What  God
Requires of Us

Romans 10:9  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Luke 6:46 Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Luke 10:25-28 [25] On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [26] "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" [27] 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.'" [28] "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

Mark 10:17-20 [17] 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?" [18] "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " [20] "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Mark 10:21-23 [21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing  you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. [23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

Note: Many people misinterpret Mark 10:21-23, believing that it means rich people must give up their money if they want to be saved.  Jesus' point was that that man's riches had become more important to that man than following God, so that man would have to give up his riches. When faced with the choice, that man, who was a "good" man and "lived holy" rejected Jesus.

WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US

FAITH IN HIM, BELIEF IN HIM

John 3:16-18 [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. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

PRAISE

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Deuteronomy 32:3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

Psalms 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

ADORATION

Adoration 1. To worship as God or a god. 2. To regard with deep, often rapturous love. 3. To like very much

See WORSHIP

WORSHIP

Hebrews 12:28-29 [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our "God is a consuming fire."

HONOR

Psalms 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

ACCEPTANCE

Luke 6:46 Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.

THANKS

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Hebrews 12:28-29 [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our "God is a consuming fire."

OBEDIENCE

Isaiah 28:18-19 [18] Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. [19] The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines.

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 [1] When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, [2] and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, [3] then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.

LOVE TOWARD HIM

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 [12] And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but ... to love him,

Matthew 22:37-38  [37] Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment.

LOVE TOWARD OTHERS

Matthew 22:39  [37] Jesus replied: ... [39] And the second [-greatest command] is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Luke 6:27-28 [27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

FORGIVE OTHERS, EVEN IF THEY DON'T ASK FOR IT

Matthew 6:9,12,14-15 [9] "This, then, is how you should pray:   [12] Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [14] For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 23:33-34a [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Matthew 18:22 [NKJV] [21] Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?''  [22] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

It is important not to misunderstand Matthew 18:21-22.  Jewish tradition required that a person should forgive another three times.  In asking "seven times" Peter was being very generous.  Jesus' response meant "an unlimited number of times."

Also see the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor

ACT JUSTLY

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

MERCY

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

HUMILITY

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

FRIENDSHIP TOWARD HIM

John 15:13-15 [13] Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

ATTENTION TO HIM

Exodus 15:26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

REPENTANCE

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Mark 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.

Luke 13:3b,5b But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

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.

Acts 2:38 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 3:19-20 [19] Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, [20] and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.

Repentance: Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin.

LOYALTY, ALLEGIANCE

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Loyal 1. Steadfast in allegiance to one's homeland, government, or sovereign. 2. Faithful to a person, an ideal, a custom, a cause, or a duty. 3. Of, relating to, or marked by loyalty.

RESPECT

Respect verb. 1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem. 2. To avoid violation of or interference with. noun. 1. A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem. 2. Willingness to show consideration or appreciation. 3. Polite expressions of consideration or deference.

See REVERENCE

REVERENCE

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Psalms 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

Hebrews 12:28-29 [28] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our "God is a consuming fire."

Reverence . 1. A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration. 2. An act showing respect, especially a bow or curtsy. 3. To consider or treat with profound awe and respect; venerate.

"FEAR"  (Bible jargon)

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, ...

Jargon is the specialized terminology of a profession or field of study.  Sometimes ordinary words have a special meaning in a particular field, e.g., "resistance" and "current" in electronics.. It is important to realize that "fear the Lord" is Bible jargon.  It does not mean to live in terror and dread of God; it means to be in awe of Him, to have a proper respect for His power and authority.

SERVICE

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Definitions above are based on the CD-ROM version of the American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition, ver. 3.6p (c) 1994

"LOVE" DEFINED:

It is important to understand that love is Bible jargon.  In Greek there are four different words for "love", each with a distinct meaning that is lost in translation to English:

• Eros is physical, sexual, erotic love.
• Filios is brotherly love, e.g., the love between close friends.
• Storge (STOR-gay) is the love parents have for their children, siblings have for each other, etc.

• Agape (pronounced ah-GAH-pay) is the kind of love Jesus has for mankind -- willingness to die for that person.  Interestingly, there is no English word for this type of love.

It is important to realize that the kind of love the Bible is talking about is not an emotion it is a choice.  When Jesus says "Love your neighbor as yourself" He means treat your neighbor with kindness, respect, and genuine concern for that person.  Jesus will help us do this if we ask Him to help.

