Chapter 4:

Who Is God?

Part 2: Foreknowledge and Predestination

Many people assume that because God is Almighty, absolutely everything is under his direct control. Everything that happens, happens because he wants it to; indeed, he planned it long ago. Is this view of God correct?

The Bible says, ‘not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it, and the hairs of your head are all numbered.’ (Matt 10:29, 30) And it says "The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones." (Prov 15:3) From this we could assume that God is instantly aware of every least movement or thought in all creation.

On the other hand, before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Jehovah said to Abraham, "I am determined to go down that I may see whether they act according to the outcry over it that has come to me, and, if not, I can get to know it." (Gen 18:21) It would appear that knowledge of Sodom’s wickedness first came to God in angelic reports, not by his own personal presence there. Now he was making an official, judicial visit, to decide what to do about it.

Later, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son. Just as Abraham was about to do so, Jehovah stopped him, saying, "Now I do know that you are God-fearing in that you have not withheld your son, your only one, from me." (Gen 22:12) Did God really have to test Abraham to know that? If all things were decided in advance, God would certainly have already known, because he would have planned it himself, long before Abraham was born! Evidently that is not the way God does things.

There are numerous other instances where God plainly says that he looks at people’s behavior to find out what is in their heart. For example, read Deut 8.2, 13.1-3, 2 Chron 32.31, Jer 26.2, 3 and 36.2, 3. The last two shows that Jehovah appeals to men to change their ways and can then change his own mind, if they respond well.

Yes, the Bible often calls out to us, saying, "choose life" "turn away from bad" "repent of your sins" (see De 30.19, Prov 3.1-7, Ezek 18.30-32, Acts 3.19, Rev 22.17, Matt 22.14). If, in fact, our response is predetermined, every invitation for us to choose would be a sham, a pretense. Our freedom to choose would be just an illusion. Our actions would be just like the playing of a prerecorded videotape! But is our "reality" just the playing of some great recording? If so, whose videotape would it be? Since God is the Creator, it would have to be his. That would mean every wicked "choice", every vicious crime, every cruel word, was predecided in the mind of God. God would be the source of all evil!

That makes no sense at all. The Bible is very clear in saying that God is disappointed when man chooses evil; he becomes angry when we persist in it. (Gen 6.6, 7, 1 Sam 15.11, Deut 29.19, 20) Why should he feel that way if men were only doing exactly what He had decided they would do, even millions of years before they were born? —unless God too were just an illusion, an actor on the videotape himself, reacting helplessly as the story plays itself out!

No, such a concept of God is inherently false. The Bible is true: we have free will. We can please God or disappoint him. We do indeed decide NOW which way we will go in life. And we will be held accountable for our own choices, for they are truly ours, not pre-ordained for us. —see also Deut 32.4, 5.

But of course, God does foretell the future. At Isaiah 46:9-11 we read: "I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me; the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, ‘My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do’....I have even spoken it; I shall also bring it in. I have formed it, I shall also do it." As Creator, certainly he can decide in advance that some specific event must happen. As necessary, he can step in to influence the flow of events so that the outcome he desires is obtained.

This does not mean God foreknows the future by literally looking forward into time, nor by extrapolating from the present, detail by minute detail. For Him to merely see into the future would imply that time is greater than He is; he would have to take what must come, for what he would see must occur, or else he would not see it. On the other hand, figuring out what many, many persons would decide to do in response to a multitude of subtle circumstances would automatically negate free will; to precalculate the future in this way is to foreordain it. It would declare our "decisions" to be blind reactions to stimuli; consciousness would be an illusion.

No, God respects our freedom. So while he influences trends and events to accomplish specifically those things he wants to occur, he leaves the rest up to us, or to the natural flow of his physical laws. He can also use his intimate knowledge of the personality of his creatures to make some predictions. For example, even before Israel was settled into their land, God said that they would not turn out well. Why not? He explains: "I well know the inclination they are developing today, before I bring them into the land." —Deut 31.16, 21.

Psalms 11:4, 5 says: "Jehovah —in the heavens is his throne. His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men. Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, And anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates." When Jehovah looks at you, what does he see? It’s up to you.

Jehovah’s Personality

What sort of personality does Jehovah have? Is he someone you could grow to love if you knew him well? Can you be his friend? Or is he distant and aloof, as mighty rulers of this world usually are?

As chapter 1 of this book mentioned, we can learn something of how Jehovah thinks from his creative works. Life can be so beautiful! Have you ever admired a particularly beautiful sunset? Surely this proves that God has a sense of aesthetics, and he gave to us the ability to appreciate beauty too. Consider also how many kinds of delicious food there are. All of them were designed by the Creator. Our body was designed with senses not "merely to aid our survival," as evolutionists would say, but really to take delight in life. Does this not tell us something about Jehovah?

The Bible says that man was made "in God’s image." Obviously, we are flesh and blood, planet-bound material creatures, while he is "spirit," able to traverse the universe in an instant. But in immaterial ways, in matters of the heart and mind, we can resemble God. So we can learn something of him by examining ourselves. For example, are you angered at seeing injustice? Does cruelty disturb you? Do you have a sense of fair play? Do you have moral standards? Is it possible to hurt your feelings? Are you able to forgive if someone apologizes, or even if they don’t? Does your patience have limits? If so, you are reflecting how Jehovah feels about things. (see Acts 10.34, 35, Deut 16.18, 19, Ps 78.36-41, 58-62, Ezek 18.19, 20, Prov 12.10, Luke 17.3, 4)

Of course, Jehovah exhibits these qualities in perfect balance. We, on the other hand, can be very imperfect in the way we deal with our fellowmen. If you can imagine a person who is very kind and helpful, generous and sympathetic, yet who will not countenance lies and laziness and other hurtful behavior, you have some idea of Jehovah’s personality. It would take many lifetimes to really become acquainted with Jehovah. We are warmly invited: "Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you." (James 4.8) You are doing that now as you learn about him. Don’t quit. No better friend can you find. (compare Isa 41.9, 10, 13, Ps 46.1, Prov 17.17, 1 John 4.7-10.)

