Bible Verses for Apologetics: 84 Passages for Defending the Christian Faith
What Bible verses are most useful for Christian apologetics?
This guide collects Bible passages and commentary that can help Christians think biblically about competing worldviews, religious claims, skeptical objections, and disputed theological questions. It includes passages relevant to atheism, agnosticism, Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Deism, Pantheism, religious pluralism, moral relativism, skepticism, the deity of Christ, salvation, the resurrection, and more.
These are not merely verses I found by searching for apologetics topics. They come from a larger collection of 144 notes on 141 distinct biblical passages that I developed over several years of reading and studying my own Bible.
Whenever I encountered a passage that seemed especially relevant to the Christian worldview—or useful for answering a competing worldview or theological claim—I recorded the reference and my observation. Eventually those notes filled blank pages in the front and back of my study Bible.
For this guide, I have organized 84 unique notes across 28 categories according to their usefulness for Christian apologetics.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of any of these subjects, nor does citing a passage by itself substitute for careful exegesis. Think of this instead as an apologetics Bible reference guide: a place to begin when you find yourself wondering, “Where does the Bible speak to this?”
Bookmark this page, use the table of contents below, and return to it whenever you need biblical passages relevant to an apologetics question.
[Disclaimer: This introduction was written by AI, adapted from my own words. —Joel]
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Bible Verses Relevant to Roman Catholicism and Justification
Imputed Righteousness
Psalm 89:16
Imputed righteousness is foretold. We will exult in God’s righteousness, not our own.
The Inability of the Unregenerate
Romans 8:5–8
The unregenerate mind is hostile to God and cannot repent (contra those who believe non-Christians can participate with God in meriting their salvation or regeneration via works). The scope of what is morally possible for man is determined by his nature, whether he is regenerate or not.
Transformation Precedes Works
2 Corinthians 5:15
Works follow transformation. Transformation comes first, not the other way around (contra synergistic theological systems like Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism).
Double Imputation
2 Corinthians 5:21
Double imputation: we become God’s righteousness, because Christ “became” our sin.
Regeneration by God’s Choice
James 1:18
The Father gave us birth by the word of life, by his own choice. This means that God alone is free in salvation. He is free and saves without obligation, and salvation is completely unmerited on the part of the saved.
Conversion and the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10
Conversion is turning from idols to God. The message of the gospel is that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead, rescues us from the coming wrath, and will return from Heaven.
Bible Verses Relevant to Eastern Orthodoxy and Salvation
The Inability of the Unregenerate
Romans 8:5–8
The unregenerate mind is hostile to God and cannot repent (contra those who believe non-Christians can participate with God in meriting their salvation or regeneration via works). The scope of what is morally possible for man is determined by his nature, whether he is regenerate or not.
Transformation Precedes Works
2 Corinthians 5:15
Works follow transformation. Transformation comes first, not the other way around (contra synergistic theological systems like Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism).
Imputation and Righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21
Double imputation: we become God’s righteousness, because Christ “became” our sin.
Regeneration by God’s Choice
James 1:18
The Father gave us birth by the word of life, by his own choice. This means that God alone is free in salvation. He is free and saves without obligation, and salvation is completely unmerited on the part of the saved.
Conversion and the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10
Conversion is turning from idols to God. The message of the gospel is that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead, rescues us from the coming wrath, and will return from Heaven.
Bible Verses on Arminianism, Grace, and Effectual Calling
Human Will and Divine Sovereignty
2 Chronicles 20:22–23
God changes human intentions and wills to accomplish salvation, contra those who say God never imposes himself.
Particular Redemption
Micah 7:18–20
Particular redemption / “limited atonement” is seen in that the Lord will forgive and redeem Jacob and Abraham.
Calling, Faith, and Regeneration
Acts 1:39
The promise of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit is for all that God will call. This is Irresistible Grace.
Acts 18:27
Saving faith is a gift of grace.
