I believe a blog about Christianity and Jesus cannot start without first clearly explaining what Christians basically believe, the core of the faith. I'm not talking about little differences between denominations like how a person should be baptized. I'm talking about absolutes, things that must be accepted and understood by faith in order to be a Christian.
I have heard it said by a former Hindu, for a Hindu, the core absolutes boil down to two: the laws of karma and reincarnation. There is a lot of divergence in Hinduism (they do have 300 million gods), but the things every Hindu would agree on would be karma and reincarnation. Christianity has core principles as well. For this post, I will just state them, and reinforce them through later articles.
Core Doctrine:
1. All people are sinners, guilty before God, deserving of judgment, and needing the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Works do not get you into heaven and they never will. The punishment of sin is death.
2. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, without sin, born of a virgin, and the chosen Messiah who will one day set up His kingdom on earth.
3. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, even though He didn't have to. He was buried, rose from the dead with His own power, and ascended back to heaven. One day He will return to earth again. His death was so that we can live with Him for eternity in heaven, so that we do not have to be eternally separated from Him in hell. His salvation is a gift, freely given.
I have heard it said by a former Hindu, for a Hindu, the core absolutes boil down to two: the laws of karma and reincarnation. There is a lot of divergence in Hinduism (they do have 300 million gods), but the things every Hindu would agree on would be karma and reincarnation. Christianity has core principles as well. For this post, I will just state them, and reinforce them through later articles.
Core Doctrine:
1. All people are sinners, guilty before God, deserving of judgment, and needing the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Works do not get you into heaven and they never will. The punishment of sin is death.
2. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, without sin, born of a virgin, and the chosen Messiah who will one day set up His kingdom on earth.
3. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, even though He didn't have to. He was buried, rose from the dead with His own power, and ascended back to heaven. One day He will return to earth again. His death was so that we can live with Him for eternity in heaven, so that we do not have to be eternally separated from Him in hell. His salvation is a gift, freely given.
4. People who refuse Jesus' gift of salvation will face eternal punishment and death in hell. Those who believe will receive eternal life in heaven with Him.
5. Salvation from sin, death, and hell is by God's grace, based on the work of Jesus Christ alone. It is received by faith apart from any human performance or merit. Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved, or justified, because of that faith.
6. The Bible is the Word of God, told by God to the men He chose to write it down. The Bible is absolute truth and a complete (Catholics admittedly do dispute the "completeness" of the Protestant Bible) and final revelation of God.
7. There is one God and only one God. He is personable and knowable, and created mankind in His own image. He manifests Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
8. When you are justified through faith in Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit and become a new creation, desiring to become more like Jesus Christ in character and behavior.
If you desire elaboration on anything regarding Jesus Christ and the Bible, please contact me at [email protected].
5. Salvation from sin, death, and hell is by God's grace, based on the work of Jesus Christ alone. It is received by faith apart from any human performance or merit. Believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved, or justified, because of that faith.
6. The Bible is the Word of God, told by God to the men He chose to write it down. The Bible is absolute truth and a complete (Catholics admittedly do dispute the "completeness" of the Protestant Bible) and final revelation of God.
7. There is one God and only one God. He is personable and knowable, and created mankind in His own image. He manifests Himself in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
8. When you are justified through faith in Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit and become a new creation, desiring to become more like Jesus Christ in character and behavior.
If you desire elaboration on anything regarding Jesus Christ and the Bible, please contact me at [email protected].