami&) # e&igious *uthorities # *&& +&se *nd %ee,s -od First # *.o/e The 'or&d 'ith -reater ighteousness

Christian Commitment Transcends Fear of Persecution, e!ection, and "eath

(atthew 0:11212 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sa,e of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insu&ts at )ou, and persecute )ou, and sa) a&& ,inds of e/i& against )ou fa&se&), on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so the) persecuted the prophets who were before you. (atthew 23:34 Therefore, behold [you scribes and Pharisees , ! am sending you "ro"hets and wise men and scribes# some of them )ou wi&& ,i&& and crucif), and some of them )ou wi&& scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from cit) to cit), ... (atthew 24:5213 Then the) wi&& de&i/er )ou to tri.u&ation, and wi&& ,i&& )ou, and )ou wi&& .e hated by all nations on account of My name. $nd at that time many will fall away and will deliver u" one another and hate one another. $nd many false "ro"hets will arise, and will mislead many. $nd because lawlessness is increased, most "eo"le%s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he sha&& .e sa/ed. (ar, 13:5 But be on your guard# for the) wi&& de&i/er )ou to the courts, and )ou wi&& .e f&ogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. (ar, 13:13 $nd )ou wi&& .e hated .) a&& on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. 6u,e 7:22223 Blessed are you when men hate )ou, and ostraci8e )ou, and cast insu&ts at )ou, and spurn )our name as e/i&, for the sake of the &on of Man. Be glad in that day, and lea" for joy, for behold, )our reward is great in hea/en# for the in the same way their fathers used to treat the "ro"hets. 6u,e 5:22 The &on of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief "riests and scribes, and .e ,i&&ed, and be raised u" on the third day.

6u,e 19:20 But first 'e [the (hrist must suffer many things and .e re!ected by this generation. 6u,e 21:12213 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and wi&& persecute )ou, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name%s sake. !t will lead to an o""ortunity for your testimony. 6u,e 21:17215 But you will be delivered u" even by "arents and brothers and relatives and friends, and the) wi&& put some of )ou to death, and )ou wi&& .e hated by all on account of My name. )et not a hair of your head will "erish. :) )our endurance )ou wi&& gain )our &i/es. ;ohn 10:12214 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as ! have loved you. -reater &o/e has no one than this, that one &a) down his &ife for his friends. )ou are My friends, if you do what ! command you. ;ohn 10:21 Remember the word that ! said to you, %$ slave is not greater than his master.% !f they "ersecuted Me, the) wi&& a&so persecute )ou< if they ke"t My word, they will kee" yours also. ;ohn 17:2 The) wi&& ma,e )ou outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who ,i&&s )ou to think that he is offering service to *od. ;ohn 21:1=215 +Truly, truly, ! say to you [Peter , when you were younger, you used to gird yourself, and walk wherever you wished# but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.+ ,ow this 'e said, signifying by what ,ind of death he wou&d g&orif) -od. $nd when 'e had s"oken this, 'e said to him, >Fo&&ow (e?> *cts 0:41 $nd they took his advice# and after calling the a"ostles in, the) f&ogged them and ordered them to s"eak no more in the name of -esus, and then released them. *cts 9:052=:3 $nd the) went on stoning %tephen as he called u"on the .ord and said, +.ord -esus, receive my s"irit/+ $nd falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, +.ord, do not hold this sin against them/+ $nd having said this, he fell aslee". $nd %au& was in heart) agreement with putting him to death. $nd on that day a great persecution arose against the church in -erusalem# and they were all scattered throughout the regions of -udea and &amaria, e0ce"t the a"ostles. $nd some devout men buried &te"hen, and made loud lamentation over him. But %au& .egan ra/aging the church, entering house after house< and dragging off men and women, he wou&d put them in prison. *cts 5:427 $nd he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, >%au&, %au&, wh) are )ou persecuting (e@> $nd he said, +1ho are Thou, .ord2+ $nd 'e said, +! am -esus whom )ou are persecuting, but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.+