Romans 8:5–8
The unregenerate mind is hostile to God and cannot repent (contra those who believe non-Christians can participate with God in meriting their salvation or regeneration via works). The scope of what is morally possible for man is determined by his nature, whether he is regenerate or not.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14
God ordains the ends (salvation and the glory of Christ revealed in our life) and the means (sanctification by the Spirit, belief in the truth, and the gospel call).
James 1:18
The Father gave us birth by the word of life, by his own choice. This means that God alone is free in salvation. He is free and saves without obligation, and salvation is completely unmerited on the part of the saved.
Bible Verses Responding to Deism
Miracles and Divine Action
Psalm 114:7
This is why God performs miracles: to produce worship! He suspends the uniformity of nature to get his creatures’ attention. Tell this to atheists and skeptics who say that God’s ability to “intervene” in the natural world makes uniformity impossible. God maintains uniformity (in normal cases, most of the time) and “violates it” (a crude term) in order to reveal something about himself, his purpose, or his commands.
Providence in Nature
Psalm 147:7-9, 15–18
God’s involvement in natural processes (contra Deism).
Psalm 148:8
The wind “executes his command” (contra Deism and Pantheism).
Providence in Human Life
Proverbs 16:4, 9, 33
God’s total sovereignty over my life, all word events, and even “chance.”
Matthew 6:32–34
Here we see the relationship between God, worldly needs, and my heart. God knows what you need. Your needs will be provided. Do not worry.
Bible Verses for Christian Apologetics and Judaism
Christ in the Old Testament
Exodus 3:2, 7
The Angel of the Lord is the Lord God himself. This is the preincarnate Christ (contra those who claim Jesus is not found in the Old Testament).
1 Kings 8:27, 29
Jesus is the fulfillment of temple typology (as demonstrated by the cloud, which appears again in Luke 9:28ff).
The People of God
Psalm 87:4–6
The people of God from Gentile nations are nevertheless recorded as having been born in Jerusalem. Saved Jews and Gentiles alike have their citizenship in the City of God, without distinction.
The Deity and Identity of Christ
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus perfectly reveals the Godhead. He is the Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. These are divine titles and traits of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but He reveals them perfectly.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
John 1:51
Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob’s Ladder. He is the Way, connecting Heaven to Earth.
The Prophet Foretold by Moses
Acts 3:22
Jesus, not Muhammad, was the prophet foretold by Moses, contra Islamic dawah (apologetics) claims.
Bible Verses for Christian Apologetics with Muslims
The Deity of Christ
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus perfectly reveals the Godhead. He is the Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. These are divine titles and traits of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but He reveals them perfectly.
Mark 2:1–12
Jesus uses an argumentum a fortiori, and it could be argued he is also arguing presuppositionally here. He says he will do the harder thing to prove he has the authority to do the easier thing. According to his detractors, which one was harder—healing the man, or forgiving sin? Surely they would have said it was harder to forgive sin, though it was easier to claim to forgive sin than to heal. He heals the man (proving his divine power), removing all doubt that he had the authority to do both.
Mark 10:18
Jesus argues presuppositionally. He appeals to the belief that only God is good, and since the man has called him “good,” he must therefore be ready to call him God (and rightly so, since Jesus is God!). This is contra those who wrongly assert that Jesus never claimed to be God.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
The Prophet Like Moses
Acts 3:22
Jesus, not Muhammad, was the prophet foretold by Moses, contra Islamic dawah (apologetics) claims.
Christ’s Universal Lordship
Philippians 2:10–11
Every name is below Jesus’. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. “Name” conveys status. “Knee” is related to position. “Tongue” is bound up with transformation and understanding. Everyone will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the highest status, above all creation.
Bible Verses for Apologetics with Jehovah’s Witnesses
Christ as Creator and Object of Worship
Psalm 97:7
the “gods” are angels (cf. LXX; Hebrews 1:6) and are required to worship the Son!
