In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
‘Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one will snatch them out of my hand.
Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –
not by works, so that no-one can boast.
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
And this is what he promised us – eternal life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.