The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible has 31,102 verses. How would you feel about memorizing them all? If you could memorize one verse per day, it would take you 85 years and 2.5 months to memorize them all. Seems like a lot, and a very unlikely task. How about you settle for 10% or 3,110 verses? If you could memorize one verse per day, it would take you 8 years and 6 months to memorize them all. Still seems like a lot of work and an unlikely task.
I am not going to suggest that you set yourself to memorizing that many verses. I have a hard time memorizing things and I know that a lot of people struggle with it too. How about we start with what I would consider to be the Top Ten Best Bible Verses everyone should?
You can read this post for a different perspective on the best Bible verses to memorize. In this post, I will break down ten verses into groups of two, and explain to you why I think you should memorize them.
In the beginning
It is always good to know the beginning of an issue. If we are talking about memorizing verses of the Bible, it is good to know something about the authorship of the Scriptures.
These two verses establish the authenticity of the Word of God.
The Bible does not introduce the beginning of a Creator, nor does it introduce the beginning of “the Word”. The Bible begins by declaring that the Creator created. The gospel of John begins by declaring that the Word is the creator.
For many, this divine truth is difficult to grasp. A common question that even children ask is “Where did God come from?”. The Bible does not begin by answering that question, but rather begins on the simple premise that God exists, and He created everything.
Verse #1: Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Another divine truth that is difficult to grasp is the that of Jesus being God manifested in the flesh. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and who later viewed amazing things, as recorded in the book of Revelation, had no problem declaring this truth as he begins to write his gospel.
Verse #2: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The promise
The message of the gospel is not something that appeared out of the blue. God took great care in announcing the coming salvation. These two verses are some of the clearest ones from the Old Testament, they speak of what was to come. These verses will help you to remember that God was planning to save mankind from the very beginning.
Verse #3: Genesis 22:8 “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”
Abraham may not have known how prophetic his words actually were. It was not until John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him that it would be declared “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” John 1:29.
Verse #4: Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
It was not until Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the cross that this verse, written some 700 years before the coming of Christ, was understood. As Peter confirms in 1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Direct Punch
When I preach the gospel, these are probably two of the verses I quote the most. One has been referred to as the gospel in a nutshell. It touches on all the aspects of the message of salvation: from the sinful condition of man, to the judgment pronounced against sin, to the work of salvation through Jesus Christ, and to the decision man must make to believe or not believe.
Verse #5: John 3:16 “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.”
The other verse emphasizes how God, contrary to human logic, made possible salvation for mankind. This verse needs to be memorized so that you can remember the incredible method God used to save us.
Verse #6: Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Decision Time
At any given time, a decision is being made. A decision that will affect eternity. Some choose to believe the gospel and others choose to not believe the gospel. Everyone has the free will to decide for themselves whether they believe or not. In the Old Testament, Moses and Joshua offered the options to the people of Israel and told them to make a choice. Moses offered life and good or death and evil. Joshua offered God or gods. And the people chose. The choices made produced the expected consequences for generations to come.
The choice that you make will have consequences for your eternity.
Verse #7: John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
To believe brings eternal life, or to not believe brings wrath.
Verse #8: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The gift is eternal life, or wages is death.
Appreciation
After getting saved, a person begins to realize what actually happened.
And with this long-lasting gift that never grows old and never wears out, it is not hard to appreciate its reality. Paul was one of those who, every day, appreciated mare and more what he had received and loved to share his appreciation with other believers.
Verse #9: Ephesians 2:8 – 9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Paul clearly declared that salvation is by grace, God’s own goodness. It is a gift where the giver needs to be thanked.
Verse #10: Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
How thankful was Paul for what he had received? He could not stop appreciating what Christ did for him.
Action Plan: Top Ten Best Bible Verses
- Download the printable Top Ten Best Bible Verses that everyone should memorize.
- Print it off for your own reference or to share them with others
- Download the printable Bible chart called Memorizing Bible Verses
- Read this post for instructions on how to use it.
- What are your top ten best bible verses?
- Share them with us by Leaving a Comment below