I believe
in
Christianity
as I
believe
that the
sun has
risen: not
only
because I
see it,
but
because by
it I see
everything
else. ?
C.S. Lewis
Christianity
Defined:
A faith
based on
the belief
that Jesus
Christ is
the son of
God, sent
to earth
to save
mankind
from the
punishment
of sin.
It is
also the
belief
that every
person has
been given
an
opportunity
through
Jesus?
death and
resurrection
to enter
into a
personal
relationship
with God
on earth
and for
eternity.
The result
of making
a
commitment
to Christ
is a
changed
life.
Believing
that the
Bible is
the living
breathing
Word of
God and
without
error,
Christians
use it as
a guide
book to
instruct
the way to
live.
And we
know that
the Son of
God has
come and
has given
us
understanding
so that we
may know
the true
One. We
are in the
true One ?
that is,
in His Son
Jesus
Christ.
He is the
true God
and
eternal
life. (1
John 5:20)(HSB)
What
makes
Christianity
different?
1. It
is a
spiritual
belief
system
open to
all,
regardless
of
age, religion, sex,
or
economic
status.
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
3:16)
(NAS)
2. It
is a
religion
that
answers
the
problem of
sin.
Freedom
from sin
is not
based on
our works,
but on our
acceptance
of God?s
grace.
Other
faiths
believe
that
salvation
is
based
on
good
deeds
or
keeping
certain
laws.
Christianity
recognizes
that
"There
is
none
righteous,
not
even
one"
(Romans
3:10)
(NAS).
The
Bible
clearly
says
that
?He
saved
us,
not
on
the
basis
of
deeds
which
we
have
done
in
righteousness,
but
according
to
His
mercy.?
(Titus
3:5)
(NAS)
3.
Unlike
Buddha,
Mohammad,
and other
religious
leaders,
Christianity
accepts
that its
Messiah,
Jesus
Christ, is
still
alive
today.
Jesus died
for our
sins, and
was
resurrected
after 3
days. His
resurrection
was
witnessed
by many,
and proves
His
victory
over sin
and
death.
Who
is he
that
condemns?
Christ
Jesus,
who
died
?
more
than
that,
who
was
raised
to
life
? is
at
the
right
hand
of
God
and
is
also
interceding
for
us. (Romans
8:34)
(NIV)
Christianity
is faith
that Jesus
Christ
paid the
price for
sin in our
stead. It
is an
acceptance
of the
Bible as
the Word
of God,
and the
practice
of love
and
obedience
that
follows.
Essentials
of
Christianity
Not
only do we
not know
God except
through
Jesus
Christ; We
do not
even know
ourselves
except
through
Jesus
Christ. ?
Blaise
Pascal
The
following
is
excerpted
from the
Christian
Research
Institute:
Essential
Christianity. We
hear a lot
of
discussion
about
essentials
and
non-essentials,
but what
are the
essentials
of
Christianity?
When we
talk about
the
essentials
of
Christianity
we're
referring
to the
basic
elements
that make
up and
characterize
our faith,
and which,
of course,
separate
it from
other
beliefs.
Let's
survey
these
doctrines.
First,
we believe
in the
authority
of
Scripture,
which is
another
way of
saying
that the
Bible is
God's
inspired,
infallible,
and
inerrant
Word. It's
the
ultimate
source for
knowledge
about God,
as well as
the
definitive
guide for
our daily
lives.
Next we
affirm the
existence
of a
triune God or
one God in
three
distinct
persons -
the
Father,
the Son,
and the
Holy
Spirit.
This God
is
self-existent,
eternal,
unchanging,
omnipotent,
omnipresent,
holy,
righteous,
and
loving.
God
created
the
universe
from
nothing
and He
rules
sovereign
over His
creation,
including
both human
and
angelic
beings.
We also
hold that
man is
a physical
and
spiritual
being who
is created
in God's
image. But
because of
his sin or
transgression,
man has
lost his
fellowship
with God.
The extent
of sin is
so great
that its
effects
continue
to this
very day
in the
form of
cruelty,
sickness,
suffering,
and death.
By God's
grace,
Jesus
Christ -
Who is
fully God
and fully
man - was
sent to
save us
from our
bondage to
sin.
We believe
that
Christ was
born of a
virgin,
died for
our sins,
physically
rose from
the dead,
and will
one day
return to
judge the
world and
deliver
His
people.
Faith in
Christ is
the only
means by
which
mankind
can escape
eternal
damnation
and
judgment.
Finally,
we
recognize
the church
as God's
ordained
institution
headed by
Christ.
The church
is
composed
of all
believers,
and is
organized
for
worship,
for
fellowship,
for the
administration
of the
sacraments,
for
spiritual
growth and
support,
and for
evangelizing
the world.
source:
christianity.com