Psalm 146:5–6
“Jehovah” is maker of Heaven and Earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is not Jehovah, but they are wrong. Cf. John 1:3.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
The Holy Spirit Is Not Merely a Force
2 Corinthians 6:6–7
The Holy Spirit and power of God are listed separately. The Holy Spirit is not merely God’s power or a force, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses who deny the Trinity, and all those who deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit.
The Supreme Status of Christ
Philippians 2:10–11
Every name is below Jesus’. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. “Name” conveys status. “Knee” is related to position. “Tongue” is bound up with transformation and understanding. Everyone will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the highest status, above all creation.
Bible Verses for Apologetics with Mormons
God’s Transcendence and Triune Identity
1 Kings 8:27, 29
God’s transcendence and immanence
Psalm 33:6
“Word” and “breath” are instrumental in creation. Canonically, the Word is the Son (Jesus), and the “breath” is the “Spirit” (Holy Spirit). This is trinitarian doctrine in the Old Testament (contra those who say the Trinity is an unbiblical concept).
Psalm 139:7–12
God is Omnipresent (one of the attributes necessary for grounding universal truths and transcendentals (such as laws of logic, moral obligations, and mathematical principles which are true everywhere and at all times).
Christ and the Creator-Creature Distinction
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus perfectly reveals the Godhead. He is the Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. These are divine titles and traits of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but He reveals them perfectly.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
Bible Verses for Christian Apologetics and Atheism
The Problem of Evil
Job
The logical and existential problems of evil are neither one a “silver bullet” against God’s existence.
Science, Uniformity, and Providence
Psalm 104:18ff
This shows the biblical nature of the principle of uniformity in nature, without which we couldn’t have science.
Psalm 114:7
This is why God performs miracles: to produce worship! He suspends the uniformity of nature to get his creatures’ attention. Tell this to atheists and skeptics who say that God’s ability to “intervene” in the natural world makes uniformity impossible. God maintains uniformity (in normal cases, most of the time) and “violates it” (a crude term) in order to reveal something about himself, his purpose, or his commands.
Psalm 139:7–12
God is Omnipresent (one of the attributes necessary for grounding universal truths and transcendentals (such as laws of logic, moral obligations, and mathematical principles which are true everywhere and at all times).
Proverbs 27:12
This verse hints at the precondition of science known as uniformity in nature and the value of inductive reasoning. We can reasonably hypothesize about the future based on present observation. This important ability is essential to science, is validated by the biblical worldview, and is totally ungrounded apart from it.
Jeremiah 31:35–36; 33:20
Uniformity of nature is a biblical principle grounded in God (this is useful in presuppositional apologetics against atheism).
Truth Suppression and Moral Accountability
Romans 1:18–32
Three stages of truth suppression: (1) Spiritual idolatry, (2) sexual immorality, (3) being totally given over to sin and vice. Cf. Judges 17–21.
History, Truth, and Logic
2 Corinthians 13:1
Eyewitness testimony is validated. This is a biblical principle. Cf. Luke 1:1ff. This is a vital principle for historiography. Non-Christians who try to argue against Christianity by using historical arguments need to ground the importance of eyewitness testimony, but lack the foundation for doing so.
2 Corinthians 13:8
Truth is a necessary precondition for conduct. Without truth there is no true action, and without God/Jesus there is no truth. Christianity is proven by the impossibility of the contrary—to do anything at all requires that Christianity be true.
2 Timothy 2:13
God is the basis for logic. He cannot deny himself. The Law of Noncontradiction is a biblical principle (contra all non-Christian ideologies that try to argue against Christianity using logic, but cannot ground logic in their own worldview).
Does the Bible Teach an Infinite Universe?
The Number of the Stars
Psalm 147:4
The stars are finite in number; the universe is not infinite, contra those who posit an infinite cosmos.
Bible Verses on Agnosticism and Knowing God
The Limits of Human Knowledge
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Epistemology: impossibility of exhaustive knowledge. We need revelation from God in order to have certainty about anything.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
The answer to the epistemology problem (“Unless we know everything, we can’t know anything”) is to fear God, who knows all.
