Holy Spirit

Protestants
Protestants believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Orthodox
Orthodox believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.

John 15.26: "But the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me."
If the Holy Spirit had proceeded from the Father and the Son Jesus would have said it to avoid confusion.
Also, the importance is how the Nicene Creed was originally written and it was written as the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.

The way to salvation

Protestants
Grace can only be given by God and is the only way to salvation, not works or personal merit.

Orthodox
Increased regard for ritual and human works/effort in attaining salvation.

Matthew 16:27: Christ: "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
Matthew 7:21: Christ: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Mark 12:28-34: "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions."
Matthew 4:17: "From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 25:34-35: "“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,"
Romans 2:6-8: "God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."
1 Corinthians 3:8: "The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor."
2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leads no regret, but worldy sorrow brings death."

Means of salvation

Protestants
Faith in Jesus Christ as having already paid the penalty for your sins. Once a person is saved, he remains saved for ever.

Orthodox
Received at baptism; may be lost by sin; regained by faith and repentance. You must believe Jesus is the only son of God, confess your sins, take part in Holy Mass, must have relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 16:27: Christ: "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
Isaiah 59:1-2: "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
1 Corinthians 6:10: "nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:21: "and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
2 Corinthians 7:10: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leads no regret, but worldy sorrow brings death."

Human nature

Protestants
"Original sin" inherited from Adam, tendency towards evil, but the sins of the father do not pass through the son, therefore children are holy, and until they reach the age where they can know good from evil, their sins are not held against them.

Orthodox
Humans are free to devote themselves to knowledge and communion in the image of God. We do not inherit the guilt of the original sin (ancestral sin) we inherit the consequences (corruption, death, passions(sins)).

Ezekiel 18:20: "The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them."

Baptism

Protestants
In baptism we renounce Satan and join Christ. Baptism is not rebirth.

Orthodox
The Orthodox baptism includes three exorcisms. Satan is renounced we join Christ. The water is sanctified the baptized is wholly immersed in it three times by the priest. Baptism seals the baptized person with the Holy Spirit. The exact words of the priest are: the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, amen while the priest anoints the baptized with Holy Myron. Baptism is rebirth.

Some protestant denominations practice baptism at the age of twelve years old. While it is good because individuals are educated about Christianity people who die before baptism it is said that they do not go to heaven because they are not cleansed from the original sin.
According to Apostle Paul baptism is death. When we are baptized we die. To exist immediately after baptism we must be reborn. Romans 6:3-4: "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
John 3:3: "Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.""
John 3:5-7: "Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'""

Significance of Eucharist / Communion

Protestants
Importance as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's death.

Orthodox
Commonly termed Divine Liturgy. This makes present Christ's sacrifice and therefore forgiveness of sins is obtained through it. It is also an encounter with the Risen Christ. The attendants in Eucharist/Communion are sanctified. They receive the Holy Spirit. As the orthodox priest says: "Send your Holy Spirit to us and to these gifts."

Presence of Christ in Eucharist / Communion

Protestants
Christ is present in Spirit, but the bread and wine are merely symbolic of His death, and of the believer's commitment to Him.

Orthodox
During the Eucharist, the Priest calls down the Holy Spirit upon the gifts (the bread and the wine). They then change into actual body and blood of Christ. The precise way in which this happens is a divine mystery.

Chemical analysis of the Holy Communion can take place to prove who is right and who is wrong.
John 6:53-56: "Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.""
Luke 22:19: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Sacraments

Protestants
Generally, only two sacraments (also known as Ordinances) are recognized Baptism and the Eucharist. Many Protestants regard the Sacraments as symbols or reminders of grace already given.

Orthodox
There are seven Sacraments (known as Mysteries in Orthodoxy) Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, Holy Unction, Marriage and Confession. Orthodox believe that the Mysteries convey grace to those who participate in them worthily.

Mother of God

Protestants
Virgin Mary is considered favored among women and was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus through a virgin birth, but is otherwise simply a human with no special attributes.

Orthodox
Virgin Mary is considered favored among women and was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus through a virgin birth. Thus, she is considered holy, and may be prayed to as an intercessor to God.

Orthodox monks pay special attribute to Virgin Mary because she has performed numerous miracles and appeared to them in a number of times. That is why they worship Her.
Luke 1:28: "The angel(Gabriel) went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'"
Luke 1:41-42: "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!'"
Luke 1:46-48: "And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed ,""

Life after death

Protestants
Those that trust in Jesus as savior go to paradise, those that trust in their own works for salvation go to hell. In the end times, these groups are let into heaven and the lake of fire respectively.

