“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the Living Word, who walks with those who call Him “Lord.” He also enshrined the story of the Living Word in the written word, the Bible. He gave it for instruction, for spiritual nourishment, for conviction, and to give everyone access to Him. Part of walking the straight path through the narrow gate that is the Christian life is by reading, studying, and holding to the Bible. One way to keep the Word of God close is to memorize Scripture, making it easier to call it to mind when it is needed.
It can be difficult to know what to study closely, and given the limited time many people have, to know what to memorize. Starting with subjects and themes can be helpful.
Here are 30 verses every Christian should memorize, categorized by subject:
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Who Is Jesus?
Isaiah 53:5 - “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
John 1:14 - “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 - “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Hebrews 12:1-2 - “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
To read more verses about Jesus, click here.
The Romans Road
Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:12 - “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”
Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 10:9-10 - “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
To read more verses about salvation, click here.
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God’s Authority
Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Matthew 9:6-8 - “‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — he then said to the paralytic — ‘Rise, pick up your bed and go home.’ And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”
John 14:26 - “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 19:11 - “Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
To read more verses about God’s authority, click here.
Jesus’ Return
Matthew 25:13 - “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 - “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”
Revelation 1:7 - “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
Revelation 19:11-16 - “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
To read more verses about Jesus’ return, click here.
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Forgiveness
Psalm 103:10-14 - “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
Isaiah 1:18 - “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Matthew 6:14 - “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,"
Mark 11:25 - “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
To read more verses about forgiveness, click here.
The Christian Life
Matthew 4:4 - “But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 10:38-39 - “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Philippians 4:8-9 - “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
To read more verses about the Christian life, click here.
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Praise
Exodus 15:2 - “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.”
Psalm 100:1-5 - “A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 150:6 - “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Philippians 4:4 - “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
To read more verses about praise, click here.
Committing verses to your heart to help you meditate on the themes of the Bible and to draw closer to the Lord is an important way to pursue a life of faith, pleasing to God, that will help you get to know Him better. While 30 may seem like a difficult number, start one at a time. Make it a daily or weekly challenge, and ask the Holy Spirit to help. He will help you learn the Word for evangelism and for personal assurance.
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Originally published Wednesday, 01 February 2023.