Jeremiah 31:37
Immeasurable vastness of the cosmos, contra those who claim to have universal knowledge about reality apart from God.
Truth, Suppression, and Certainty
John 18:37–38
Postmodern denial of truth may be a temporary, but ultimately ineffective evasion tactic to keep from having to answer Jesus’ binary claim that anyone on the side of truth listens to Him. There is no gray area or ambiguity when it comes to truth.
Romans 1:18–32
Three stages of truth suppression: (1) Spiritual idolatry, (2) sexual immorality, (3) being totally given over to sin and vice. Cf. Judges 17–21.
2 Corinthians 13:8
Truth is a necessary precondition for conduct. Without truth there is no true action, and without God/Jesus there is no truth. Christianity is proven by the impossibility of the contrary—to do anything at all requires that Christianity be true.
Bible Verses Responding to Pantheism
Transcendence and Immanence
1 Kings 8:27, 29
God’s transcendence and immanence
Psalm 133:6
the transcendence and immanence of God is on display here. He is above (transcendent), yet he stoops down (immanence).
Creator and Creation
Psalm 148:8
The wind “executes his command” (contra Deism and Pantheism).
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
Bible Verses on Polytheism and Idolatry
Worship Belongs to God and the Son
Psalm 97:7
the “gods” are angels (cf. LXX; Hebrews 1:6) and are required to worship the Son!
Idolatry and Misused Gifts
Ezekiel 14:1–11
Expect false answers when you inquire of God without first purging your heart and life of idols and sin.
Ezekiel 16:12–19
Idolatry is a misappropriation of God’s gifts. It’s his world, and everything in it belongs to Him.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
Romans 1:18–32
Three stages of truth suppression: (1) Spiritual idolatry, (2) sexual immorality, (3) being totally given over to sin and vice. Cf. Judges 17–21.
Conversion from Idols to Christ
Philippians 2:10–11
Every name is below Jesus’. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. “Name” conveys status. “Knee” is related to position. “Tongue” is bound up with transformation and understanding. Everyone will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the highest status, above all creation.
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10
Conversion is turning from idols to God. The message of the gospel is that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead, rescues us from the coming wrath, and will return from Heaven.
Bible Verses on Religious Pluralism and the Uniqueness of Christ
Christ, Truth, and Exclusive Lordship
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
John 18:37–38
Postmodern denial of truth may be a temporary, but ultimately ineffective evasion tactic to keep from having to answer Jesus’ binary claim that anyone on the side of truth listens to Him. There is no gray area or ambiguity when it comes to truth.
Philippians 2:10–11
Every name is below Jesus’. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. “Name” conveys status. “Knee” is related to position. “Tongue” is bound up with transformation and understanding. Everyone will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the highest status, above all creation.
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10
Conversion is turning from idols to God. The message of the gospel is that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead, rescues us from the coming wrath, and will return from Heaven.
Bible Verses on Moral Relativism and Objective Truth
Truth and Moral Authority
Judges 21:25
Postmodernism and moral relativism is a result of abandoning God.
John 18:37–38
Postmodern denial of truth may be a temporary, but ultimately ineffective evasion tactic to keep from having to answer Jesus’ binary claim that anyone on the side of truth listens to Him. There is no gray area or ambiguity when it comes to truth.
1 Corinthians 6:12
“I was born this way” is rebutted. It is not what you feel, but what is beneficial, that matters.
God’s Standard over Self-Measurement
2 Corinthians 10:12
Relativism and subjectivism are demolished by this verse.
2 Corinthians 10:12
An argument against self-measurement, rather than evaluating oneself by God’s standard.
Bible Verses on Skepticism, Knowledge, and Reason
Evidence, Induction, and the Past
Proverbs 18:17
Behold the importance of listening to both sides before deciding who is right, and who is wrong.