Orthodox
Eternal salvation in heaven achieved by repentance; Eternal Damnation in hell to heavy sinners.

Matthew 16:27: Christ: "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
Matthew 7:21: Christ: "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
1 Corinthians 6:9: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men"
Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
John 5:28-29: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."
Revelation 21:8: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Matthew 25:45-46: “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Billy Graham’s final book, Where I Am: "Many people teach today that the blood of Jesus covers all sin, regardless of whether the sinner repents or not. This is Satan’s great lie. Some believe they will automatically walk into Heaven when this earthly life is over because God is love. That would negate the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Don’t be deceived, for God is not mocked. God is also a God of justice and righteousness.

He is not preparing a place in Heaven for unrepentant sinners.

While we have contributed nothing to God’s free gift of salvation, there is a condition to possessing it — we must confess our sin, turn from it, and receive Christ on His terms."

Saints

Protestants
Anyone who believes in Jesus as savior is a saint.

Orthodox
A special group of holy people, who are venerated. They may act as intercessors between God and Man and may be invoked in prayer.

To perform miracles is rare but it happens. These rare people who perform miracles are called Saints. Saints even after their death made innumerable miracles in Orthodoxy.
Revelation 14:12 (ESV): "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

Confessing sins

Protestants
To God through Jesus.

Orthodox
To God through priests.

John 20:23: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Jesus appointed his disciples as confessors. This gift of the disciples is passed to priests when they are ordained and if we go back in time the first who ordained priests (orthodox priests) is Apostle Paul who was ordained personally by Jesus Christ.
James 5:16: "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Proverbs 28:13: "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Prayer

Protestants
Protestants pray while seated.

Orthodox
Orthodox never pray while seated. They pray either standing up or on their knees. The best position is on your knees. Except in some cases the Jesus prayer when it is done for a long time.

We pray to our Lord and Master. We can not even see God because we will die. Exodus 33:20: ""But," He said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."" Exodus 3:5: ""Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.""

Clergy

Protestants
Each church independent, headed by Pastors, Elders and Deacons.

Orthodox
Hierarchical. The Ecumenical Patriarch followed by Archbishops, Metropolitans, Bishops, Priests and Monks. Women can be Nuns.

Protestants have many branches and practices. The Orthodox church is one; all believers conform to it and its head is Jesus Christ.

Holy Scriptures

Protestants
Holy Bible.

Orthodox
Holy Bible, Holy Tradition(the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and the word of Saints which are considered by the Orthodox church as God-breathed).

Romans 8:26-27: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

Holy Days

Protestants
Christmas and Easter.

Orthodox
Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Ascension, Baptism, Transfiguration of Christ, Mother of God Feasts such as 15th August, Saints' Feast Days.

Use of pictures

Protestants
Not used.

Orthodox
Permitted as means of inspiration.

I visited protestant churches and there was not even a single cross. I disagree. To worship the pictures is not idolatry we worship the person who is shown by the picture and not the picture. If I kiss, venerate and worship Jesus Christ who is shown by the picture is not idolatry. Many orthodox icons are miraculous, it is a proof that is permitted to use them.

Martin Luther the founder of Protestantism wrote: "No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands times each day...Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world."
I disagree with the above two statements. Although Luther was a theologian he was not an Apostle, Prophet or a Saint. He did not perform miracles.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote: Isaiah 59:1-2: "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities(sins) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
Also, in Matthew 13:41: "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out(remove) of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil."
Christ's words in Luke 13:3: "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Or do you not know that wrongdoers(sinners) will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
When Apostle Paul says sinners will not inherit the kingdom of God he means sinners will be separated from God. In Romans 2:6: "God will repay each person according to what they have done." If they have done sins God will repay them by sending them to hell, separating them from Him. In 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9: "He(God) will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might."
Even if we have faith to perform many miracles and we are sinners(evildoers) Jesus Christ will separate us from Him: Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me on that day. 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
In Mark 9:43: "If your hand causes you to stumble(sin) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out."