Should We Fear God?

In a word, yes. The Bible says: "The conclusion of the matter, everything being heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for that is the whole obligation of man." In Revelation 14.7 we see an angel proclaiming to every nation and people on earth: "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of judgment by him has arrived!" But didn't Jesus say that the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength? And did not John say "there is no fear in love, for love throws fear outside; indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love"? Yet the command to "fear" God appears many times throughout the Bible. How can fear coexist with love? Can we really love God if we are afraid of him too? Would not ‘fear throw love outside’? —Ecclesiastes 12.13, 1 John 4:18, Mark 12:28-33.

The problem arises because the word "fear" has different levels of meaning. As it applies to God, close synonyms would be respect, awe, and reverence. We respect people and things which have power over us (if we have any sense, that is.) Yet we can enjoy and "love" them at the same time. For example, we love a warm campfire on a chilly night. We are drawn to its warmth and light. But we take care not to fall into it, do we not? We respect (fear) what it can do if we get careless with it. Likewise, "our God is a consuming fire." And "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" by incurring his anger. We find his mighty power awesome and even comforting, knowing that he can be our protector, but we also respect (fear) it, and do not presume to be careless or reckless with him by disregarding his standards. (Heb 12:28, 29, Heb 10:26-31; see also Deuteronomy 4.24, 2 Pet 2:1-10 and Job 9:4.)

To use another illustration: Imagine you are at the very edge of a tall building or cliff, looking down. What is your first urge? To throw yourself wildly into the abyss? OK, so some people are crazy. But if you are normal, your heart pounds, your chest tenses with dread and you ve-e-ery carefully back away. You find yourself trembling at the thought of falling. This does not mean you feel the height hates you. It is not malevolent, trying to seek your harm. Even so, you respect it intensely. Fear is the right word.

On the other hand, if we feel in control, we are less fearful. If we stand without rope on a ledge with nothing to hold to, our attention is extremely focused on our footing. But with proper equipment and training, we could move confidently and enjoy the awesome view. The same can be said of our relationship with God: do we feel safe, or teetering on the edge? Love is that "equipment and training" that "throws out" the terror of insecurity. But it does not mean the cliff is no longer there. We always have to keep that in mind. Carelessness and overconfidence will still kill.

Do you love to swim? How do you feel about drowning? Yet you swim anyway, right? But while you enjoy your swim, you are careful, because you know that the water should remain outside your lungs. That is wisdom, possibly borne of some experience. Likewise in our walk with God: "the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom." Be careful to respect him, and you can find great pleasure as his friend. So Psalm 25:14 really does make sense: "the intimacy [friendship, closeness] with Jehovah belongs to those fearful of him."

Thankfully God is more forgiving than fire, gravity, or water. If we make a mistake with him, we are likely to get another chance to get it right. He is not an impersonal, uncaring, mindless force, but a personal, caring, loving Father. People naturally fear the unknown, especially if it is ominous. But we can know Jehovah, and any foreboding we may have can become deep respect. With knowledge, we can "understand" the fear of Jehovah. —see Prov 2:1-5.

Jehovah is "fear-inspiring", or awesome, to be regarded with wonder and amazement, and we also revere him, which means we add honor and esteem to awe. In a word, we worship him.

What Is True Worship?

Throughout history mankind has worshipped many gods in as many ways. There are those who chant in mournful tones in dark temples, others dance and shout, others bow to the ground again and again and again. Many pray before images or idols, speaking to them, lighting candles, even offering them food.

How should we worship Jehovah, the only true God? First, what does the word "worship" really mean? One dictionary says, "Prayer, service in reverence to a deity; intense love or admiration." Does Jehovah tell us how we should speak to him, and how we can serve him? How do we really show that we love and admire him?

Certainly we would not be doing so if we ignored what he said, and did only what we thought was appropriate, whatever ‘felt right’ to us. So the first step in worshipping God is to listen to him, which today means reading his Word. —John 14.15.

The question of true worship was raised by a sincere Samaritan woman. She had been brought up to worship God according to Samaritan thinking. Yet she did not say, "what’s good enough for Mom and Dad is good enough for me." She was interested in how God felt. One day she went to the well to draw water, and there she met Jesus. After a short conversation it became plain to her that Jesus could answer the question that was burning in her heart. Please read the account at John 4.19-26.

She wanted to know which way of worship was right: the Samaritan way or the Jewish way? Jesus’ teachings establish him as kind, understanding, reasonable and yielding. (Matt 11.27-30) No one can accuse Jesus of being a narrow-minded bigot. Yet did he say, "Don’t worry, you worship the way you like, we’ll worship the way we like, and God will bless us all"? Many people believe that way. But no, he said, ‘The time is coming when neither the Samaritan nor the Jewish way will be accepted. Rather, the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.’ Yes, truth is a word Jesus used often. Clearly the Father, Jehovah, wants us to worship him according to the way he directs: by his spirit, his word, the truth. —John 17.17.

Jehovah gave very thorough instructions concerning worship to the nation of Israel. The Ten Commandments (Ex 20.1-17) are considered to be the essence, the fundamentals, of that Law. There we find, first of all, that He is the only true God, and He will not share worship with other gods. If you are married, how would you feel if your mate committed adultery? You then have a sense of how God would feel about us if we tried to worship Him and other gods as well (Isa 42.8). In other words, fidelity, loyalty, is important to him.

Second, we learn that to bow before or address images, icons, or idols— anything material— as an aid in worship is not only unnecessary, it is foolish. In fact, it offends God very much. —see Isa 46.5-10, 44.14-20, Ps 115.4-8.

The third Commandment teaches us to be in awe of Jehovah, using his Name respectfully. Our service to him must reflect a deep respect, reverence, yes, "fear" of him. It must be of the utmost quality that we can muster. He requires it. —Mal 1.6-14.

The sabbath law (the 4^th Commandment) teaches us to set aside time to learn about Him and do work that furthers His will, not working only for our own interests.

