What is being Christian?

Christianity is life!

Human beings across the world in its great diversity share one thing in common, we all die. There is life to be had though through the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. There is no other life than this.

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." Acts 4:12

Being Christian is to be reborn through God’s mercy.

New life comes through new birth from God’s spirit as God creates us new with the mercy Jesus made possible for us with His death on the cross for our sins.

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Ephesians. 2:8-9

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13

When Nicodemus asked Jesus how it was possible to be born again, Jesus taught him:

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-16

A Christian is a person who has heard of God’s mercy in giving His Son to die for us and through hearing has come to trust in the promises of Jesus for their life.

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:17

Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news—the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17
 

How does the Bible fit in?

The truth about Jesus is made known to us in the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament points forward with promise to when Christ would come. The New Testament speaks of the fulfillment of the promised coming of Jesus and points us forward to the promise of everlasting life in heaven.
 
 

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. [2] But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. . . . Hebrews 1:1-2

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.

John 20:31

Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.

Luke 24:27

What is the Bible exactly?

The Bible is the true and actual Word of God to us. In the Scriptures God has taken writes whom He has chosen and gave to them the words and thoughts that they expressed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the Word of truth in all its parts, not just some of them. It does not contain mistakes. And it is not human opinion about God, but God’s communication through people to people.

But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.

John 14:26

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. [17] It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves [21] or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21

How can I better understand the Bible?

The key to understanding God’s Word to us is to remember that the heart of God’s Word and its center is Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. Jesus as our savior is the key to unlocking the mystery of the Bible.

{Jesus said} "You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! John 5:39

He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."

Acts 10:43

No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him. John 1:18

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3:15

The Bible contains within it words of Law and words of Gospel. It is important for correct understanding and application to life that we distinguish between the two.

For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

The Law commands us to live clean and pure in our thoughts, our actions, our speaking, and our motivations. And the law condemns sin when we do not follow God’s desire to lead clean and pure lives. Because each of us is sinful, we cannot hope to keep the law perfectly and so earn heaven. Rather the law shows us our sin.

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God. [20] For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it. Romans 3:19-20

But God does not want to leave the world in judgment under the law. In Christ He has made a way to free us from our terrible burden of sin. In the Bible we find words of good news, Gospel, which tell us all that Jesus has done to give us forgiveness, faith, life, and salvation.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—Jews first and also Gentiles. Romans 1:16

It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life John 6:63.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God's great kindness to sinners. Col. 1:6

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

copyright Rev. David D. Reedy, 1999

 

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Rev. David D. Reedy 2002

 

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church   

Dayton Tennessee   

423.775.4253

Prince of Peace is a LCMS congregation located in Rhea County Tennessee, serving the entire county of some 32,000 people.