While it is good to memorize the verse verbatim, it is more important to understand what it is teaching. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 could be effectively paraphrased, "When you stand in Heaven and someone asks, 'Why are you here?' You won't have the faintest inclination to say, 'Because I'm so awesome!' No, you'll be forced to say, 'Because Jesus Christ is awesome, and he sought me and bought me, and to him belongs all of the honor, power, and glory, forever and ever.'"
The following verses are from the English Standard Version of the Bible mostly, with a few King James-isms thrown in.
Most Important Verse for Memorization:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Law:
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Gospel:
Colossians 1:21-22 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…
Galatians 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree."
Resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:25 [Jesus] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Christ’s Deity:
Hebrews 1:8-9 Of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."
Salvation:
Ephesians 2:8-9 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.
John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Works Righteousness:
Galatians 2:21 If righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…
Invitation:
2 Corinthians 5:20 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Matthew 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Acts 20:21 …repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian Service:
Acts 20:35 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The Church:
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
2 Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Ministerial Verses:
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Philemon 4-6 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Most Important Verse for Memorization:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Law:
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Gospel:
Colossians 1:21-22 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…
Galatians 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree."
Resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:25 [Jesus] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Christ’s Deity:
Hebrews 1:8-9 Of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."
Salvation:
Ephesians 2:8-9 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.
John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Works Righteousness:
Galatians 2:21 If righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…
Invitation:
2 Corinthians 5:20 We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Matthew 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Acts 20:21 …repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian Service:
Acts 20:35 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The Church:
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
2 Corinthians 11:28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Ministerial Verses:
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Philemon 4-6 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
1 comment:
That's the best summary of Ephesians 2:8-9 I've ever read!
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