The rest of the Ten Commandments teach us to respect the family arrangement as being ordained of God, and to love our fellowman. If we do these things, we are "not far from the kingdom of God." —Mark 12.28-34.

The Israelites often lost sight of the purpose of the many rules concerning worship that God had given them. They focused on slavishly observing rituals and offerings, as if they could buy God’s favor with the outward form of religion. Jesus observed: "you give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin [they carefully counted out 1/10 of these tiny seeds to pay the precise ‘tithe’ required by God] but you disregard the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice, and mercy, and faithfulness!" In the 8th century B.C. God told them: "Of what benefit to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? I have had enough of whole burnt offerings of rams and the fat of animals; in the blood of young bulls and male lambs and he-goats I have taken no delight.... Stop bringing in any more valueless grain offerings. Incense— it is something detestable to me.... Your new moons and your festal seasons my soul has hated. To me they have become a burden.... when you spread out your palms [in prayer], I hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed your very hands have become filled. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the badness of your dealings from in front of my eyes; cease to do bad. Learn to do good; search for justice; set right the oppressor; render judgment for the fatherless boy; plead the cause of the widow." (Isa 1:12-17) Again he said: "you people were finding delight [congratulating themselves as religious] in the day of your fasting [making a show of self-denial as a form of worship], when there were all your toilers that you kept driving to work.... Should the fast that I choose become like this, as a day for earthling man to afflict his soul? For bowing down his head like a rush, and that he should spread out sackcloth and ashes as his couch? Is it this that you call a fast and a day acceptable to Jehovah? [Rather,] is not this the fast that I choose? To loosen the fetters of wickedness, to release the bands of the yoke bar, and to send away the crushed ones free?... Is it not the dividing of your bread out to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into your house?... In that case your light would break forth just like the dawn.... In that case you would call, and Jehovah himself would answer; you would cry for help, and he would say, ‘Here I am!’" (Isa 58:3-9; see also Micah 6:7, 8, Deut 10:12-21, Psalm 51:17, James 1:27, Matt 9.13, Hosea 6.6, and Amos 5:21-24.)

From this it is very clear that true worship is first of all a matter of trying to be like God, being loving, compassionate, just, truthful. That is the underlying purpose of all the rules that God gives us. "Become imitators of God, as beloved children." (Eph 5:1) That is true worship. "Worship" that consists primarily of formulaic ritual, no matter how costly, impressive or beautiful, is actually worse than useless: it is disgusting to God. As John put it, "He that does not love does not know God, for God is love. . . he who does not love his brother, who he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen. . . Little children, let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue [only], but in deed and truth." —1 John 4:8, 20, 3:14-18; see also Romans 13:8-10.

Sincerity Alone Not Enough

Jehovah wants us to be honest, sincere and earnest in our worship. Sophistry and compromise are unacceptable. (Matt 7.21-23, Prov 15.8, 29) Still, even a sincere person can do the wrong thing if his knowledge is inaccurate. Paul wrote of the Jews: "They have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge." (Romans 10.1-4; see also John 16.2, 3) Paul was sympathetic to such sincerely wrong people, for a very good reason: at one time he had been one of them. Because of his zeal for God, he had violently persecuted the Christian faith. (see the account at Acts 8.1-3, 9.1, 2) He believed Christianity was an unholy apostasy from the pure religion given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. He believed that God’s law required him to oppose the Christians. (Deut 13.1-18) This he was doing with all his might. Yes, he had an admirable zeal for God. There was just one problem: he was wrong.

What happened? Did God say, "that’s OK, as long as he’s sincere about it, I’ll accept that as worship to me"? Of course not. The man needed to be stopped. Did God incinerate him? No. He acknowledged and appreciated the sincerity— and enlightened him. First, he had to get his attention. So Jesus, acting in the authority given him by God, stopped him in his tracks. Paul (then known as Saul) showed his true quality by accepting the correction. Read the entire dramatic account at Acts 9.3-22. (see also Paul’s recounting at Acts 22.3-21 and 26.12-18.)

We too may at times need to be corrected by God. Will we "kick against the pricks" (resist the correction) or accept it as the loving benefit that it is? Notice how Paul felt about it in his own words at 1 Tim 1.12-16. —compare also Psalm 32.8-10.

Loving Correction From God’s Word

The practice of using images in worship dates from earliest times. It is a natural instinct to want to see the person you are speaking to. Most say that they do not worship the image or idol itself; it merely represents the invisible god they are petitioning. Most do feel, however, that their god actually looks like the image before them. And most also believe that their god acts through the image, so that having it in the house or on their person is protective. Jehovah, as the true living God, cannot be reduced to a mere symbol or an image. This is a point that He makes very forcefully, both in the citations given above and again at Isaiah 40:12-26 (please read). He refuses to allow us to use a crutch, an idol, as an aid in worshipping Him. He knows that we will quickly shift to giving the object itself the faith and devotion we should be giving to Him. He knows human nature; after all, he created us.

Most churches prominently display a cross or crucifix as a symbol of Christ. Despite its being a material object, it is often given devotion that can easily be taken as worship: no doubt you have seen someone kneel before or kiss a cross. Perhaps you have done it yourself. Millions wear a cross as jewelry, some thinking it gives protection like an amulet, others merely to advertise their profession of Christianity. But are you aware that the cross is a symbol borrowed directly from pagan religions? Indeed, history reveals that variations of the cross have been sacred symbols in many pagan religions all over the world since long before the time of Christ. Yet the first Christians did not use or display the cross; such usage is not even hinted at in the Bible. Only in later centuries, when the church began to abandon the simple purity of the original faith and bring in symbols, rituals, and celebrations from other religions to make themselves more palatable to the world, was the cross adopted as the symbol of Christ.

