Principles of the Gospel in Verses: From the King James Version of the Bible

By Roy Blackburn

Over one hundred different gospel principles with more than two thousand Bible verses explaining them, a great resource for planning a Bible lesson, gives insight into important overlooked principles, and contains short biographies of notable apostles and authors of the New Testament.

Are we literally children of a loving Heavenly Father?

Is baptism a necessary ordinance?

Do we need to follow God's commandments?

Did an apostasy from the original teachings of the gospel take place?

Must a restoration of Jesus Christ's true church take place before the Second Coming?

Many people today seem more interested in what the footnotes in their study Bibles or some written commentary teaches them rather than the scriptures themselves. The verses of the Bible teach so many simple and beautiful principles that much of the Christian world does not believe or understand today. This book covers them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781684987009

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

First Principles of the Gospel

Faith

Scripture Study and Prayer

Scripture Study

Prayer

Atonement

Conversion

Repentance

Baptism

Holy Ghost

Sacrament

Strait Is the Gate

Keep My Commandments

Love Thy Neighbor

Compassion

Forgiveness

Judge Righteously

Patience

Humility

Pure in Heart

Soberness

Stewardship

Work

Citizenship

Tithing

Fellowship

Missionary Work

Service

Set an Example

Gain Knowledge and Wisdom

Marriage and Children

Endure to the End

Fruit of the Spirit

Happiness

Joy

Song and Praise

Rest in the Lord

Children of Light

Walking in Light

By Their Fruits

Those Who Love Darkness

Walking in Darkness

Pride and Vanity

Hard Hearted

Those Who Seek a Sign

False Wisdom

Contention

Hypocrisy

Injustice

Those Who Refuse to Work

Foolish Words

Anger

Violence

Strong Drink

Unbelievers

Avoid Unbelievers

Better to Have Not Known the Truth

Resurrection

Judged according to Our Works

Immortality and Eternal Life

Immortality

Eternal Life

Lost Principles of the Gospel

Truth

Man’s Relationship to God

Worth of Souls

Abrahamic Covenant

Premortal Life

Lucifer

Men Have Seen God

Visions of God

Other Ways God Made His Presence Known

Father and Son

The Father Sent His Son

Son of God

The Father

Firstborn of the Father

Father Raised His Son from the Dead

Son on the Right Hand of the Father

Revelation

Prophets

Priesthood Authority

Ministry Unpaid

Unchanging God

Apostasy

Prophesied Falling Away

Prophets Rejected

Israel Scattered

Lost Scriptures

Modern-Day Apostasy

Apostasy—Restoration

Restoration of Christ’s Church

Israel Restored

Temples Restored

Second Coming

Millennium

Conclusion

Appendix

Notable Apostles and Authors of the New Testament

Peter

Paul

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

James

Jude

Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in the New Testament

Relationship between the Sermon on the Mount and the Epistle of James—Becoming More Christlike

Parables of the Savior

More Characteristics of God

Cornerstone

Trust in God

Fear Not

Peace in God

Mercy of God

Grace of God

Hope in God

Salvation of God

Omniscience of God

Indignation of God

The Ten Commandments

No Other Gods Before Me

Graven Images

Lord’s Name in Vain

Keep the Sabbath Holy

The Sabbath—Saturday or Sunday?

Honor Father and Mother

Murder

Adultery

Theft

False Witness

Envy

Glossary

Introduction

For the past many years, I have had the opportunity to associate with a diverse group of people who have a wide range of beliefs about Christianity. The reasons for getting involved in a church or Bible study group are just as varied. Some do it because it is a social activity; it’s something to do. Others do it because they have developed great faith in the Lord and want to gain more understanding. Whatever the reason, I believe anything that motivates someone to open a Bible and read it is a good reason. It has the power to change lives, to eternally save lives.

I spend many hours studying the Scriptures. It gives me peace and hope; it strengthens my faith and gives meaning to my life. I have gained insight on many different gospel principles along the way. However, the greatest insight I’ve gained along the way is how much there is to learn. At eighty-three years old, my father, who spent his entire life studying the gospel, used to tell me he felt like a child compared to all there is to know about our Heavenly Father and the kingdom of God. I believe I know how he felt.

I have acquaintances who have asked me, Why do you use that old King James version of the Bible? They tell me, No one speaks in that antiquated Elizabethan language anymore or It’s just too hard to understand. Really? I use the King James version of the Bible because I grew up using it. It’s the only one I’ve ever used. I like that the language in it is slightly different than the way we speak every day; for me, it makes reading it a little more special. I am also extremely concerned about how the Bible changes over time.