Proverbs 27:12
This verse hints at the precondition of science known as uniformity in nature and the value of inductive reasoning. We can reasonably hypothesize about the future based on present observation. This important ability is essential to science, is validated by the biblical worldview, and is totally ungrounded apart from it.
Ecclesiastes 1:4
From this we may infer that the universe was not created five seconds ago, and it will not be completely destroyed in the final judgment. This counters claims that we can’t know anything about the past, and it gives insight into what the final judgment and purging of all things will involve (cf. 2 Peter 3:10).
The Limits of Autonomous Knowledge
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Epistemology: impossibility of exhaustive knowledge. We need revelation from God in order to have certainty about anything.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14
The answer to the epistemology problem (“Unless we know everything, we can’t know anything”) is to fear God, who knows all.
Jeremiah 31:37
Immeasurable vastness of the cosmos, contra those who claim to have universal knowledge about reality apart from God.
Eyewitness Testimony
2 Corinthians 13:1
Eyewitness testimony is validated. This is a biblical principle. Cf. Luke 1:1ff. This is a vital principle for historiography. Non-Christians who try to argue against Christianity by using historical arguments need to ground the importance of eyewitness testimony, but lack the foundation for doing so.
Bible Verses Responding to Tech-Bro Transhumanism & Pursuit of Status
Death Defeats Human Power
2 Chronicles 9:31
Inevitability of death: Solomon’s vast wealth and political power couldn’t prevent him from following the way of all the earth. We will never overcome death by throwing more money (and technology) at it.
The Future Status of the Saints
1 Corinthians 6:3
We Christians will judge the angels in the next age. We will play a role in God’s final judgment of the world.
Bible verses about about the soul and the nature of death
The Origin and Continuity of the Spirit
Ecclesiastes 12:7
This verse references the spirit “returning” to God. The Bible does not teach the preexistence of the human soul, so this is likely referring instead to God breathing the spirit of life into the first man, Adam, in Genesis 2. This implies that there has been a continuation of that spirit, via transference, from parent to child, down through the generations, implying that each person’s spirit is inherited from one’s parents.
Bodily Death and Resurrection
Luke 21:16–18
Physical death does not equate to perishing. You can be killed, yet “not a hair of your head will be lost.” The physical body will be saved (at the General Resurrection).
Bible Verses on Satan, Evil, and God’s Sovereignty
Evil Under Divine Authority
Job
The logical and existential problems of evil are neither one a “silver bullet” against God’s existence.
Job 1:13–19
Job’s story shows Satan’s influence over the spheres of human evil and natural evil, yet still under God’s authority.
Satan’s Limited Role
Psalm 92:11–13
Satan tempted Jesus with this promise, so Jesus, by resisting, trod on the serpent, which is promised in the very next verse. This shows the futility of Satan’s attempts to overthrow God. He is like a mere actor in God’s plan (contra those who view God and Satan, or good and evil, as two equal and opposite forces).
Ezekiel 29:19–20
Though pagan nations have their own rebellious, angelic rulers (cf. Daniel 10:13) yet these are still under God’s authority. They are “working for him,” even in spite of themselves.
Zechariah 3:1
Satan was allowed to be in God’s presence prior to Christ (cf. Job).
Jesus Exposes a Self-Defeating Argument
Luke 11:14
Jesus argues presuppositionally. He accuses his opponents of inconsistency, and (as one theologian has said) inconsistency is the sign of a failed argument. Let’s break this down: For the sake of argument, let’s say his enemies were right (they weren’t), and Jesus was operating under the devil’s power (he wasn’t). In that case, he would be using that power to tear down Satan’s house from within, and he would clearly not be on Satan’s side. Jesus is opposing Satan and is the good guy. On the other hand, for the sake of argument let’s say Jesus was working with God’s power (which was true). In that case, Satan has an end (as Jesus himself puts it). No matter what, Jesus is the good guy, and he is overcoming Satan in real time. He has uncovered the self-defeating nature of their inconsistent argument. Furthermore, their practices were also inconsistent, because their sons (likely, acolytes) also cast out demons. Any allegation that Jesus was exorcising demons by Beelzebub could be levied against their own followers! Their conclusion (that Jesus is working for Satan) don’t match their beliefs or their practices. Now, because a house divided cannot stand (a principle his opponents dared not disagree with), and Jesus is of God’s house (which he has just demonstrated), and God’s house will stand, then they were all faced with a choice: they were either with him and with God, and they would stand, or they were against him, against God, and would fall in the end.
