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"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." (Jeremiah 17:9)

James:

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away of his own desires, and enticed." (James 1:14)

Hebrews:

"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." "But now, once at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." (Hebrews 2:14; 9:26)

Jesus:

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23)

Paul:

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, evil, murders, drunkenness, revels, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practise such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

The Bible traces the origin of human sinfulness to the fall of man in Eden, and only by the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross can this "devil" be destroyed.

GOD, JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

If we claim to follow Christ

we shall, with Jesus our Lord, acknowledge the supremacy of God, the Father; we shall see in Jesus His obedient Son; and we shall see in the Holy Spirit His personal power:

Paul:

"There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) "The head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) "Now when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28) "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Jesus:

"My Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do." (John 5:19) "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." (John 15:10) "Nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)

The Angel Gabriel:

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

Peter:

"Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21) "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." (Acts 10:38)

The Bible traces everything to God, that is, to the Father; it centres all the purpose of God in Jesus, that is, the Son; and it reveals God's working among prophets, apostles and saints by His own power, that is, the Holy Spirit.

FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

If we claim to follow Christ

we shall know that faith in Jesus is essential. A Christian must accept the true gospel before he can belong to Christ:

Jesus:

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Paul:

"For (the gospel of Christ) is the power of God to salvation for every one who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 1:16:10:9)

Hebrews:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

and, as a warning against false teaching:

Paul:

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any gospel to you other than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)

or against simply following the majority:

Jesus:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13,14)

The Bible does not allow us to take salvation for granted. The only way for sinners is to follow in obedience where Jesus has led, in faith in him and in the Word of God he honoured.