A variety of crosses found around the world

But did not our Savior actually die on a cross? Thinking so, many reason that it is a simple and convenient symbol of that supreme act of loving sacrifice in our behalf (more on that in the next chapter), and so displaying it shows our appreciation and acceptance of Him as our Lord. Unfortunately, a little research reveals a surprising finding: the Greek word used in the Bible for the manner of Jesus’ death is stauro'o, which means "impale" or hang upon a post. The post itself was called a stauros, which does not refer to a cross made of two timbers. It meant only a stake or post. Secular history confirms that this was the usual instrument of execution at the time.*

So according to the Bible’s original Greek, Jesus did not die on a cross. Stauros was later translated into Latin as crux, which is what the Latin-speaking Roman authority actually used to execute Christ. Eventually church tradition established this to mean a two-piece instrument of torture-execution, but historians are divided as to whether the Romans ever used the two-piece form in first-century Judaea. In the end, the exact shape the Romans used to execute Christ does not matter. He did have to be hung up on public display as a criminal, Paul explains at Gal 3:13, 14, so that detail was necessary.* But whether his arms were outstretched or not, is not important; what is important is that He gave his life for us.

God makes his feelings about both idolatry and intermixing of worship abundantly clear. True Christians, who "understand the fear of Jehovah," (they are seriously careful not to offend Him) obey His inspired command to "flee from idolatry." (1 Cor 10:14; see also vss 19-22 and James 4:4, 7, 8.) They cannot reduce their Savior to a symbol, especially not to a hideous instrument of cruelty. How can you tell if a person is a Christian, then? Certainly not by his or her jewelry. Let Jesus tell us: "By this all will know that you are my disciples," he said, "if you have love among yourselves." This love is not shown by tokens, but "just as [he] loved [us]": courageous self-sacrificing service, particularly by teaching all that he has taught us, which is what people really need. —John 13:34, 35; Matt 28:18-20.

Now that you know these things, are you moved to act to please Jehovah God? Why not look around your home and ask yourself if you have anything that would offend Him? What should you do with it? —see Deut 7.25, 26; see also 2 Cor 6.14-18.*

Further, when you see a church that displays a cross, you can know at once that they do not understand how God views that symbol and their worshipful misuse of it. Surely if they knew, they would quickly remove it. Surely they would not be insensitive to His express feelings, preferring what is popular and traditional over what God himself says. You might try sharing these facts with them. What kind of reception do you expect? Would Jehovah prefer that you say, "It doesn't matter, as long as they feel good about it"? Would He be pleased with you if you joined with them in their way of worship?

If you try to worship God in the way that pleases Him, He will notice your sincere efforts. Listen to the advice King David gave to Solomon, his son: "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul; for all hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning. If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you." (1 Chron 28:9) The blessings of having God’s favor are beyond counting. You will live forever, and never regret your decision to serve God. —Mal 3.16-18, Psalm 37.29, 34, 37.

However, Jesus said: "No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14.6) Why did he say that? Why do we need anyone’s help to draw close to God? That is the subject for the next chapter.

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Deut 8:2
You must remember all the way that Jehovah your God made you walk these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, to put you to the test so as to know what was in your heart, as to whether you would keep his commandments or not.

Deut 13:1-3
In case a prophet or a dreamer of a dream arises in your midst and does give you a sign or a portent, and the sign or the portent does come true of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us walk after other gods, whom you have not known, and let us serve them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to the dreamer of that dream, because Jehovah your God is testing you to know whether you are loving Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul.
[This does not mean Jehovah lends power to agents of false gods; rather, in allowing such agents to work signs by the power of Satan, he permits our loyalty to be tested. Some Bible writers speak of everything God permits, no matter how evil, as positively wrought by His hand. We should not take that phrasing literally, as James states plainly, "God himself tries no one with evil." (James 1:13) The point here is the purpose of such test: to discover the strength of our loyalty.]

2 Chron 32:31
Thus it was that by the spokesmen of the princes of Babylon that were sent to him to inquire about the portent that had happened in the land, the [true] God left him to put him to the test, to get to know everything in his heart.

Jer 26:2, 3
"This is what Jehovah has said, 'Stand in the courtyard of the house of Jehovah, and you must speak concerning all the cities of Judah that are coming in to bow down at the house of Jehovah all the words that I will command you to speak to them. Do not take away a word. Perhaps they will listen and return, each one from his bad way, and I shall have to feel regret for the calamity that I am thinking to execute upon them because of the badness of their dealings.'"

Jer 36:2, 3
Take for yourself a roll of a book, and you must write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and against Judah and against all the nations, since the day that I spoke to you, since the days of Josiah, clear down to this day. Perhaps those of the house of Judah will listen to all the calamity that I am thinking of doing to them, to the end that they may return, each one from his bad way, and that I may actually forgive their error and their sin." [Note: they did not.]

Deut 30:19
I do take the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you today, that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the malediction; and you must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring.

Prov 3:1-7
My son, my law do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe, because length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you. May loving-kindness and trueness themselves not leave you. Tie them about your throat. Write them upon the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and good insight in the eyes of God and of earthling man. Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.

Ezek 18:30-32
"Therefore each one according to his ways is how I shall judge you, O house of Israel," is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. "Turn back, yes, cause a turning back from all your transgressions, and let nothing prove to be for you people a stumbling block causing error. Throw off from yourselves all your transgressions in which you have transgressed and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, for why should you die, O house of Israel? For I do not take any delight in the death of someone dying. . . So cause a turning back and keep living, O you people.

Acts 3:19
Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from Jehovah.

Rev 22:17
And the spirit and the bride keep on saying: "Come!" And let anyone hearing say: "Come!" And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life's water free.

Matt 22:14, AV
"Many are called, but few are chosen."

[Why would God call anyone he had already decided not to choose? Does he play games with us? What sort of God would that be? No, the invitation to life is extended to many, but only those who accept it correctly are chosen.]

Gen 6:6, 7
Then Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time. And Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth, and he felt hurt at his heart. So Jehovah said: "I am going to wipe men whom I have created off the surface of the ground, from man to domestic animal, to moving animal and to flying creature of the heavens, because I do regret that I have made them."

[the word translated "regret" here means "have a change of mind or feeling about." God was not saying that he felt creating mankind had been a mistake; rather, he stopped caring about them and decided at that time (not eons earlier, as predestinarians believe) that he would kill them off. Clearly, God usually allows us to choose our course, and he then decides what he will do about it in response.]