Bible Verses on the Deity of Christ and Arianism
Christ in the Old Testament
Exodus 3:2, 7
The Angel of the Lord is the Lord God himself. This is the preincarnate Christ (contra those who claim Jesus is not found in the Old Testament).
Christ Receives Divine Worship
Psalm 97:7
the “gods” are angels (cf. LXX; Hebrews 1:6) and are required to worship the Son!
Psalm 146:5–6
“Jehovah” is maker of Heaven and Earth. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is not Jehovah, but they are wrong. Cf. John 1:3.
Christ Is Creator, Not Creature
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus perfectly reveals the Godhead. He is the Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. These are divine titles and traits of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, but He reveals them perfectly.
Mark 10:18
Jesus argues presuppositionally. He appeals to the belief that only God is good, and since the man has called him “good,” he must therefore be ready to call him God (and rightly so, since Jesus is God!). This is contra those who wrongly assert that Jesus never claimed to be God.
John 1:1–3
There are only two categories of reality: Creator and creation. There is no room for a third category of created-creator, contra Jehovah’s Witnesses, Arians, and those who say Jesus is a created being.
Philippians 2:10–11
Every name is below Jesus’. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. “Name” conveys status. “Knee” is related to position. “Tongue” is bound up with transformation and understanding. Everyone will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the highest status, above all creation.
Bible Verses on Pelagianism, Sin, and Grace
Universal Sin
1 Kings 8:46
Sin is universal and continual.
Psalm 14:1–3
Literally no one is righteous.
Psalm 51:5
Mankind is sinful at conception. This is the Doctrine of Original Sin in biblical terms (cf. also Romans 5:12).
Grace Precedes Human Response
Acts 18:27
Saving faith is a gift of grace.
Romans 8:5–8
The unregenerate mind is hostile to God and cannot repent (contra those who believe non-Christians can participate with God in meriting their salvation or regeneration via works). The scope of what is morally possible for man is determined by his nature, whether he is regenerate or not.
2 Corinthians 5:15
Works follow transformation. Transformation comes first, not the other way around (contra synergistic theological systems like Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism).
James 1:18
The Father gave us birth by the word of life, by his own choice. This means that God alone is free in salvation. He is free and saves without obligation, and salvation is completely unmerited on the part of the saved.
Bible Verses on “My Body My Choice”, Desire, and “Born This Way”
Sex and Created Reality
Jeremiah 30:6
Men cannot give birth, contra Transgenderism.
Desire Is Not Moral Authority
1 Corinthians 6:12
“I was born this way” is rebutted. It is not what you feel, but what is beneficial, that matters.
The Body Belongs to God
1 Corinthians 6:19
Your body is a temple. Honor God with your body, especially your sexuality (contra extreme forms of “my body, my choice”).
Bible Verses on Personal Accountability, Ethnicity, Social Justice, and Critical Race Theory
Biblical Justice
Psalm 82
Biblical justice is to provide human justice to the needy and fatherless, the oppressed, the destitute, and the needy.
One People of God
Psalm 87:4–6
The people of God from Gentile nations are nevertheless recorded as having been born in Jerusalem. Saved Jews and Gentiles alike have their citizenship in the City of God, without distinction.
Personal Rather Than Inherited Guilt
Jeremiah 31:29
Personal accountability for sin in the New Covenant era: We are not accountable for ancestral sin. No ethnic/familial guilt. No repentance or curse on the children for their fathers’ sins, contra social justice warriors and Critical Race Theory proponents, and those pushing the false gospel of “racial reconciliation.”
