Scriptures You Should Know By Heart

 

Let’s get started with the twelve Scriptures you should know by heart.

Isaiah 40:28

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth; Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28 NASB).

We start with a verse that introduces God, His creative powers, and His nature. This is the God of the Bible, whom I trust not only because He created, but because He is better than me. He does not become weary. His wisdom is great. He is eternal.

John 1:1, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14 NASB).

If the first concept that we look at from Scripture is the presence of God, it is vital that we next look at the presence of Jesus. John tells us that Jesus existed from the very beginning, not in the form and body of a human, but as a God-dwelling person of the Trinity. John sees Jesus as the ultimate communication of God – and calls Him “the Word.” Does that give you deeper understanding of the beginning of Hebrews, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, (Hebrews 1:1-2a NIV).

1 John 1:8-9

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9 NASB).

Once we understand God’s presence and stature, it is important to understand us. Created in the image of God, humans have one ungodly characteristic: sin. John tells us that if we say we have no sin, all we are doing is pretending, and deceiving ourselves. We are not “getting better” with time, our history certainly proves that. We also don’t learn very quickly.

Acts 4:12

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 NASB).

Sin leaves us with a terrible dilemma. It makes us partners with death. Death is not just an end to the animated physical body, but it is a condition of our mind, soul and spirit. Death separates us – from each other, from a sense of right and wrong, from peace within, and ultimately from God Himself. None of us are righteous, not a single one.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB).

We understand when someone is gracious. We receive more than what we deserve. God shows us that He is beyond gracious. From a God who cannot sin, who cannot tolerate sin, who must act justly by His very nature, God offers to cancel our partnership with death. Our only stipulation is that we take God at His Word. Faith is believing God’s Words – His Words about sin, His Words about life, and His Words about our need to escape the clutches of death. Doesn’t this make John’s words that we learned earlier even more meaningful?

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB).

The next several Scriptures speak to what happens to us when we understand God’s gracious gift to us, the gift He provided through faith. The first thing that happens is a change inside us. We become as different as night to day. The difference is obvious to God – and obvious to everyone else. The things we want to do changes. The reason we want to do them changes as well. We become transformed.

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NASB).

The second thing that happens is a change outside of us. God promises to work everything together for good if we love Him. The promise doesn’t mean that bad things will not happen. We still live in a world where most people are in partnership with death. But God promises that He pays attention to our lives. Whatever comes our way, He will turn it to good, if we trust Him and allow Him the opportunity to work. This promise gives us hope.

Matthew 22:37-39

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.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NASB).

So if God has done all of this for me, what can I do to show Him that I love Him and appreciate His graciousness? Jesus said to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength. We are also to love others just as we love ourselves.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NASB)?

How am I to treat others? I am to treat them fairly, I am to treat them kindly (gently not with harsh anger) and I am to allow them to see that I am walking humbly with God. If I treat others fairly and kindly, they will wonder why. Most people do not treat others outside their own household this way. (Neighbors, remember?) Be honest with them. Inside it would be much easier just to look out for yourself. But you act differently because of God. (And now you can share the first five Scriptures you know by heart.)

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 NASB).

But what if I mess up? What if I don’t love God like I should or love my neighbors correctly? What if I fall flat on my face? Get up. Dust yourself off. Try better tomorrow. Nothing you could do can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Don’t be deceived. Keep believing, and be transformed. (This might be a good time to think back to the fifth Scripture you know by heart.)

Romans 8:1

Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 NASB).

This verse is included because it speaks to where I live as much as any other verse in the Bible. Satan wants to deceive me. He wants me not to believe God’s Words. His ship is sinking and he wants to take as many down with him as he can. He works hard to convince me that I am guilty and I should live my life as a guilty man. I snapped back at my wife. I lost my temper with the customer. My thoughts weren’t very pure last night.

It doesn’t take long for me to question my hope and my future, to wonder about the truthfulness of God’s Words. Isn’t that what he has been doing to humans since the Garden of Eden? There is no condemnation – at all – for those who are in Christ Jesus. Not in the future. Not from the past. Not now. Keep believing, and be transformed.

Hebrews 9:28

so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him (Hebrews 9:28 NASB).

Our final verse of Scripture speaks to our hope. Jesus will appear a second time, not to provide a sacrifice for sin, but to embrace with open arms those who eagerly await Him. I am ready, Lord. Come at any time!

There you have it. Twelve Scriptures you should know by heart. Hiding God’s Word in your heart will transform your life. They will build inside you hope.

The Finale

As our study comes to a close, here are some resources to wrap up your lesson. If you want to use this study as content for a small group study, you can use the lesson handout to guide your group discussion. You may make as many copies as you need. The Source provides you with a handful of web sites that served as research for this material. The Essence gives you a brief devotional summary of the lesson that might be appropriate for a quick meditation for a gathering. There are also a handful of suggestions for you to continue your study. Finally, The Quiz gives you a chance to review and see what you have learned.