That which makes certain actions or events occur. Scripture relates it to particular events which must happen to bring about God's plan of salvation and also to the behaviour that believers are to adopt as a result of their commitment to Jesus Christ.
The necessity of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection
Luke 24:25–27 See also Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22; Luke 17:25, Luke 24:44–47; John 3:14–15, John 20:9
Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
The necessity of Jesus Christ's obedience
Luke 4:42–44 See also Matthew 3:14–15; Luke 2:49, Luke 13:31–33; John 4:4 The necessity lay in Jesus Christ's mission not in geography; John 9:4
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.” And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.
The necessity of the events leading to the end times
Revelation 1:1 See also Mark 13:7–8 parallels Matthew 24:6–8, Luke 21:9–11; Mark 13:10 parallel Matthew 24:14; 1 Corinthians 15:50–55; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 4:1, Revelation 20:1–3, Revelation 22:6
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
Necessity and the law
Galatians 5:3 See also John 19:7; Hebrews 5:3, Hebrews 9:16, Hebrews 9:22–23
Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Necessity in the life of the Christian
The necessity of conversion
John 3:5–7 See also Matthew 18:2–3; John 3:3; Acts 4:12, Acts 17:30
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
The necessity of godly behaviour
1 John 2:6 See also Romans 15:1–2; 1 Timothy 3:14–15, 1 Timothy 4:7–8; 2 Timothy 2:22–24; Titus 2:11–14
Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
Necessity in the life of Paul
The necessity of Paul's calling
Acts 9:15–16 See also Acts 9:6
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
The necessity of Paul's preaching of the gospel
Acts 13:46, Acts 19:21, Acts 23:11, Acts 27:21–25, Acts 28:19; Romans 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:16–18
The paradoxes of necessity
Freedom and necessity
Romans 6:18 See also 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Philemon 1:14
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Responsibility and necessity
Matthew 18:7 parallel Luke 17:1 See also Luke 22:22 parallels Matthew 26:24, Mark 14:21; Acts 2:23
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.