Foundational Verses for Believers

Here are 31 Bible passages that can help to establish a solid foundation for new believers as well as providing an effective tune-up for all believers.

1. Psalms 62:8 (NIV) ⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB77) ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
3. John 3:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
4. John 5:24 (NIV) ²⁴ “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.
5. John 8:12 (NIV) ¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
6. John 13:34-35 (NIV) ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
7. John 14:26 (NIV) ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
8. John 16:33 (NIV) ³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
9. Romans 5:8 (NIV) ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
10. Romans 8:1 (NASB77) ¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
11. Romans 8:28 (NIV) ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
12. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
13. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
14. Romans 13:8-10 (NIV) ⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
15. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
16. Galatians 6:2 (NIV) ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
17. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
18. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) ¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
19. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB77) ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
20. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
21. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
22. Philippians 4:13 (NIV) ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
23. Philippians 4:19 (NIV) ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
24. Colossians 2:8 (NIV) ⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
25. 2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV) ⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
26. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
27. Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) ⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
28. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB77) ¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷ pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
29. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
30. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
31. 1 John 5:12-13 (NIV) ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.