Clicky

Urging You On: Examples of Exhortation in the Bible – Viral Believer
Skip to content

Urging You On: Examples of Exhortation in the Bible

Introduction

The Bible is a book that is full of wisdom and guidance for believers. One of the ways that the Bible provides guidance is through exhortation. Exhortation refers to the act of urging, advising, or encouraging someone to do something.

Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of exhortations given to believers, urging them to live a life that is pleasing to God.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the examples of exhortation in the Bible. We will look at both the Old Testament and the New Testament and learn the lessons that we can apply in our lives as Christians.

From Moses’ exhortations to the Israelites to Paul’s exhortations to the churches, the Bible is full of wisdom and guidance for believers. We will also look at specific examples of exhortations, such as exhortations to repentance, love, holiness, and perseverance.

By studying the exhortations in the Bible, we can learn important lessons that can help us to live a life that is pleasing to God. Exhortations serve as a means of encouragement, correction, guidance, and motivation for believers.

Let us dive into the examples of exhortations in the Bible and discover how we can apply them in our lives today.

exhortation in the Bible

Exhortation in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is full of examples of exhortations. Some of the most notable ones include:

Moses’ exhortations to the Israelites

Moses is one of the most well-known figures in the Old Testament. He was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. Throughout his life, he exhorted the Israelites to obey God’s commands and follow His ways. Some of the notable exhortations that Moses gave include:

  • “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
  • “Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you” (Deuteronomy 4:23)
  • “Therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

Joshua’s exhortation to the Israelites

After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. He exhorted them to remain faithful to God and follow His commands. One of the most well-known exhortations that Joshua gave was:

  • “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15)

The prophets’ exhortations to the Israelites

The prophets in the Old Testament were sent by God to warn the Israelites of the consequences of their disobedience. They exhorted them to turn back to God and follow His ways. Some of the notable exhortations from the prophets include:

  • “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Return to Me,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 1:3)
  • “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil” (Isaiah 1:16)
  • “Let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24)

Exhortation in the New Testament

The New Testament is also full of examples of exhortations. Jesus, Paul, and Peter are some of the notable figures in the New Testament who exhorted believers.

Jesus’ exhortations to his disciples and the crowds

Jesus gave many exhortations to his disciples and the crowds that followed him. Some of the notable ones include:

  • “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)
  • “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14)
  • “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33)

Paul’s exhortations to the churches

Paul was an apostle who wrote many letters to the churches he helped establish. His letters are full of exhortations to believers, urging them to remain faithful to God and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Some of the notable exhortations that Paul gave include:

  • “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1)
  • “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29)
  • “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Peter’s exhortations to the believers

Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus and became a prominent leader in the early church. He exhorted believers to live a life that is pleasing to God and to be prepared for the return of Jesus. Some of the notable exhortations that Peter gave include:

  • “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11)
  • “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15)
  • “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10)

Examples of exhortations in specific situations

Exhortations in the Bible are not limited to general exhortations to obey God and follow His ways. There are also specific exhortations given in various situations, such as:

Exhortation to repentance and faith

The Bible urges believers to repent of their sins and turn to God. Some of the notable exhortations to repentance and faith include:

  • “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)
  • “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

Exhortation to love and unity

The Bible urges believers to love one another and be united in Christ. Some of the notable exhortations to love and unity include:

  • “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35)
  • “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8)

Exhortation to holiness and righteousness

The Bible urges believers to live holy and righteous lives. Some of the notable exhortations to holiness and righteousness include:

  • “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy'” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
  • “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Exhortation to endurance and perseverance

The Bible urges believers to endure and persevere in their faith, even in difficult times. Some of the notable exhortations to endurance and perseverance include:

  • “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1)
  • “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9)

Lessons to learn from exhortations in the Bible

The exhortations in the Bible teach us several lessons that we can apply in our lives as Christians. Some of these lessons include:

Exhortation as a means of encouragement

Exhortations in the Bible serve as a means of encouragement for believers. They remind us of God’s love and the hope that we have in Him.

Exhortation as a means of correction

Exhortations in the Bible also serve as a means of correction for believers. They help us to identify areas in our lives where we need to repent and turn back to God.

Exhortation as a means of guidance

Exhortations in the Bible also serve as a means of guidance for believers. They help us to understand God’s will for our lives and the path that we should follow.

Exhortation as a means of motivation

Exhortations in the Bible also serve as a means of motivation for believers. They inspire us to live a life that is pleasing to God and to continue to endure and persevere in our faith.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom and guidance for believers. Exhortation is an important aspect of the Bible that urges believers to live a life that is pleasing to God. Through exhortations, we are encouraged, corrected, guided, and motivated to follow God’s will for our lives.

By studying the examples of exhortations in the Bible, we can learn important lessons that we can apply in our lives as Christians. We can learn to love one another, live a life of holiness and righteousness, persevere in our faith, and follow God’s will for our lives.

Exhortations remind us that we are not alone in our journey of faith and that God is always with us, guiding us and encouraging us.

As we continue on our journey of faith, let us remember the exhortations in the Bible and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. Let us encourage one another, correct one another, guide one another, and motivate one another to follow God’s will for our lives.

And let us always remember that through God’s grace and guidance, we can live a life that is truly fulfilling and pleasing to Him.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.