When Apostle Paul gave instructions to people what to do he did not say believe in Christ and you will be saved, he said repent: 1 Corinthians 6:18: "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8: "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit."
Colossians 3:5-25: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Instructions for Christian Households
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism."
Hebrews 13:4-5: "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
Ephesians 5:3-7: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."
2 Timothy 2:22: "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
1 Corinthians 5:9-11: "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people."
1 Corinthians 10:8: "We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died."
Romans 6:15-17: "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance."
Apostle Paul gave instructions not to sin: Romans 6:1-2: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
Romans 13:11-14: "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."
Below, are presented some of Apostle Paul's instructions to his co-worker, Titus: Titus 2:1-6: "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled."
Titus 2:9-10: "Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."
Titus 3:1-2: "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone."
Titus 3:8-9: "This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."

It is true that Apostle Paul speaks about faith without works such as:
1. Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Similarly, Apostle Paul speaks about faith without works in:
2. Romans 3:28
3. Romans 4:5
4. Galatians 2:16
5. Galatians 3:5-6
On the contrary, James argues that faith without works is dead: James 2:20-26: "You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Apostle Paul might have talked about faith not works but he mentions repent, repentance in a number of cases:
1. 2 Corinthians 12:21: "I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged."
2. 2 Corinthians 7:9
3. 2 Corinthians 7:10
4. Romans 2:4
5. 2 Timothy 2:25
6. Hebrews 6:1
7. Hebrews 6:6

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJ Version): "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." Here, Apostle Paul tells us to imitate Christ. How can we imitate Christ? What did Christ do? Christ is sinless. Christ never sinned. In the Holy Bible it is mentioned that Satan did not cause Christ to sin, Satan only tempted Christ three times and Christ won Satan all three times Matthew 4:1-11. Also, Christ won Satan when He resurrected. Therefore, according to Apostle Paul we should imitate Christ by, among other things, being sinless.

Confused? When in doubt refer to the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus are superior to any other words because He is God and came in person on earth and spoke. We are humans. Jesus says we should repent(not to sin) many times in the Holy Bible. Please, bear in mind that repentance is to keep the commands of God: John 14:21: "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 5:14: "Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”"

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." What does believe mean?

Protestants comply with the above. You will be and feel even better 2 Timothy 4:3-5.