*cts 5:10217 But the .ord said to him [$nanias , +*o, for he [&aul of Tarsus who becomes Paul the $"ostle is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the *entiles and kings and the sons of !srael# for A wi&& show him how much he must suffer for () name$s sa,e.+ *cts 12: 123 ,ow about that time 'erod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. $nd he had ;ames the .rother of ;ohn put to death with a sword. $nd when he saw that it "leased the -ews, he proceeded to arrest Peter a&so. ,ow it was during the days of 3nleavened Bread. *cts 14:029 $nd when an attem"t was made by both the *entiles and the -ews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them [Paul and Barnabas , they became aware of it and fled to the cities of .ycaonia, .ystra and 4erbe, and the surrounding region# and there they continued to "reach the gos"el. *cts 14:15 But the -ews came from $ntioch and !conium, and having won over the multitudes, the) stoned Pau& and dragged him out of the cit), supposing him to .e dead. *cts 17:22224 $nd the crowd rose u" together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their ro.es off them, and "roceeded to order them to .e .eaten with rods. $nd when they had inf&icted man) .&ows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely# and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner "rison, and fastened their feet in the stoc,s. *cts 21:13 Then Paul answered, +1hat are you doing, wee"ing and breaking my heart2 For A am read) not on&) to .e .ound, .ut e/en to die at ;erusa&em for the name of the 6ord ;esus.+ *cts 23:12 $nd when it was day, the -ews formed a cons"iracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink unti& the) had ,i&&ed Pau&. *cts 2=:22 But we desire to hear from you [Paul what your views are# for concerning this sect [(hristianity , it is known to us that it is spo,en against e/er)where. 2 Corinthians 7:4211 . . . but in everything commending ourselves as servants of *od, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardshi"s, in distresses, in beatings, in im"risonments, in tumults, in labors, in slee"lessness, in hunger, in "urity, in knowledge, in "atience, in kindness, in the 'oly &"irit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the "ower of *od# by the wea"ons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil re"ort and good re"ort# regarded as deceivers and yet true# as unknown yet well5known, as dying yet behold, we live# as "unished yet not "ut to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as "oor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet "ossessing all things.

2 Corinthians 11:2322= $re they servants of (hrist2 6! s"eak as if insane7 ! more so# in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, .eaten times without number, often in danger of death. 8ive times ! received from the -ews thirt)2nine &ashes. Three times ! was .eaten with rods, once ! was stoned, three times ! was shipwrec,ed, a night and a day ! have s"ent in the dee". ! have been on fre9uent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the *entiles, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the *entiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren# ! have been in labor and hardshi", through many slee"less nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and e0"osure. *part from such eBterna& things, there is the dai&) pressure upon me of concern for a&& the churches. +phesians 7:11212 8inally, be strong in the .ord, and in the strength of 'is might. Put on the full armor of *od, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 8or our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the "owers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the s"iritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly "laces. Therefore, take u" the full armor of *od, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Phi&ippians 1:9 8or it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because ! have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gos"el, you all are "artakers of grace with me. Phi&ippians 2:19 But even if ! am being "oured out as a drink offering u"on the sacrifice and service of your faith, ! rejoice and share my joy with you all. 2 Timoth) 3:12 $nd indeed, all who desire to live godly in (hrist -esus wi&& .e persecuted.

Christian Commitment Transcends One$s Own %e&f

(atthew 11:3=235 $nd he who does not ta,e his cross and fo&&ow after (e is not worth) of (e. 'e who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. (atthew 17:24227 Then -esus said to 'is disci"les, +!f anyone wishes to come after Me, &et him den) himse&f, and ta,e up his cross, and fo&&ow (e. 8or whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it# but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. 8or what will a man be "rofited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul2 :r what will a man give in e0change for his soul2+ (ar, =:3423= $nd 'e summoned the multitude with 'is disci"les, and said to them, +!f anyone wishes to come after Me, let him den) himse&f, and ta,e up his cross, and fo&&ow (e. 8or whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it# but whoever loses his life