Ezekiel 14:12–23
Individual, not corporate, status matters before God. Ethnicity doesn’t save or give one preferential treatment from God.
Slavery and Reparations
Acts 18:1ff
Historical note: The city of Corinth was refounded and repopulated with ex-slaves. However, Paul never suggests or mentions reparations in either of his letters (contra those who would argue for reparations to the descendants of slaves in our nation today on any kind of biblical grounds).
Bible Verses on New Covenant Theology and Old Testament Law
Membership in the New Covenant
Jeremiah 31:31–34
Every member of the New Covenant knows the Lord, contra Presbyterianism and Covenant Theology (which says you can be in the New Covenant without being saved.
Jeremiah 31:34
In the New Covenant, everyone knows God (cf. 1 John 2:24) (contra Covenant Theologians, Presbyterians, and others who say you can be in the New Covenant community as an unregenerate unbeliever).
Old Covenant Food Laws
Mark 7:17–30 (cf. Acts 10)
Here we see food being declared clear, followed by a Gentile being saved. The food laws of the Old Testament were typological (contra Judaizers and some Messianic Jews, and everyone who believes they still apply today).
The Law of Liberty
James 2:8–9, 12
The law of freedom (or liberty), not the royal law (which the present author takes the be the Old Covenant Law), is that by which Christians will be judged.
James 2:10
There is no tripartite division in the Old Covenant Law (moral, civil, and ceremonial). It is not a mosaic, but a plate glass window.
Justification and Imputation
Romans 5:18
One act led to death, and one act led to justification. It is Christ’s atoning death that justifies us, not his perfect record of lawkeeping (contra those who promote Imputed Active Obedience).
2 Corinthians 5:21
Double imputation: we become God’s righteousness, because Christ “became” our sin.
Bible Verses on Full Preterism, Resurrection, and the Second Coming
This Age and the Age to Come
Luke 20:42
“This age” is characterized by marriage, but in the next age there will be no marriage. Hence, we are still in “this age,” and this is not a reference only to the age before the destruction of Jerusalem, contra Full (or Hyper) Preterism.
Bodily Resurrection
Luke 21:16–18
Physical death does not equate to perishing. You can be killed, yet “not a hair of your head will be lost.” The physical body will be saved (at the General Resurrection).
The Visible Return of Christ
Acts 1:11–12
The Parousia (Second Coming) will be physical, visible, and located at the Mount of Olives, contra those who think Jesus’ coming will be secretive, or like his first coming, or somehow through a computer (as one podcaster has said).
Judgment and Final Deliverance
1 Corinthians 6:3
We Christians will judge the angels in the next age. We will play a role in God’s final judgment of the world.
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10
Conversion is turning from idols to God. The message of the gospel is that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead, rescues us from the coming wrath, and will return from Heaven.
Bible Verses on Pentecostalism and Hyper-Charismaticism
Note: by including this I am emphatically not conveying that Pentecostalism is not “real Christianity.” However, the movement has certain excesses which Scripture does address.
Order in Prophetic Speech
1 Corinthians 14:32
The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. The prophet cannot blame the Holy Spirit for his going out of control (contra hyper-charismatics).
Apostolic Signs
2 Corinthians 12:12
“Signs of an apostle” indicates that today’s supposed apostles, without those signs, are not apostles at all (contra Pentecostal churches and others who claim to have apostles today).
Bible Verse on Fringe Biblical Cosmology
Rahab as Egypt
Isaiah 30:7
“Rahab” is Egypt, not a lost or destroyed planet (contra fringe theologians who claim otherwise).
Angels as the “gods”
Psalm 97:7
the “gods” are angels (cf. LXX; Hebrews 1:6) and are required to worship the Son!
Bible Verses and the Kantian Noumenal–Phenomenal Distinction
Continuity Between Spiritual and Physical Reality
Psalm 148:1–6
The noumenal and phenomenal realms have continuity (angels and stars are related), contra Kant).
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