Christianity Straight Up - with Halie

What is the basic message of Christianity? Finding the answer to this question is often obscured by impressions that people have. Because of people we know, experiences we have, or information we have already received, many of us bring assumptions to the table when seeking answers to this question.

Regardless of whether these assumptions are accurate or not, it's important to come to the source text of Christianity, the Bible, to find our answers. While it can be helpful to hear what others say about Christianity, ultimately we have to find out what Christianity says about itself. Therefore, we have to study the entire Bible to gain a greater picture of what God has revealed to us.

The good news is that the Bible reveals some important facts in regards to Christianity and our relationship with God, if we take the time to look into it. Because of Jesus' death on the cross, the veil was lifted and His message made available to all. In a very concise format here, the Bible reveals the following to us:

WE ARE LOVED - God loves us, and created us to be in a personal relationship with Him.

God loves us: John 3.16 – 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.

Life is found in knowing God: John 17.3 – Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

WE ARE SEPARATED - People are sinful, and because of this sin, we are separated from God and cannot know Him personally or experience His love.

We’ve all sinned: Romans 3.23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The punishment for sin is death: Romans 6.23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God wants to be in a relationship with us, but our sin, which can be anything from active rebellion against God to passive indifference towards God, makes it impossible for us to have fellowship with God. Our own efforts to reach God, like trying to live a good life or pursuing philosophy/religion, will always fail. Even the best of us can’t bridge the gap between us and God through our own efforts.

What’s more, our sin deserves death; we are guilty of a crime and have been sentenced to eternal punishment.

WE ARE RECONCILED - Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, so that we can be reconciled to God. Through Him alone, we can enter into a personal relationship with God.

Jesus died in our place:
Romans 5.8 – But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus rose from the dead:
1 Corinthians 15.3-6 – ...Christ died for our sins...He was buried,...He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,...He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred....

Jesus is the only way to God:
John 14.6 – Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Our crime (our sin) sentenced us to death and separation from God. But Jesus came and took the punishment for us on the cross so we wouldn’t have to. He then rose from the dead to show His power over death. Because Jesus died in our place, our sin can be forgiven; the punishment that we were supposed to receive because of our sin was cancelled. Like the diagram to the right shows, Jesus bridged the gulf between us and God when He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin. He is the only way to God.

WE RESPOND - We must respond to what Christ did for us by repenting of our sin, and believing what God has done for us.

We respond with faith, not by trying to live a good life:
Ephesians 2.8-9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

We respond by believing and acknowledging Jesus as Lord of our life: Romans 10.9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

In responding to what Christ did for us we need to trust God to forgive us completely of our sin, and allow Him to make us what He wants us to be. Just intellectually believing what the Bible says, or having an emotional experience is not enough: we must choose to follow Christ and accept His forgiveness for our sin. When we do this, we are made alive in Christ and are no longer spiritually dead and separated from God.

Friends, I truly hope this overview will help you better understand what Christianity is really about, and in addition, the information presented will prove beneficial to you in your walk with our Lord Jesus Christ!

- a special heartfelt thanks to M. Schmidt

May God bless you,

Halie