for My sake and the gos"el%s shall save it. 8or what does it "rofit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul2+ 6u,e 5:23227 $nd 'e was saying to them all, +!f anyone wishes to come after Me, &et him den) himse&f, and ta,e up his cross dai&), and fo&&ow (e. 8or whoever wishes to save his life shall lost it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 8or what is a man "rofited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself2 8or whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the &on of Man be ashamed when 'e comes in 'is glory, and the glory of the 8ather and of the holy angels.+ 6u,e 5:05272 $nd 'e said to another, >Fo&&ow (e.> But he said, +Permit me first to go and bury my father.+ But 'e said to him, +$llow the dead to bury their own dead# but as for you, go and "roclaim everywhere the kingdom of *od.+ $nd another also said, +! will follow )ou, .ord# but first "ermit me to say good5bye to those at home.+ But -esus said to him, >No one, after putting his hand to the p&ow and &oo,ing .ac,, is fit for the ,ingdom of -od.> 6u,e 11:23 Ce who is not with (e is against (e< and he who does not gather with (e, scatters. 6u,e 12:31 :ut see, for Cis ,ingdom and these things sha&& .e added to )ou. 6u,e 13:23224 $nd someone said to 'im, +.ord, are there just a few who are being saved2+ $nd 'e said to them, >%tri/e to enter .) the narrow door< for man), A te&& )ou, wi&& see, to enter and wi&& not .e a.&e.> ;ohn 3:37 'e who believes in the &on has eternal life# but he who does not o.e) the %on sha&& not see &ife, .ut the wrath of -od a.ides on him. ;ohn 4:34 -esus said to them, +My food is to do the wi&& of Cim who sent Me, and to accomp&ish Cis wor,.+ ;ohn =:31232 -esus therefore was saying to these -ews who had believed 'im, +Af )ou a.ide in () word, then you are truly disci"les of Mine# and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.+ ;ohn 12:24229 Truly, truly, ! say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone# but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Ce who &o/es his &ife &oses it< and he who hates his &ife in this wor&d sha&& ,eep it to &ife eterna&. !f anyone serves Me, let him follow Me# and where ! am, there shall My servant also be# if anyone serves Me, the 8ather will honor him. ,ow My soul has become troubled# and what shall ! say, %8ather, save Me from this hour%2 But for this "ur"ose ! came to this hour. ;ohn 14:10 Af )ou &o/e (e, )ou wi&& ,eep () commandments.

;ohn 10:2 ;very branch in Me that does not bear fruit, 'e takes away# and every branch that bears fruit, 'e "runes it, that it may bear more fruit. ;ohn 10:7 Af an)one does not a.ide in (e, he is thrown awa) as a branch, and dries u"# and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ;ohn 10:12214 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as ! have loved you. -reater &o/e has no one than this, that one &a) down his &ife for his friends. )ou are My friends, if you do what ! command you. *cts 2:37 Therefore let all the house of !srael know for certain that -od has made Cim .oth 6ord and Christ 55 this -esus whom you crucified. *cts 3:23 $nd it shall be that every soul that does not heed that "ro"het [-esus (hrist shall be utterly destroyed from among the "eo"le. *cts 4:12 $nd there is sa&/ation in no one e&se# for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. *cts 21:24 But A do not consider m) &ife of an) account as dear to m)se&f, in order that ! may finish my course, and the ministry which ! received from the .ord -esus, to testify solemnly of the gos"el of the grace of *od. -a&atians 2:21 ! have been crucified with (hrist# and it is no &onger A who &i/e, .ut Christ &i/es in me# and the life which ! now live in the flesh ! live by faith in the &on of *od, who loved me, and delivered 'imself u" for me. 2 Timoth) 2:11213 !t is a trustworthy statement< 8or if we died with 'im, we shall also live with 'im# Af we endure, we sha&& a&so reign with Cim< Af we den) Cim, Ce a&so wi&& den) us< !f we are faithless, 'e remains faithful# for 'e cannot deny 'imself.

Christian Commitment : New Testament Passages

(This is Page 2 of 2. eturn to Page 1) On this page Christian Commitment Transcends... 'ea&th, (one), and Propert) # Fami&) # e&igious *uthorities # *&& +&se *nd %ee,s -od First # *.o/e The 'or&d 'ith -reater ighteousness On Page 1

Christian Commitment Transcends... Fear of Persecution, e!ection, and "eath # One$s Own %e&f

Christian Commitment Transcends 'ea&th, (one), and Propert)