1 Sam 15:11
I do regret that I have caused Saul to reign as king, because he has turned back from following me, and my words he has not carried out.

Deut 29:19, 20
It must occur that when someone has heard the words of this oath, and he has blessed himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall come to have peace, although I shall walk in the stubbornness of my heart,' . . . Jehovah will not want to forgive him, but then Jehovah's anger and his ardor will smoke against that man, and all the oath written in this book will certainly settle down on him, and Jehovah will indeed wipe out his name from under the heavens.

Deut 32:4, 5
The Rock, perfect is his activity,
For all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice;
Righteous and upright is he.
They have acted ruinously on their own part;
They are not his children, the defect is their own.
A generation crooked and twisted!

Deut 31:16, 21
16 Jehovah now said to Moses: "Look! You are lying down with your forefathers; and this people will certainly get up and have immoral intercourse with foreign gods of the land to which they are going. . . and they will certainly forsake me and break my covenant that I have concluded with them. . . And it must occur that when many calamities and distresses will come upon them [due to their disloyalty], this song must also answer before them as a witness, because it should not be forgotten out of the mouth of their offspring. For I well know their inclination that they are developing today before I bring them into the land about which I have sworn."

Acts 10:34, 35
God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

Deut 16:18, 19
You should set judges and officers for yourself inside all your gates that Jehovah your God is giving you . . . and they must judge the people with righteous judgment. You must not pervert judgment. You must not be partial or accept a bribe, for the bribe blinds the eyes of wise ones and distorts the words of righteous ones.

Psalm 78:36-41, 58-62
They tried to fool him with their mouth; with their tongue they tried to lie to him. Their heart was not steadfast with him; they did not prove faithful in his covenant. But he was merciful; he would cover the error and not bring ruin. Many times he made his anger turn back, and he would not rouse up all his rage. He kept remembering that they were flesh, that the spirit is going forth and does not come back. How often they would rebel against him in the wilderness, they would make him feel hurt in the desert! Again and again they would put God to the test, and they pained even the Holy One of Israel. . .
58 And they kept offending him with their high places, with their graven images they kept inciting him to jealousy. God heard and got to be furious, so he came to utterly despise Israel. He finally forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent in which he resided among earthling men. . . And he kept handing over his people to the sword itself, against his inheritance he became furious.

Ezek 18:19, 20
You people will certainly say: "Why is it that the son does not have to bear anything because of the error of the father?" Now the son has done justice and righteousness; he has kept all my statutes and he keeps doing them. He will surely keep living. It is the soul that is sinning that will die. A son will bear nothing because of the sins of his father, and a father will bear nothing because of the sins of his son. Upon his own self the righteousness of the righteous one will come to be, and upon his own self the wickedness of a wicked one will come to be.

Prov 12:10
The righteous one is caring for the soul of his domestic animal, but the mercies of the wicked ones are cruel.

Luke 17:3, 4
If your brother commits a sin give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him. Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him. [that is, if he means what he says.]

Isa 41:9, 10, 13
So I said to you, “You are my servant; I have chosen you, and I have not rejected you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not look around [in panic], for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness.” . . . For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you, “Do not be afraid. I myself will help you.”

Psalm 46:1
God is for us a refuge and strength, a help that is readily to be found during distresses.

Prov 17:17
A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress.

1 John 4:7-10
Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God. He that does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. This is the way God has shown us his love: God sent forth his only-begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him. The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent forth his Son to be a peace-making sacrifice to cover our sins.

Ecclesiastes 12.13:
The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.
1 John 4:18:
There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.
Mark 12:28-33:
One of the scribes . . . asked him: "Which commandment is first of all?" Jesus answered: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.' The second is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth, 'He is One, and there is no other than He'; and this loving him with one's whole heart and with one's whole understanding and with one's whole strength and this loving one's neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Heb 12:28, 29
Seeing that we are to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to have [His] undeserved kindness, through which we may serve God acceptably, with godly fear and awe. For our God is also a consuming fire.
Deuteronomy 4.24
For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, a God exacting exclusive devotion.
Heb 10:26-31
If we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but [rather] a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition. Any man that has disregarded the law of Moses dies without compassion, upon the testimony of two or three. Of how much more severe a punishment, do you think, will the man be counted worthy who has trampled upon the Son of God and who has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt? For we know him that said: "Vengeance is mine; I will recompense"; and again: "Jehovah will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Pet 2:1-10
However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects, and will deny the owner that bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their acts of loose conduct, causing the way of truth to be blasphemed. Also in covetousness with counterfeit words they will exploit you. But for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly and the destruction of them is not slumbering. Certainly if God did not hold back from punishing the angels that sinned [see Genesis 6], but by throwing them into pits of dense darkness, into Tartarus [in Greek myth, a place where one could see all that one desired, but never reach it. Not a literal location; a condition of restraint], reserved them for judgment; and he did not hold back from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people; and by reducing the cities Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them, setting a pattern for ungodly persons of things to come; and he delivered righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct (for that righteous man by what he saw and heard while dwelling among them from day to day was tormenting his righteous soul by reason of their lawless deeds) [this proves that] Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off, especially, however, those who go after flesh with the desire to defile it and who look down on lordship.
Job 9:4
He is wise in heart and strong in power. Who can show stubbornness to him and come off uninjured?

Prov 2:1-5
My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God.

John 14:15
If you love me, you will observe my commandments.

John 4:19-26
The woman said to him: "Sir, I see you are a prophet. Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain; but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where persons ought to worship." Jesus said to her: "Believe me, woman, The hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you people worship the Father. you worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation originates with the Jews. Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth." The woman said to him: "I know that Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. Whenever that one arrives, he will declare all things to us openly." Jesus said to her: "I who am speaking to you am he."

Matt 11:27-28
All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son but the Father, neither does anyone fully know the Father but the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is kindly and my load is light.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.

