Do you ever find yourself repeating the same mistakes? Temporarily believing the same lies that the enemy has always used against you? Feeling condemned even though you’ve been saved, or doubting God could still love you after all you’ve done? Perhaps you find yourself trying to earn God’s acceptance despite having accepted His forgiveness, or worrying about the future even though you trust God for eternity?
You’re not alone; such things probably happen to all of us at times. If you’ve been following Christ for a while, you probably know the biblical truths about who God is and what He’s done for us. Often, the problem isn’t that we need to learn something new; it’s that we need to be reminded of the things we already know. We’re forgetful. We forget what God’s Word has to say, lose sight of what we’ve learned from experience, and fail to remember how God has repeatedly proven Himself faithful. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves (and to each other) every day, keeping the truth top of mind so that we aren’t distracted by the world’s lies.
To help you remember, here are some truths from Scripture that every believer needs to know, but which you may not always think of in the moment. (If this is new info for you, great! We’d love to talk with you and answer any questions you have.) Save these, print them out, or put them somewhere that you will see them often and be reminded of what is really important.
Remember that, as a follower of Christ:
You are loved by God.
- “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1a)
- “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
You are forgiven by God.
- “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” (Colossians 1:21-22)
- “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)
You cannot earn salvation, no matter what you do.
- “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
Thankfully you don’t have to, because it is a free gift.
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)
- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
God made you the way you are for a purpose…
- “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)
- “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
…and you’ve been made new from your past.
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
God is not trying to rip you off…
- “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
- “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)
…but Satan is, through his lies.
- “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
- “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Everything earthly is temporary…
- “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
- “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1)
…and any sacrifice here on earth is momentary.
- “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
- “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)
God will work everything out for good in the long run.
- “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
- “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)
God can work through you and through your weaknesses.
- “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
- “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
Trust God for what you need…
- “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
…and thank Him for all He has done for you
- “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
- “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:10)
Your job in life is to love God and love people.
- “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:37-40)
- “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14)
So love God…
- “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
- “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21)
…love people…
- “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
- “Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
…and share this good news with others.
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
- “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7)