What shall we do!

I've been thinking on what the Bible says about believing.

Predestined, called, believe, repent, be baptized, follow, do Jesus' commands.

The rich can't buy their way into heaven, and the righteous can't have enough righteousness to get into heaven. Luckily we are all sinners and it is only by grace that sinners can enter into the kingdom of God.

I love the way first Corinthians 13 begins and reinforces this message that no matter what we do, no matter how great our faith, no matter how great our acts of service, whether we give all away or even give our body to be burned, it is nothing without love.


1Co 13:1    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.


Mat 19:24    And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25    When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26    But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Mat 5:20    For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This is God's choice and his power to do it.

Rom 8:30    Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom 10:11    For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 1:16    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17    For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 8:28    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29    For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30    Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31    What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Rom 10:8    But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11    For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12    For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15    And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16    But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


Mat 5:17    Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Mat 5:18    For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 5:19    Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:20    For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Gal 3:11    But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12    And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Gal 3:16    Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:17    And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18    For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Gal 3:19    Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:20    Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Gal 3:21    Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22    But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23    But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25    But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26    For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.


Acts 2
King James Version (KJV)

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.


It is but a simple task.

2Ki 5:8    And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
2Ki 5:9    So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
2Ki 5:10    And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
2Ki 5:11    But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
2Ki 5:12    Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
2Ki 5:13    And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
2Ki 5:14    Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.


Joh 13:9    Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Joh 13:10    Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Do Jesus commands.

Joh 8:24    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.....

Joh 8:30    As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31    Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 9:37    And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Joh 9:38    And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Joh 9:39    And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

Joh 11:26    And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Joh 11:27    She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Joh 16:31    Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
Joh 16:32    Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Joh 16:33    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Act 8:35    Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36    And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37    And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Act 8:38    And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Act 8:39    And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.


Act 16:30    And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Act 16:31    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:32    And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Mat 28:18    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19    Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mat 22:36    Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37    Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38    This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40    On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mar 12:28    And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
Mar 12:29    And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30    And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31    And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mar 12:32    And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33    And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34    And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Albert Barnes commentary:
Not far from the kingdom of God - Thou who dost prefer the “internal” to the “external” worship of God - who hast so just a view of the requirements of the law - canst easily become a follower of me, and art almost fit to be numbered among my disciples. This shows that a proper understanding of the Old Testament, of its laws and requirements, would prepare the mind for Christianity, and suit a person at once to embrace it when presented. One system is grafted on the other, agreeably to Gal 3:24.

Luk 10:26    He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27    And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28    And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29    But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luk 18:17    Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Luk 18:18    And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19    And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luk 18:20    Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21    And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22    Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.


Joh 15:12    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

1Jn 3:17    But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:23    And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1Jn 4:21    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1Jn 5:1    Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jn 5:2    By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3    For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4    For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5    Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?