Matthew 3:8 Cross References

Matthew 3:8

8: Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God.

I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God--and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say, 'We're safe--we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham.

And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.
Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.
Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

"But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go.

Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings."

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the LORD your God, he will cancel this disaster that he has announced against you.

The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land.
But do not be fooled by those who repeatedly promise your safety because the Temple of the LORD is here.
I will be merciful only if you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others;
and if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; and if you stop your murdering; and if you stop worshiping idols as you now do to your own harm.
Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.

Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?
But no, you won't listen. So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world,
will judge all people according to what they have done.
He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways.
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.

For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.
Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right.

The crowd asked, "What should we do?"
John replied, "If you have two coats, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"
"Show your honesty," he replied. "Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to."
"What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money, and don't accuse people of things you know they didn't do. And be content with your pay."

For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.

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