Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.
- 2 Samuel 14:14

We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
- 1 Chronicles 29:15

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more. As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave [Sheol] does not return.
- Job 7:6-9

What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention?
- Job 7:17

Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.
- Job 14:1

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
- Psalm 39:4-6

What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?
- Psalm 89:48

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
- Psalm 146:4

But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
- James 1:10-11

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.
- James 4:13-14

For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.'
- 1 Peter 1:25a

The Immortality of the Soul

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
- Isaiah 25:8

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Daniel 12:2

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24

Lesson 2 Scripture References

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ...For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- 1 Peter 1:17-19a; 23-24

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
- 2 Peter 3:8

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.
- 1 Timothy 6:17a

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
- John 6:27a

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who 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.
- Matthew 10:37-39

The man who loves his life will lose it, while teh man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- John 12:25

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- Matthew 6:19-20a

[D]o not worry about your life...Is not life more important than food and...clothes?...Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Matthew 6:25, 27, 33

The Test of Humanity

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you.
- Luke

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
- Galatians 6:9-10

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- Philippians 2:3-4

From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Through once we regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
- 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
- Romans 15:7

The Test of Conformity

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
- Philippians 3:10-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow - in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 5:2-11

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Ephesians 4:22-24

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
- Romans 8:29

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Ephesians 5:1-2

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
- Philippians 1:21

Lesson 3 Scripture References

[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus...Where then is the boasting?
Romans 3:23-24

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death.
- Romans 8:1-2

What shall be say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
- Romans 6:1-2

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free...You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
- Galatians 5:1,4

Empowered By Acceptance

But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8

[W]e also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
- Romans 5:11

[You were] without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
- Ephesians 2:12-13

[P]ut their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share it. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is really life.
- 1 Timothy 6:17b-19

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- John 10:10

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
- Galatians 3:26-29

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:4-7

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
- Romans 15:7

Directed By Purpose

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 3:13-14