What Does the Bible Say About Growing Closer To God?

James 4:8 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

John 3:16 ESV / 27 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Pray without ceasing,

Luke 9:23 ESV / 19 helpful votes

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

1 Peter 2:4 ESV / 18 helpful votes

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 17 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ...

Acts 2:41 ESV / 17 helpful votes

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

John 14:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Luke 6:27 ESV / 17 helpful votes

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 17 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Judges 20:26 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 16 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...

Matthew 6:16-18 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jeremiah 23:23-24 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes

“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.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ...

Psalm 55:22 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Romans 5:2 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1 Peter 1:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes

According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Romans 3:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

John 1:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Hebrews 5:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Luke 12:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Psalm 145:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

2 Peter 3:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

41 Bible Verses about Growing Closer To God

James 4:8 ESV / 37 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 27 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 9:23 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:4 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:41 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:27 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 32:9 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Judges 20:26 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:16-18 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 23:23-24 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 55:22 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:2 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 1:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 5:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 12:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 10:30 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 145:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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