All passages are from New International Version (NIV) except otherwise indicated.
Matthew 3:1-2:"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Matthew 3:8:"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
Matthew 3:10-11:"The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Matthew 3:15:"Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented."
Matthew 4:17:"From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Matthew 5:17-19:"“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."
(VOICE) Matthew 5:24:"then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God."
Matthew 5:27-30:"“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
Matthew 6:33:"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 7:1-2:"“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Matthew 7:12:"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:21-27:"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
(NKJV) Matthew 9:13:"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Matthew 11:20-21:"Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
(VOICE) Matthew 11:23:" And Capernaum! Do you think you will reign exalted in heaven? No, you’ll rot in hell. Had I gone to Sodom and worked miracles there, the people would have repented, and Sodom would still be standing, thriving, bustling."
Matthew 12:18:"“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations."
Matthew 12:36-37:"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Matthew 12:41:"The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here."
Matthew 12:50:"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”"
Matthew 13:15:"For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’"
Matthew 13:41-42:"The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:49-50:"This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 15:3:"Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?"
Matthew 16:27:"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
Matthew 18:7-8:"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire."
Matthew 18:15-18:"“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 19:17-19:"“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”"
Matthew 21:32:"For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."
Matthew 21:43:"“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit."
Matthew 22:11-14:"“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”"
Matthew 22:37-40:"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”"
Matthew 23:2-3:"“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach."
Matthew 23:23:"“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
Matthew 24:42:"“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
Matthew 25:34-46:"“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”"
Matthew 28:19-20:"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."
Mark 1:4-5:"And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River."
Mark 1:14-15:"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”"
(NKJV) Mark 2:17:"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”"
Mark 3:35:"Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”"
(NET Bible) Mark 4:11-12:"He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables, so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.”"
Mark 4:20:"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”"
Mark 6:11-13:"And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them."
Mark 7:8-13:"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”"
Mark 7:20-23:"He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”"
Mark 9:40-50:"for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Causing to Stumble
“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where
“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
and the fire is not quenched.’
Everyone will be salted with fire.
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”"
Mark 10:2-5:"Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
“What did Moses command you?” he replied.
They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied."
Mark 10:11-12:"He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”"
Mark 10:17-19:"The Rich and the Kingdom of God
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”"
Mark 10:29-31:"“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”"
Mark 12:28-31:"The Greatest Commandment
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”"
Mark 13:31:"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Mark 14:38:"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”"
Luke 3:2-3:"during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
Luke 3:8-9:"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”"
Luke 3:11-14:"John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”"
Luke 5:32:"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”"
Luke 6:27-31:"Love for Enemies
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Luke 6:37-38:"Judging Others
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”"
Luke 6:46-48:"The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."
Luke 8:21:"He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”"
Luke 10:13-14:"“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you."
Luke 10:26-28:"“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”"
Luke 11:28:"He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”"
Luke 11:32:"The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here."
Luke 11:42:"“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."
Luke 12:33:"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."
Luke 12:42-48:"The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Luke 13:1-5:"Repent or Perish
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”"
Luke 13:27:"“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’"
Luke 14:13-14:"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”"
Luke 15:7:"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
Luke 15:10:"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”"
Luke 16:16-17:"Additional Teachings
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law."
Luke 16:30-31:"“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”"
Luke 17:1-4:"Sin, Faith, Duty
Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”"
Luke 17:10:"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”"
Luke 18:18-20:"The Rich and the Kingdom of God
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”"
Luke 19:8-10:"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”"
Luke 19:16-26:"“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away."
Luke 20:47:" They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”"
Luke 21:33:"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Luke 24:46-47:"He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
John 3:16-21:"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."
John 5:14:"Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”"
John 5:29:"and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."
John 8:8-11:"Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”"
John 8:31-32:"Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”"
John 8:34-36:"Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8:51:"Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”"
John 9:41:"Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."
John 12:48-49:"There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken."
John 13:34:"“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
John 14:15-17:"Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
John 14:21:"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”"
John 14:23-24:"Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
John 15:7:"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
John 15:10:"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love."
John 15:12:"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:14:"You are my friends if you do what I command."
John 15:17:"This is my command: Love each other."
John 17:6:"Jesus Prays for His Disciples
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word."
Acts 2:37-38:"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."
Acts 3:19:"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,"
Acts 3:26:"When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”"
Acts 5:31:"God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins."
Acts 8:22:"Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart."
Acts 10:35:"but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."
Acts 11:18:"When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”"
Acts 13:24:"Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel."
Acts 14:15:" “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them."
Acts 15:20:"Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood."
Acts 15:28-29:"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell."
Acts 17:30-31:"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”"
(NET) Acts 19:4:"Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”"
Acts 20:21:"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."
Acts 21:25:"As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”"
Acts 24:14:"However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
Acts 24:25:"As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”"
Acts 26:20:"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds."
(VOICE) Acts 28:25-27:"Paul (adding as they left in disagreement): The Holy Spirit rightly spoke to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
Go to this people and say,
“You certainly do hear, but you will never understand;
you certainly do see, but you will never have insight.
Make their hearts hard,
their ears deaf, and their eyes blind.
Otherwise, they would look and see,
listen and hear,
understand and repent,
and be healed.”"

In the beginning of Revelation in the seven messages to the churches Jesus Christ says the person who wins for example: (WE) Revelation 2:26-28:"If a person wins and does what I want him to do until the end, I will make him rule with me over all peoples. The holy writings said this long ago: `He will rule them with an iron stick. He will break them to pieces like pots made of clay.' This is the same power as I received from my Father. And I will give him the morning star."
Wins what? Wins who? He is victorious over what? Jesus means the one who wins against sin, the one who repents and is in repentance. Please, see Revelation 21:6-8:"He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”",
Revelation 2:4-7:"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.",
(WE) Revelation 3:19-22:"I tell off and punish the people I love. So get busy and stop doing wrong. Listen, I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. I will eat with him, and he will eat with me. He who wins will sit with me on my throne in heaven. I won too, and I sat down with my Father on his throne." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
In NIRV Bible version wins is mentioned as victory over sin in all cases: (NIRV) Revelation 2:11:"‘Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will not let that person be hurt at all by the second death.’"

