What Does the Bible Say About Messing Up?

Romans 3:3 ESV / 44 helpful votes

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 43 helpful votes

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 43 helpful votes

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

Romans 11:6 ESV / 33 helpful votes

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Ephesians 2:1-22 ESV / 32 helpful votes

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ...

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV / 29 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.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV / 27 helpful votes

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Proverbs 24:16 ESV / 26 helpful votes

For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Psalm 37:23-24 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 19 helpful votes

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

Joshua 1:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

John 10:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

1 John 1:5 ESV / 16 helpful votes

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Galatians 2:21 ESV / 14 helpful votes

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV / 14 helpful votes

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Proverbs 30:33 ESV / 14 helpful votes

For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

James 3:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

Acts 17:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

1 John 4:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 9 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.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 9 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 2:7-8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);

Hebrews 11:32 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

Galatians 3:1-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ...

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Isaiah 40:1-31 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ...

Hebrews 6:1-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ...

Hebrews 4:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Joshua 10:12-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

1 Peter 2:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Galatians 5:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. ...

Luke 14:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Judges 11:24-40 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess. Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them? While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, 300 years, why did you not deliver them within that time? I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me. The Lord, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon.” But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words of Jephthah that he sent to him. ...

John 3:16 ESV / 2 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.

38 Bible Verses about Messing Up

Romans 3:3 ESV / 44 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 43 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:23 ESV / 43 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 11:6 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:1-22 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV / 27 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:16 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 37:23-24 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Joshua 1:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:5 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:21 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 30:33 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 2:7-8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:32 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:1-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 40:1-31 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 6:1-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Joshua 10:12-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Galatians 5:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 14:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Judges 11:24-40 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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