My understanding of Christianity- the Christian beliefs..
"For God did not send his Son (Jesus) to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." -John 3:17
not to condemn, but to save.
and this simple truth, i only begin to understand it now. and its implications.
i know God sent Jesus to die on the cross becos he loved us, and wants us to return back to him.
The message of the gospel is love.
not condemnation.
God is always reaching out to man. Yet, he has also given us free choice, to choose him or not choose him.
that is a profound truth to me. which led me to conclude; which religion is so confident of its truth that it gives free choice?
and how does the bible explains this freedom of choice to choose God?
"Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son (Jesus)."
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." -John 3:18-21
Christianity, as we believers know, is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with the one and only, true and living God. the very definition of religion is construed by men. they classify all beliefs pertaining to God and the supernatural as religion. social construction? if u put it this way and say that Christianity is a religion, how about if i say that Christianity is more than a religion?
to me, it's more than rituals, singing worship songs, going to church, studying the bible, identifying myself as a Christian and identifying myself with my church or other Christians.
it's more than that.
it cannot be more basic.
It is a relationship with God. Free access to him 24/7. and to be?
a child of God.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." -John 1:12-13
i know perhaps, all these may sound radical and unbelievable to u. I did not believe it too when i first heard this.
but as i begin to search for hope in my life and what i am here on earth for... to be born, live and die?
i found a more convincing answer in Christianity, an answer most probably the closest i know of than to other religions, to the truth. and what does Christianity tells me about my purpose in life?
You are created for a purpose.
You are created for God.
" The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth: and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us. For in him, we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring." -Acts 17:24-28
How can i know this for sure u ask. have u ever wondered why u are here on earth? and how u came about? who created u? who created ur parents, grandparents? where did man come from?
apes?
dinosaurs?
u really think so?
so, what makes u different from the animals?
what makes human so unique?
who made you?
do u believe u really live on earth today, just to be born...and die? and then? a life like that, gone in several decades? where do u go after death?
i always fear death bcos i know i will be forever separated from my family, i wont be able to come back to live on earth anymore. i have to leave everything on earth, behind, behind. and i live, only to die?
isnt there any greater purpose in my existence than just live and die?
how does Christianity views this?
Jesus said : " I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." -John 5:24
it is for our eternal life that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross, 2000 years ago.
"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."
whoever is whoever?
u and i.
anyone.
How can u accept this beautiful gift of God into ur life?
by admitting we have sinned against God, resolve to turn away from our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
The choice is yours. God gave us free choice. but if you choose God, you are for God. If you do not choose him, you are against him. God interprets anything other than a yes, a NO. YES or NO. there can be no sitting on the fence.
"Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son (Jesus)." -John 3:18
why does God wants us to choose u may ask.
"Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." -John 3:5
with my limited understanding of the meaning of this verse, i take this verse to mean the water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that a believer of Jesus Christ must go through, in order to enter the kingdom of God (heaven). Unless you are 'born' again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. 'Born' again to me means to, make a personal decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. and when you've made that decision, God's spirit dwells in you. The water baptism is a public declaration that one has decided to follow Jesus Christ all the days of his/her life.
(ps: i do recognise my very limited bible knowledge, so if there is any misinterpretation, dear fellow believers, please correct me. dear readers, i apologise if there will be any wrong biblical interpretation, i'm still learning to learn....)
because of sin that entered the world when Adam and Eve sinned, death came to all men- All men will die. This is because the price of sin was death.
Jesus paid the full price for the sins of everyone who might come to believe, when he obeyed God the Father and died on the cross.
He resurrected 3 days later. and showed himself to the disciples that He is indeed the Son of God. Jesus is now sitting at the right hand power of God in heaven, watching over this world he died for 2000 years ago. He is with the Father.
and now, all u have to do is to come and receive this gift of eternal life. To receive Jesus Christ into your life. The message that was proclaimed 2000 years ago is still true today. That's because Jesus died and rose again! Today, He lives! For those who may come to believe him, he paid the penalty of their sins for them. now all that they have to do, is to acknowledge and receive him.
Jesus answered, " I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me." -John 14:6
posted by ser @ 2:02 PM