DO'S  AND  DON'TS

THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16-18  [16] So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. [17] For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Galatians 5:22-25  [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Also see The Ten Commandments.

 
SEVEN THINGS THE LORD HATES

Proverbs 6:16-19  [NKJV] [16] These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, [18] a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, [19] a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

Note: The "six things ... seven things ..." format is a literary technique that was common in Hebrew literature in King Solomon's time.
 

ACTS OF THE SINFUL NATURE

Galatians 5:19-21  [19] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [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.

Galatians 5:26  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Matthew 19:16-19 [16] Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" [17] ... Jesus replied. ... "If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." [18] "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, [19] honor your father and mother,' and `love your neighbor as yourself.'"
 

AVOIDING PSYCHICS, ASTROLOGY, ETC.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12,14   [10] Let no one be found among you ... who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, [11] or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. [14] The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Regarding how psychics, etc. predict the future, see Satan can predict the future from past trends.
 

GOD HATES HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY

Leviticus 18:22 Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 [9] Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals [10] nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1:24-32 [24] Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. [25] They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. [26] Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. [27] In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. [28] Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. [29] They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; [31] they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

The Angel of the Lord (Jesus, before He was born) destroyed Sodom after the men of the city tried to homosexually gang-rape two angels.

Genesis 19:1, 4-5, 10-11 [1] The two angels [who had temporarily taken on the appearance of men] arrived at Sodom ...  [4] Before they had gone to bed [in Lot's house], all the men from every part of the city of Sodom -- both young and old -- surrounded the house.  [5] They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."  [10] But the men [angels] inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door.  [11] Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.  [12] The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, [13] because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it."

Note: historically, the term "homosexuality" applied to both male-male activity and female-female sexual activity. The biblical prohibitions apply to all persons, not just males. Also, in biblical usage the term "homosexual" refers to same-sex sexual activity, not sexual "orientation" or "feelings" or "attraction". The passages do not distinguish "gay", "homosexual", "lesbian", "bi-sexual" and "transgender".

God hates transvestite activity.

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.

Although it is frequently associated with or confused with homosexual orientation or homosexual activity, "transvestism" means a person dressing in clothing of the opposite gender and has nothing to do with sexual orientation or activity.

Jesus can free anyone from any sinful lifestyle -- even homosexuality.

A lot of people claim homosexuality is "innate", "genetic", etc.  That is not true.  There is no scientific evidence of that -- only speculation.  Many people cite as "proof" the "findings" of Simon LeVay, a neuroscientist * who found differences in the size of certain parts of the brain between cadavers of a small group of homosexual men and cadavers of men assumed to be straight.

* Do not confuse neuroscientist Simon LeVay with Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible.

The John Ankerberg Show presented a videotaped interview with LeVay (who happens to be gay).  LeVay said that he was only presenting information and his "observations" are nowhere near the level of "scientific findings".  LeVay pointed out, among other things, these differences between his observations and what would be considered a "scientific study":

1. Each of the gay men died of AIDS-related complications.

2. Because they all had AIDS, the sample group does not constitute a representative sample of "all gay men".

3. AIDS or a related complication could have caused the size difference in that part of the brain.

4. There is no evidence showing that that portion of the brain affects sexual orientation.

5. If there is a nexus between that portion of the brain and sexual orientation, there is no evidence regarding causation.  It could be that the brain section influences orientation.  It could also be that heterosexual activity or homosexual activity causes a difference in the size of that portion.  By way of analogy, big muscles don't cause a person to become a weight-lifter, engaging in weight-lifting activity causes muscles to change size.

6. The other group was assumed to be straight.

7. The number of cadavers studied was much too small to constitute a scientifically meaningful sample.

8. Many non-biological factors influence sexual orientation.

9. Many biological factors influence sexual orientation.  There is no evidence that just one part of the body controls sexual orientation.

A number of groups (including The John Ankerberg Show) have pointed out that there is a large number of recovered homosexuals -- people who were homosexual and accepted Jesus Christ and gave up their homosexuality.  In the current political climate of "all viewpoints are equally valid" and "political correctness" it is not "politically correct" for the liberal media to mention this, so they don't.  But that doesn't change the truth!