In an effort to modernize the Bible to keep it up to date and easy to read, I fear that the changing of words and phrases also changes important meanings. I have found entire verses gone in some Bibles. Some of my friends who use newer versions of the Bible are not happy with changes they see. There seems to be a recent effort toward political correctness to avoid offending anyone. I wonder what the Bible of the future will look like.

I have been asked, Why do you believe what you believe—is it biblical? That is a fantastic question and one that all Christians should ask themselves. That question motivated me to start searching the Scriptures and writing my favorite verses on a wide range of principles. The first Bible I used had very little in the form of a concordance, so as I read, I would highlight and write down the verses that were important to me. I now have a new Bible with a large concordance. It is a great resource but still does not contain references for every verse on every topic in the Bible, so I always keep a notepad handy when I read. (I have developed a habit of highlighting everything I read that is important to me. I hope you do the same with this book.) While the number of topics in this book is well beyond what I had originally intended to write about when I started, I know there are many more principles contained in the Bible. It could be a lifelong project to cover them all.

So why write this book and call it "Principles of the Gospel in Verses? After all, there are so many books available on about every different gospel principle already. I believe that one thing many of those books have in common is that they contain 90 percent man’s doctrine and only 10 percent scriptures from the Bible. I know there are many great books available written by well-educated authors with the best of intentions. However, I’m more interested in what the Scriptures teach us. There are so many verses in the Bible that I believe are so beautiful and so simple that a child could understand them (1 John 4:14–15), but people will tell me, According to the footnotes in my study Bible or this or that commentary, that verse does not actually mean what it says."

Therefore, my main focus is on the verses of the Bible themselves. Many of the verses would work well for more than one topic (Acts 2:38—repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost). However, I have rarely used any verse more than one time. I have added an introduction before some of the topics to explain why they are so important to me. Sometimes the meanings of apparently simple words create large misunderstandings, so italicized words are included in a glossary of terms. When I share a belief, I will tell you it is my belief and not some universally accepted fact. Personal study, prayer, and the power of the Holy Ghost are better ways to gain understanding than the best-written commentary in the world.

While all topics are of great worth, the first and third sections of this book are the most important to me. The first section covers what I believe are the four most basic principles of the gospel: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. In the third section, I will make my case that the Bible teaches extremely important principles that are not generally accepted, taught, or understood today. While I do not believe all the principles in this section are actually lost, I have included them in this section because of their relationship to the principles which I believe have been lost over time.

Most verses are in order as they are found in the Bible; some are my favorite ones first. I pray that you read them all, mark them in your own Bible, hopefully gain more understanding, maybe see some of them in a different way, and develop greater faith in the Savior.

May the Lord bless you in all your righteous endeavors.

First Principles of the Gospel

Faith

I started with the topic of faith because I believe it is the single most important principle of the gospel. When our journey in this mortal world is over, the most meaningful thing we need to take with us is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, …faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What are the characteristics about the Savior that we need to believe? He was the Firstborn of the Father (Hebrews 1:6) and the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh (John 3:16). He came to fulfill a divine mission (1 John 4:14) that He was given before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1: 19, 20). He is our best friend, our example, our teacher and role model. He showed us the meaning of real love (John 15:12, 13). He came to atone for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:11). He is our advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). He willingly gave His life and was resurrected to make it possible for all who believe in Him to return to our Heavenly Father (John 11:25).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)

Be not afraid, only believe. (Mark 5:36; see also Luke 8:50)

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)

Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50; see also 8:48; 18:42)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name. (John 1:12)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. (John 3:36; see also 3:18; 5:24; 6:47)

That through his [Christ’s] name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43; see also 13:39; 16:31)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

For ye are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:22, 26)

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

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7–9)

Scripture Study and Prayer

I believe that the principles of Scripture study and prayer go hand in hand with faith because we can’t develop faith in something we know nothing about. Throughout the Bible, we have been commanded to read the scriptures (Isaiah 34:16). It is good to hear the gospel and learn together at church, study, and share our feelings with a friend (Matthew 18:20) or set aside time each day for personal study.

When reading the Bible, we want to look for verses that inspire us. Imagine that the Savior’s teachings and stories were written just for us and the individual situations in our lives. We can use the Bible dictionary to look up words that we may not understand. When the Scriptures speak of specific locations, as in the apostle Paul’s journeys, the maps are a great resource. Get in the habit of studying at the same time each day, and keep that marker handy to highlight important verses.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it