(atthew 7: 31234 4o not be an0ious then, saying, +1hat shall we eat2+ or +1hat shall we drink2+ or +1ith what shall we clothe ourselves2+ 8or all these things the *entiles eagerly seek# for your heavenly 8ather knows that you need all these things. :ut see, first Cis ,ingdom and Cis righteousness< and a&& these things sha&& .e added to )ou. (ar, 11:23 $nd -esus, looking around, said to 'is disci"les, >Cow hard it wi&& .e for those who are wea&th) to enter the ,ingdom of -od?> 6u,e 0:2922= $nd after that 'e went out, and noticed a ta05gatherer named .evi, sitting in the ta0 office, and 'e said to him, >Fo&&ow (e.> $nd he &eft e/er)thing .ehind, and rose and began to follow 'im. 6u,e 7:25 1hoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also# and whoe/er ta,es awa) )our coat, do not withho&d )our shirt from him either. 6u,e 14:33 &o therefore, no one of )ou can .e () discip&e who does not gi/e up a&& his own possessions. 6u,e 1=:22 $nd when -esus heard this, 'e said to him, +:ne thing you still lack# sell all that you "ossess, and distri.ute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven# and come, follow Me.+ 6u,e 15:=211 $nd =accheus sto""ed and said to the .ord, >:eho&d, 6ord, ha&f of m) possessions A wi&& gi/e to the poor, and if A ha/e defrauded an)one of an)thing, A wi&& gi/e .ac, four times as much.> $nd ;esus said to him, +Toda) sa&/ation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of $braham. 8or the &on of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.+ ;ohn 2:10217 $nd 'e made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the tem"le, with the shee" and the o0en# and Ce poured out the coins of the mone)changers, and o/erturned their ta.&es< and to those who were se&&ing the do/es Ce said, >Ta,e these things awa)< stop ma,ing () Father$s house a house of merchandise.> ;ohn 7:27229 -esus answered them and said, +Truly, truly, ! say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. "o not wor, for the food which perishes, .ut for the food which endures to eterna& &ife, which the &on of Man shall give to you, for on 'im the 8ather even *od, has set 'is seal.+

*cts 15:2722= +$nd you see and hear that not only in ;"hesus, but in almost all of $sia, this Paul has "ersuaded and turned away a considerable number of "eo"le, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. $nd not only is there danger that this trade of ours fa&& into disrepute, but also that the temp&e of the great goddess *rtemis .e regarded as worth&ess and that she whom all of $sia and the world worshi" should even be dethroned from her magnificence.+ $nd when they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, +*reat is $rtemis of the ;"hesians/+ ;ames 2:124 My brethren, do not ho&d )our faith in our g&orious 6ord ;esus Christ with an attitude of persona& fa/oritism. 8or if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a "oor man in dirty clothes, and you "ay s"ecial attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, +)ou sit here in a good "lace,+ and you say to the "oor man, +)ou stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,+ ha/e )ou not made distinctions among )ourse&/es, and .ecome !udges with e/i& moti/es@

Christian Commitment Transcends Fami&)

(atthew 11:39 Ce who &o/es father or mother more than (e is not worth) of (e# and he who &o/es son or daughter more than (e is not worth) of (e. (atthew 15:25 $nd everyone who has left houses or .rothers or sisters or father or mother or chi&dren or farms for My name%s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life. (ar, 11:25231 -esus said, +Truly ! say to you, there is no one who has &eft house or .rothers or sisters or mother or father or chi&dren or farms, for My sake and for the gos"el%s sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the "resent age, houses and .rothers and sisters and mothers and chi&dren and farms, along with "ersecutions# and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first, will be last# and the last, first.+ 6u,e 5:05272 $nd 'e said to another, >Fo&&ow (e.> But he said, +Permit me first to go and .ur) m) father.+ But 'e said to him, +$llow the dead to bury their own dead# but as for you, go and "roclaim everywhere the kingdom of *od.+ $nd another also said, +! will follow )ou, .ord# but first permit me to sa) good2.)e to those at home.+ But -esus said to him, >No one, after putting his hand to the p&ow and &oo,ing .ac,, is fit for the ,ingdom of -od.> 6u,e 14:27229 !f anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and chi&dren and .rothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disci"le. 1hoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disci"le.