Ex 20:1-17
I am Jehovah your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves.
[1] You must not have any other gods against my face.
[2] You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be led to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation, even upon the fourth generation, for those who hate me; but showing loving-kindness for a thousand generations, for those who love me and keep my commandments.
[3] You must not use the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who uses his name in a worthless way.
[4] Remembering the sabbath day to hold it sacred, you are to serve and do all your work six days. But the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, you nor your son nor your daughter, your slave man nor your slave girl nor your domestic animal nor your alien resident who is inside your gates. For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and he proceeded to rest on the seventh day. That is why Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.
[5] Honor your father and your mother in order that your days may prove long upon the ground that Jehovah your God is giving you.
[6] You must not murder.
[7] You must not commit adultery.
[8] You must not steal.
[9] You must not testify falsely as a witness against your fellowman.
[10] You must not desire your fellowman's house. You must not desire your fellowman's wife, nor his slave man nor his slave girl nor his bull nor his ass nor anything that belongs to your fellowman.

Isa 42:8
I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.

Isa 46:5-10
To whom will you people liken me or make me equal or compare me that we may resemble each other? There are those who are lavishing out the gold from the purse, and with the scale beam they weigh out the silver. They hire a metalworker, and he makes it into a god. They prostrate themselves, yes, they bow down. They carry it upon the shoulder, they bear it and deposit it in its place that it may stand still. From its standing place it does not move away. One even cries out to it, but it does not answer; out of one's distress it does not save one. Remember this, that you may fix it firmly in mind. Lay it to heart, you transgressors. Remember the first things of a long time ago, that I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me; the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been done; the One saying, “My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do.”
Isa 44:14-20
There is one whose business is to cut down cedars; and he takes a certain species of tree, even a massive tree, and he lets it become strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He planted the laurel tree, and the pouring rain itself keeps making it get big. And it has become [something] for man to keep a fire burning. So he takes part of it that he may warm himself. In fact he builds a fire and actually bakes bread. He also works on a god to which he may bow down. He has made it into a carved image, and he prostrates himself to it. Half of it he actually burns up in a fire. Upon half of it he roasts well the flesh that he eats, and he becomes satisfied. He also warms himself and says: "Aha! I have warmed myself. I have seen the firelight." But the remainder of it he actually makes into a god itself, into his carved image. He prostrates himself to it and bows down and prays to it and says: "Deliver me, for you are my god."
They have not come to know, nor do they understand, because their eyes have been blinded so as not to see, their heart so as to have no insight. And no one recalls to his heart or has knowledge or understanding, saying: "The half of it I have burned up in a fire, and upon its coals I have also baked bread; I roast flesh and eat. But the rest of it shall I make into a mere detestable thing? To the dried-out wood of a tree shall I prostrate myself?" He is feeding on ashes. His own heart that has been trifled with has led him astray. And he does not deliver his soul, nor does he say: "Is there not a falsehood in my right hand?"
Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of the hands of earthling man.
A mouth they have, but they cannot speak;
Eyes they have, but they cannot see;
Ears they have, but they cannot hear.
A nose they have, but they cannot smell.
Hands are theirs, but they cannot feel.
Feet are theirs, but they cannot walk;
They utter no sound with their throat.
Those making them will become just like them,
All those who are trusting in them.

Mal 1:6-14
"A son, for his part, honors a father; and a servant, his grand master. So if I am a father, where is the honor to me? And if I am a grand master, where is the fear of me?" Jehovah of armies has said to you, O priests who are despising my name. And you have said: "In what way have we despised your name?" By presenting upon my altar polluted bread. And you have said: "In what way have we polluted you?" By your saying: "The table of Jehovah is something to be despised." And when you present a blind animal for sacrificing: "It is nothing bad." And when you present a lame or sick one: "It is nothing bad." "Bring it near, please, to your governor. Will he find pleasure in you, or will he receive you kindly?" Jehovah of armies has said. And now, please, soften the face of God, that he may show us favor. From your hand this has occurred. Will he receive any of you men kindly? . . . also: Who is there among you that will shut the doors [of the temple]? And you men will not light my altar for nothing [they refuse to do any temple service unless they get paid for it]. "No delight do I have in you," Jehovah of armies has said, "and in the gift offering from your hand I take no pleasure." "For from the sun's rising even to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place sacrificial smoke will be made, a presentation will be made to my name, even a clean gift; because my name will be great among the nations," Jehovah of armies has said. But you men are profaning me by your saying, "The table of Jehovah is something polluted, and its fruit is something to be despised, its food." And you have said, "Look! What a weariness!" and you have caused a sniffing at it. . . And you have brought something torn away [basicly, road kill; what was left over from a wolf attack on the flock], and the lame one, and the sick one; yes, you have brought it as a gift. "Can I take pleasure in it at your hand?" Jehovah has said. Cursed is the one acting cunningly when there exists in his drove a male animal, and he is making a vow and sacrificing a ruined one to Jehovah. "For I am a great King," Jehovah of armies has said, "and my name will be fear-inspiring among the nations."

Mark 12.28-34
Now one of the scribes that had come up and heard them disputing, knowing that he had answered them in a fine way, asked him: "Which commandment is first of all?" Jesus answered: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.' The second is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth, 'He is One, and there is no other than He'; and this loving him with one's whole heart and with one's whole understanding and with one's whole strength and this loving one's neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." At this Jesus, discerning he had answered intelligently, said to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

