What Does the Bible Say About Turning To God?

Acts 3:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

James 4:8 ESV / 13 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.

James 4:17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Acts 2:38 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Acts 26:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

John 17:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Malachi 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

John 14:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Romans 2:6-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

John 3:16 ESV / 5 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.

John 1:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Matthew 7:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Zechariah 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.

James 2:14-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ...

2 Timothy 3:1-4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Romans 10:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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.

Romans 3:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Psalm 91:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Ephesians 2:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 6:1-2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 5:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

John 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Luke 24:1-53 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ...

Luke 13:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Matthew 16:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 5:45 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 4:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Hosea 4:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ...

Genesis 6:5-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. ...

1 John 4:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 3:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Acts 15:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

Acts 13:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

Acts 5:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

John 20:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

John 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Luke 6:46 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Mark 16:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

Matthew 24:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Ezekiel 11:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

59 Bible Verses about Turning To God

Acts 3:19 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:8 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:17 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:38 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 26:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Malachi 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 2:6-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Zechariah 1:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:14-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:1-4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 91:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:1-2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 24:1-53 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 13:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Matthew 5:45 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 4:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 3:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hosea 4:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 6:5-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

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

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Romans 3:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 15:19-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 13:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 5:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:46 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 16:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 11:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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