6u,e 1=:25231 $nd 'e said to them, +Truly ! say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or .rothers or parents or chi&dren, for the sake of the kingdom of *od, who shall not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.+ 6u,e 21:17215 But you will be delivered u" even by parents and .rothers and re&ati/es and friends, and they will "ut some of you to death, and you will be hated by all on account of My name. )et not a hair of your head will "erish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Christian Commitment Transcends e&igious *uthorities

(atthew 23:34 Therefore, behold [you scribes and Pharisees , ! am sending you "ro"hets and wise men and scribes# some of them )ou wi&& ,i&& and crucif), and some of them )ou wi&& scourge in )our s)nagogues, and persecute from cit) to cit), ... ;ohn 4:21224 -esus said to her, +1oman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in ;erusa&em, sha&& )ou worship the Father. )ou worshi" that which you do not know# we worshi" that which we know, for salvation is from the -ews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers sha&& worship the Father in spirit and truth# for such "eo"le the 8ather seeks to be 'is worshi"ers. *od is s"irit, and those who worshi" 'im must worshi" in s"irit and truth.+ ;ohn 0:35242 Dou [-ewish leaders search the %criptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life# and it is these that bear witness of Me# and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. ! do not receive glory from men# .ut ! know you, that )ou do not ha/e the &o/e of -od in )ourse&/es. ;ohn 9:40245 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, +1hy did you not bring 'im2+ The officers answered, +,ever did a man s"eak the way this man s"eaks.+ The Pharisees therefore answered them, +)ou have not also been led astray, have you2 No one of the ru&ers or Pharisees has .e&ie/ed in Cim, has he@ But this multitude which does not know the .aw is accursed.+ ;ohn 12:42243 ,evertheless many even of the rulers believed in 'im, .ut .ecause of the Pharisees the) were not confessing Cim, &est the) shou&d .e put out of the s)nagogue# for they loved the a""roval of men rather than the a""roval of *od. *cts 4:123 $nd as they [Peter and -ohn were s"eaking to the "eo"le, the priests and the captain of the temp&e guard, and the %adducees, came upon them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the "eo"le and "roclaiming in -esus the resurrection from the dead. $nd they laid hands on them, and put them in !ai& until the ne0t day, for it was already evening.

*cts 4:1=221 $nd when they [the rulers, elders, scribes, the high "riest, etc. 6cf. verses >5 ?7 had summoned them, the) commanded them not to spea, or teach at a&& in the name of ;esus. But Peter and -ohn answered and said to them, +1hether it is right in the sight of *od to give heed to you rather than *od, you be the judge# for we cannot stop spea,ing what we ha/e seen and heard.+ *cts 0:29231 $nd when they had brought them, they stood them before the (ouncil. $nd the high "riest 9uestioned them, saying, +'e ga/e )ou strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled -erusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man%s [-esus% blood u"on us.+ But Peter and the a"ostles answered and said, +'e must o.e) -od rather than men.+

Christian Commitment Transcends *&& +&se *nd %ee,s -od First

(atthew 9:13214 +nter .) the narrow gate# for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 8or the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. (atthew 11: 2=231 Come to (e, all who are weary and heavy5laden, and ! will give you rest. Take My yoke u"on you, and learn from Me, for ! am gentle and humble in heart# and you shall find rest for your souls. 8or My yoke is easy, and My load is light. (atthew 13:44247 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in he field, which a man found and hid# and from joy over it he goes and se&&s a&& that he has, and buys that field. $gain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine "earls, and u"on finding one "earl of great value, he went and so&d a&& that he had, and bought it. (atthew 1=:124 $t that time the disci"les came to -esus, saying, +1ho then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven2+ $nd 'e called child to 'imself and set him before them, and said, +Truly ! say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. 1hoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.+ (atthew 22:14 8or many are called, but few are chosen. (atthew 24:44 8or this reason you be ready too# for the &on of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think 'e will.

Christian Commitment Transcends *.o/e The 'or&d 'ith -reater ighteousness

(atthew 0:21 8or ! say to you, that un&ess )our righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

(atthew 0:4= Therefore )ou are to .e perfect, as )our hea/en&) Father is perfect. (atthew 9:21 Not e/er)one who sa)s to (e, >6ord, 6ord,> wi&& enter the ,ingdom of hea/en< .ut he who does the wi&& of () Father who is in hea/en.