Micah 6:7, 8
Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of torrents of oil? Shall I give my firstborn son for my revolt, the fruitage of my belly for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to act with justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?
Deut 10:12-21
And now, O Israel, what is Jehovah your God asking of you but to fear Jehovah your God, so as to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul; to keep the commandments of Jehovah and his statutes that I am commanding you today, for your good? Behold, to Jehovah your God belong the heavens, even the heavens of the heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Only, to your forefathers did Jehovah get attached so as to love them, so that he chose their offspring after them, even you, out of all the peoples, as at this day. And you must circumcise the foreskin of your hearts and not harden your necks any longer. For Jehovah your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty and fear-inspiring, who treats none with partiality nor accepts a bribe, executing judgment for the fatherless boy and the widow and loving the alien resident so as to give him bread and clothing. You too must love the alien resident, for you became alien residents in the land of Egypt. Jehovah your God you should fear. Him you should serve, and to him you should cling, and by his name you should make sworn statements. He is the One for you to praise, and he is your God, who has done with you these great and fear-inspiring things that your eyes have seen.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit; A heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not despise.
James 1:27
The form of worship that is clean and undefiled to our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself unblemished from the world.
Matt 9.13
Go, then, and learn what this means, 'I want mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners.
Hosea 6.6
For in loving-kindness I have taken delight, and not in sacrifice; and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings.
Amos 5:21-24 I have hated, I have rejected your festivals, and I shall not enjoy the smell of your solemn assemblies. If you people offer up to me whole burnt offerings, even in your gift offerings I shall find no pleasure, and on your communion sacrifices of fatlings I shall not look. Remove from me the turmoil of your songs; and the melodious sound of your stringed instruments may I not hear. And let justice roll forth just like waters, and righteousness like a constantly flowing torrent.

1 John 3:14-18
We know we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a manslayer, and you know that no manslayer has everlasting life remaining in him. By this we have come to know love, because that One surrendered his soul for us; and we are under obligation to surrender our souls for our brothers. But whoever has this world's means for supporting life and beholds his brother having need and yet shuts the door of his tender compassions upon him, in what way does the love of God remain in him? Little children, let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth.

Rom 13:8-10
Do not you people be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another; for he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. For the laws, "You must not commit adultery, You must not murder, You must not steal, You must not covet," and whatever other commandment there is, is summed up in this word, namely, "You must love your neighbor as yourself." Love does not work evil to one's neighbor; therefore love is the law's fulfillment.

Matt 7:21-23
Not everyone saying to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and do many powerful works in your name?" Yet then I will reply to them: "I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!"

Prov 15:8, 29
8 The sacrifice of the wicked ones is something detestable to Jehovah, but the prayer of the upright ones is a pleasure to him.
29 Jehovah is far away from the wicked ones, but the prayer of the righteous ones he hears.

Romans 10:1-4
Brothers, the goodwill of my heart and my supplication to God for them are, indeed, for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge; for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

John 16:2
Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me.

Acts 8.1-3
Saul, for his part, was approving of the murder of [Stephen]. On that day great persecution arose against the congregation that was in Jerusalem; all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. But reverent men carried Stephen to the burial, and they made a great lamentation over him. Saul, though, began to deal outrageously with the congregation. Invading one house after another and, dragging out both men and women, he would turn them over to prison.

Acts 9:1, 2
But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women.

Deut 13:1-18, paraphrased for length:
In case a prophet or a dreamer arises in your midst and gives you a sign or a portent, and the sign or the portent does come true of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us walk after other gods, whom you have not known, and let us serve them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to the dreamer of that dream. . . After Jehovah your God you should walk, and him you should fear, and his commandments you should keep, and to his voice you should listen, and him you should serve, and to him you should cling. And that prophet or that dreamer of the dream should be put to death, because he has spoken of revolt against Jehovah your God. . . You must clear out what is evil from your midst. In case your brother, or your son or your daughter or your cherished wife or your companion who is like your own soul, should try to allure you in secrecy, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,” . . . you must not accede to his wish or listen to him, nor should your eye feel sorry for him, nor must you feel compassion, but you should kill him without fail. Your hand first of all should come upon him to put him to death, and the hand of all the people afterward. You must stone him with stones, and he must die, because he has sought to turn you away from Jehovah your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. Then all Israel will hear and become afraid, and they will not do anything like this bad thing again in your midst. And in case you hear it in one of your cities, “Good-for-nothing men have gone out to try to turn away the inhabitants of their city, saying: ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’” you must also search and investigate and inquire thoroughly; and if the thing is established as the truth, this detestable thing has been done in your midst, you should without fail strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword. Devote it and everything that is in it, and its domestic animals, to destruction at the edge of the sword. All its spoil you should collect into the middle of its public square, and you must burn in the fire the city and all its spoil as a whole offering to Jehovah your God, and it must become a heap of ruins to time indefinite. It should never be rebuilt. And nothing at all should stick to your hand of the thing made sacred by ban, in order that Jehovah may turn from his burning anger and may indeed give you mercy and multiply you. For you should listen to the voice of Jehovah your God by keeping all his commandments, so as to do what is right in the eyes of Jehovah your God.

Comment: Despite appearances, this did not mean that entire cities had to die because of just a few turning apostate among them. Rather, it had to be carefully established that the city was tolerating and accepting the apostasy. It also goes without saying that the Israelites rarely if ever followed this law. Nevertheless, we can see why Paul felt justified in his murderous hatred of the Christians, who had been branded as apostates by his superiors. One wonders why there were not thousands more like him. Perhaps those hypocritical leaders did not have as many followers as they thought.

Acts 9:3-22 (paraphrased for length)
Now as he was traveling he approached Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said: "Who are you, Lord?" He said: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now rise and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do." . . . [So] Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were opened he was seeing nothing. Then they led him by the hand and conducted him into Damascus. And for three days he did not see anything, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision: "Rise, go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. For, look! he is praying, and in a vision he has seen [you] come in and lay his hands upon him that he might recover sight." But Ananias answered: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many injurious things he did to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to put in bonds all those calling upon your name." But the Lord said to him: "Be on your way, because this man is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. For I shall show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name."
So Ananias went to the house, and laid his hands upon him and said: "Saul, brother, the Lord, the Jesus that appeared to you on the road over which you were coming, has sent me forth, in order that you may recover sight and be filled with holy spirit." And immediately there fell from his eyes what looked like scales, and he recovered sight; and he rose and was baptized, and he took food and gained strength.
He got to be for some days with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately in the synagogues he began to preach Jesus, that this One is the Son of God. But all those hearing him were astonished and would say: "Is this not the man that ravaged those in Jerusalem who call upon this name, and that had come here for this very purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests?" But Saul kept on acquiring power all the more and was confounding the Jews that dwelt in Damascus as he proved logically that [Jesus] is the Christ.

