The Bible contains many verses that provide wisdom, encouragement, and instruction about how to live a meaningful life. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages on life:
Genesis 1:27 – Humanity made in God’s image
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
This foundational verse establishes that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, giving all human life sacred worth and value.
Psalms 139:13-16 – Formed by God
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
This passage poetically describes how God actively forms and shapes each human life, even before birth. It highlights the value God places on every individual.
Jeremiah 29:11 – God’s plans to prosper
“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.”
This popular verse reassures that God has good plans for our lives. He seeks to bless us, not harm us, and give us hope.
Matthew 6:25-27 – Do not worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Jesus encourages us not to worry needlessly but to trust God to provide for our needs and sustain our lives.
John 10:10 – Life to the full
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Jesus promises not just life, but life to the fullest. He offers a rich, meaningful life beyond just physical existence.
John 14:6 – The way, the truth, the life
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
Jesus claims to be the source of life and the only way to the Father. A relationship with Christ is key to living life as God designed.
Acts 17:28 – Our life in God
“For in him we live and move and have our being.”
We exist because of God. Our life and being is continually sustained by Him.
Romans 6:23 – The gift of eternal life
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Though we deserve death because of sin, God graciously offers eternal life through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Romans 12:1-2 – A living sacrifice
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
In gratitude for God’s mercy, we are called to live sacrificially for His glory and resist worldly values/thinking.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Bought with a price
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
We belong to God, who paid the price for our lives. Therefore, we should honor Him with our bodies/lives.
Galatians 2:20 – Christ lives in me
“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.”
Our old self-centered life dies with Christ. We now live a Christ-centered life empowered by faith in Him.
Ephesians 5:15-16 – Making the most of time
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
We should strive to live wisely and make the most of opportunities in life for God’s glory.
Philippians 1:21 – To live is Christ
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Paul’s supreme passion was to exalt Christ in life. Living for Jesus gives life meaning and purpose.
Philippians 3:8-10 – Knowing Christ
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
Nothing compares to deeply knowing Jesus Christ. All else fades in light of His surpassing value and the power of new life in Him.
Philippians 3:12-14 – Pressing on
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Growth in Christ requires continually pressing on, leaving the past behind, and pursuing Him above all else.
Philippians 4:11-13 – Contentment in Christ
“…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
We can be content in Christ despite life’s ups and downs. His strength enables us to handle all circumstances.
Colossians 3:17 – Doing everything in Jesus’ name
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Christ should be the unifying center of all we say and do in life. Our lives honor Him when lived under His authority.
1 Timothy 4:8 – Godliness has value for all things
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
A godly, Christ-centered life is worthwhile and contains promise, not just for the future but even now.
Titus 2:11-12 – Living self-controlled, upright lives
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
God’s grace instructs us to reject ungodliness and live disciplined, righteous lives that honor Christ in this world.
Hebrews 12:1-3 – Running with endurance
“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. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
Keeping our eyes on Christ helps us run the race of life with perseverance, without growing tired or losing heart.
James 1:2-4 – Developing perseverance
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Trials develop perseverance and maturity as we trust God through life’s difficulties.
1 Peter 1:3-9 – A living hope
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Through Christ we have new life, eternal hope, and genuine faith being refined and proved genuine through life’s fiery trials.
1 John 5:11-12 – Life in the Son
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
Eternal life is found only through faith in Jesus. A personal relationship with Christ bestows His indestructible life.
These and many other Bible verses provide wisdom, instruction, and encouragement on how to live the full and abundant life God intends. They remind us that real life is found in intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, our Creator and Savior. As we walk closely with Him, His life and power are manifested in and through us.