(WE) Revelation 2:4-7:"But here is what I say against you. You do not love as you loved at first. So remember what you were like at first. Stop! Live the way you did at first. If you do not, I will come and move your lamp from its place. I will do it if you do not stop. But this is good: you hate the things which the people called Nicolaitans do. I hate the things they do also." He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. He says, "I will let the person who wins eat fruit from the tree of life. It grows in God's garden.""
(WE) Revelation 2:11:"`He who can hear should listen to the message of the Spirit to the churches. He says, "The person who wins will not be hurt by the second death." '"
(WE) Revelation 2:14-17:"But I have a few things to say against you. You have some people there who believe the teaching of Balaam. He showed Balak how to trick the people of Israel and make them do wrong. They ate food that was given to idols, and they used sex wrongly. Also, you have people among you who believe the teaching of the Nicolaitans. I hate the things they do. Stop! If you do not, I will come soon and I will fight against them with the long knife that comes from my mouth." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. He says, "I will give some of the secret food to the person who wins. And I will give him a white stone. A new name will be written on the stone. No one will know the name but the one who gets the stone." '"
(WE) Revelation 2:20-29:"But I have this to say against you. You let that woman named Jezebel keep on teaching. She calls herself a prophet of God but teaches my servants wrong things. She fools them to use sex wrongly and eat food that has been given to idols. I gave her time to stop, but she will not stop her wrong sexual ways and turn back to God. Look, I will make her very sick, and also those who love her. I will do it if they do not stop what they are doing with her. I will kill her children. Then all the churches will know that I find out what is in a person's mind and heart. I will pay each one of you for the good or wrong things you have done. But some of you in Thyatira do not listen to that woman's teaching. You have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan. To you I say, I will put no other load on you. The only thing I say to you is to keep on believing until I come. If a person wins and does what I want him to do until the end, I will make him rule with me over all peoples. The holy writings said this long ago: `He will rule them with an iron stick. He will break them to pieces like pots made of clay.' This is the same power as I received from my Father. And I will give him the morning star." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
(WE) Revelation 3:3:"So remember the things you were told and the things you have heard. Obey them. Stop the things you have been doing. If you do not wake up, I will come to you like a thief. You will not know when I will come to you."
(WE) Revelation 3:5-6:"He who wins will wear white clothes. I will not take his name out of the book of life. I will tell his name to my Father and to his angels." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
(WE) Revelation 3:10:"You have obeyed my word and been patient. So I will keep you safe in the time of trouble which will come all over the world. It will test the people who live on earth."
(WE) Revelation 3:12-13:"I will make the person who wins become a strong post in the temple of my God. I will keep him strong. He will never leave it again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God's city. This city is the new Jerusalem. It comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write my new name on him." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
(WE) Revelation 3:20-22:"Listen, I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. I will eat with him, and he will eat with me. He who wins will sit with me on my throne in heaven. I won too, and I sat down with my Father on his throne." `He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
(WE) Revelation 12:17:"Then the dragon was very angry with the woman. He went away to fight against the other children of the woman. They are the ones who keep the laws of God and tell the truth about Jesus."
(WE) Revelation 14:4-5:"They are the people who have not had sex with women. They are clean. They are the people who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They lived among people on earth. They have been bought from the earth. They are the first among men to have been bought for God and the Lamb. They never told lies. They are found to be without any wrong ways as they stand before the throne of God."
(WE) Revelation 14:12-13:"This is why God's people must be patient. They are the ones who keep the laws of God and believe in Jesus. I heard a voice from the sky. It said, `Write this: From now on, happy are those who die believing in the Lord.' `Yes,' says the Spirit. `They will have rest from their troubles. The good things they have done will go with them.'"
(WE) Revelation 20:12-13:"I saw the dead people, those who were great and those not great. They were standing in front of God's throne. Some books were opened. And another book was opened which is the book of life. The dead people were judged by the things they had done, which were written in the books. The dead people in the sea came out. People came out of death and the world of the dead. One by one, each one was judged by the things he had done."
(WE) Revelation 21:6-8:"He said to me, `It is finished! I am the First and the Last! I am the Beginning and the End. I will give the river of water that gives life to those who are thirsty. It will cost no money. The one who wins will have these things. I will be his God and he will be my son. Some people will be thrown into the big fire which burns with sulphur dust that chokes people. These are the people: those who give in to fear, those who do not believe, those who are bad, those who kill, those with wrong ways of using sex, the witch-doctors, those who worship idols, and all those who love lies. That fire is the second death.'"
(WE) Revelation 21:27:"Nothing that is not holy will ever go in. People who do wrong things and tell lies will never go in. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life will go in."
(WE) Revelation 22:12:"`Look, I will come soon! When I come, I will pay every man for what he has done."
(WE) Revelation 22:14-15:"God will bless the people who do what he says and keep themselves pure and clean. They can eat fruit from the tree that gives life. And they can go through the doors into the city. Outside the city are the dirty people, and the witch-doctors, and those with wrong ways of using sex, those who kill people, those who worship idols, and all those who like lies and tell them."

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