Acts 22:3-21 (paraphrased for length)
(Paul addresses an angry mob in Jerusalem:) "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law, being zealous for God just as all of you are this day. And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and handing over to prisons both men and women, as both the high priest and all the assembly of older men can bear me witness. From them I also procured letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to bring also those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.
"But as I was drawing close to Damascus, suddenly out of heaven a great light flashed all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ . . . At that I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Rise, go your way into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything it is appointed for you to do.’ But as I could not see anything for the glory of that light, I arrived in Damascus, being led by the hand of those who were with me.
"Now Ananias, a certain man reverent according to the Law, well reported on by all the Jews dwelling there, came to me and, standing by me, he said to me, ‘Saul, brother, have your sight again!’ And I looked up at him that very hour. He said, ‘The God of our forefathers has chosen you to come to know his will and to see the righteous One and to hear the voice of his mouth, because you are to be a witness for him to all men of things you have seen and heard. And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized and wash your sins away by your calling upon his name.’
"But when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry up and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not agree to your witness concerning me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves well know that I used to imprison and flog in one synagogue after another those believing upon you; and when the blood of Stephen your witness was being spilled, I myself was also standing by and approving and guarding the outer garments of those doing away with him.’ And yet he said to me, ‘Get on your way, because I shall send you out to nations far off.’"

Acts 26:12-18
(Paul recounts his experience before a court:) "Amid these efforts as I was journeying to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests, I saw at midday on the road, O king, a light beyond the brilliance of the sun flash from heaven about me and about those journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground I heard a voice say to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? To keep kicking against the goads makes it hard for you.’ But I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Nevertheless, rise and stand on your feet. For to this end I have made myself visible to you, in order to choose you as an attendant and a witness both of things you have seen and things I shall make you see respecting me; while I deliver you from this people and from the nations, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, in order for them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me.’

1 Tim 1:12-16
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who imparted power to me, because he considered me faithful by assigning me to a ministry, although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy, because I was ignorant and acted with a lack of faith. But the undeserved kindness of our Lord abounded exceedingly along with faith and love that is in connection with Christ Jesus. Faithful and deserving of full acceptance is the saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am foremost. Nevertheless, the reason why I was shown mercy was that by means of me as the foremost case, Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his long-suffering as an example for those who are going to rest their faith on him for everlasting life.

Psalm 32:8-10
I shall make you have insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give advice with my eye upon you. Do not make yourselves like a horse or mule without understanding, whose spiritedness is to be curbed even by bridle or halter before they will come near to you. Many are the pains that the wicked one has; but as for the one trusting in Jehovah, loving-kindness itself surrounds him.

Isaiah 40:12-26
Who has measured the waters in the mere hollow of his hand, and taken the proportions of the heavens themselves with a mere span and included in a measure the dust of the earth, or weighed with an indicator the mountains, and the hills in the scales? Who has taken the proportions of the spirit of Jehovah, and who as his man of counsel can make him know anything? With whom did he consult together that one might make him understand, or who teaches him in the path of justice, or teaches him knowledge, or makes him know the very way of real understanding? Look! The nations are as a drop from a bucket; and as the film of dust on the scales they have been accounted. Look! He lifts the islands themselves as mere fine dust. Even Lebanon is not sufficient for keeping a fire burning, and its wild animals are not sufficient for a burnt offering. All the nations are as something nonexistent in front of him; as nothing and an unreality they have been accounted to him. And to whom can you people liken God, and what likeness can you put alongside him? The craftsman has cast a mere molten image, and with gold the metalworker overlays it, and silver chains he is forging. A certain tree as a contribution, a tree that is not rotten, he chooses. A skillful craftsman he searches out for himself, to prepare a carved image that may not be made to fall. Do you people not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you from the outset? Have you not applied understanding from the foundations of the earth? There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers, the One who is stretching out the heavens just as a fine gauze, who spreads them out like a tent in which to dwell, the One who is reducing high officials to nothing, who has made the very judges of the earth as a mere unreality. Never yet have they been planted; never yet have they been sown; never yet has their stump taken root in the earth. And one has only to blow upon them and they dry up; and like stubble the windstorm itself will carry them away. "But to whom can you people liken me so that I should be made his equal?" says the Holy One. "Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number, all of whom he calls even by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigorous in power, not one of them is missing."

Isaiah 42:8
"I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images."

Galatians 3:13, 14
Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: "Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake."

Deut 21:22, 23
In case there comes to be in a man a sin deserving the sentence of death, and he has been put to death, and you have hung him upon a stake, his dead body should not stay all night on the stake; but you should by all means bury him on that day, because something accursed of God is the one hung up.

1 Cor 10:14, 19-22
Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry. . . What, then, am I to say? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons. you cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of the table of Jehovah and the table of demons. Or are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy? We are not stronger than he is, are we?

James 4:4, 7, 8
Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God. . . . Subject yourselves, therefore, to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones.

John 13:34, 35
I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.

Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

Deut 7:25, 26
The graven images of their gods you should burn in the fire. You must not desire the silver and the gold upon them, nor indeed take it for yourself, for fear you may be ensnared by it; for it is a thing detestable to Jehovah your God. And you must not bring a detestable thing into your house and actually become a thing devoted to destruction like it. You should thoroughly loathe it and absolutely detest it, because it is something devoted to destruction.

2 Cor 6:14-18
Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God's temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing; and I will take you in.’” “‘And I shall be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”

Mal 3:16-18
At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name. "And they will certainly become mine," Jehovah of armies has said, "at the day when I am producing a special property. And I will show compassion upon them, just as a man shows compassion upon his son who is serving him. And you people will again certainly see the distinction between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him."

Psalm 37:29, 34, 37
29 The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.
34 Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked ones are cut off, you will see it.
37 Watch the blameless one and keep the upright one in sight, for the future of that man will be peaceful.