The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel
Who is Jesus?
Jesus Christ is God in human form—fully God and fully man.
As Israel's promised Messiah, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He lived a perfect life without
sin, was crucified on a cross by humankind, resurrected from death, ascended into heaven,
and now sits at the right hand of God the Father, serving as our King, High Priest and Advocate.
Jesus Christ is King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”
John 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Revelation 4:11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 22:12-13 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Proverbs 30:4 ⬢ Matthew 1:18-25, 27:24-26, 28:1-10 ⬢ Luke 1:31-35, 24:51 ⬢ John 1:1-18, 3:13-17 ⬢ Romans 8:34 ⬢ Hebrews 1:3, 2:17, 4:14-15, 5:7-8, 12:2 ⬢ Revelation 17:14, 19:16
What is the Bible?
The Holy Bible is the living Word of God, a unified story, and the ultimate authority for all matters of faith and life. God reveals Himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, on whom the Bible is centered. The Bible reveals God's plan "for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth in him" Ep1:10 "to the praise of his glory." Ep1:12
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Books of the Bible
There are 66 books in the Bible—written by ~40 different authors over a span of ~1,500 years.
| Old Testament (39 books) | New Testament (27 books) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Law (5) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy |
Gospels (4) Matthew, Mark, Luke, John |
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History (12) Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther |
History (1) Acts |
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Wisdom/Poetry (5) Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon |
Letters (21) Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude |
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Major Prophets (5) Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel |
Apocalyptic (1) Revelation |
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Minor Prophets (12) Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi |
| Creation & Fall | Redemption & Restoration | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Genesis 1:27-28, 3 ⬢ Romans 5 ⬢ Ephesians 2
God created humankind in His image to know Him, worship Him, and experience life with Him. Adam & Eve were deceived by Satan and disobeyed God, resulting in a fallen world scarred by sin and spiritual death. |
Romans 5 ⬢ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ⬢ Colossians 1:19-20
In Jesus Christ, God Himself enters human form to rescue sinners, restore His people, & renew the world. |
Salvation
To be saved means surrendering to Jesus and embracing His purpose for our lives.
It involves turning away from former ways of living, and turning toward Jesus—
repenting for our sins by asking for His forgiveness, and receiving the new life He offers.
Salvation cannot be earned by any human effort; it is a free gift from God.
In receiving it, we are brought into His kingdom and adopted as His sons and daughters.
Our purpose shifts into living in a way that reflects the light and love of Christ in the world.
When you place your faith in Jesus and accept Him as your personal
Savior, you are gifted His Holy Spirit and Eternal Life with Him in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:14 "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Revelation 21:1-7 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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Prayer of Surrender
You can choose to follow Jesus through a prayer of surrender, marking the beginning of a new life devoted to following Him:
Jesus Christ,
I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose to life.
Thank you for Your sacrifice and Your free gift of eternal life with You.
I repent for my sins and ask for Your forgiveness.
I accept You as my Lord and Savior, and invite You to enter my heart and life.
Please grow me into the person You created me to be.
In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ephesians 1:13–14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
Heart of Stone to Flesh
Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Luke 17:21 Nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Philippians 2:12-13 … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Galatians 5:22-23 … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"
Life with Jesus
Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 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. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Ephesians 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:7-12 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Miracles of Jesus & the Apostles
| Some Miracles of Jesus | Some Miracles through the Apostles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Matthew 8:23–27 Calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee Matthew 14:13–21 Feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves & 2 fish Matthew 14:25–33 Walking on water Mark 2:1–12 Healing a paralytic lowered through the roof Mark 3:1–5 Healing a man with a withered hand Mark 5:1–20 Casting out many demons Mark 5:25–34 Healing the woman with the issue of blood Mark 7:31–37 Healing a deaf and mute man Mark 8:22–26 Healing a blind man at Bethsaida Luke 17:11–19 Cleansing ten lepers Luke 22:50–51 Restoring the ear of the high priest's servant John 2:1–11 Turning water into wine John 11:38–44 Raising Lazarus from the dead |
Acts 3:1–10 Healing at the temple gate (Peter & John) Acts 5:12 Signs and wonders through the apostles Acts 5:14–16 Healing the sick by Peter's shadow Acts 9:32–35 Healing Aeneas, a paralytic (Peter) Acts 9:36–42 Raising Dorcas (Tabitha) from the dead (Peter) Acts 12:6–11 Deliverance from prison by an angel (Peter) Acts 13:8–12 Paul strikes Elymas the sorcerer blind Acts 14:8–10 Healing a crippled man in Lystra (Paul) Acts 16:16–18 Casting out a spirit of divination (Paul) Acts 20:7–12 Raising Eutychus from the dead (Paul) And many more… |
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."
John 14:13–14 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
The Shield of God
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.
2 Samuel 22:3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
2 Samuel 22:31 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 3:3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 5:12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 7:10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psalm 33:20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 41:2 The LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 59:11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Psalm 115:9–11 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD, he is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Psalm 144:2 He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
Proverbs 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity.
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 51:16 I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.
The Armor of God
John 10:28–29 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Romans 8:38–39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 14:14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
2 Corinthians 1:10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.
Ephesians 2:4-6 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 6:10–13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 2:18 … he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 1:5 Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Jude 1:24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.