View source for Essence of Christianity

{{quote | text={{web_verse|1 John|4|10}}   [[1 John 4:10]]}}

{{Infobox_Contents | 
  topic_name = Essence of Christianity
[[Image:Cross sunrise.jpg|thumb|center|The [[cross]] representing a [[God]] who has redeemed us is central to [[Christianity]].]] |
  subtopics = [[God]], [[Jesus]]
* [[Christian]]
* [[Becoming a Christian]], [[Grace]]
* [[Living as a Christian]], [[Love]], [[Worship]]  |
  opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
* [[Salvation (justforcatholics.org)]]
* [[How to be saved (Compass)]]
* [[Essential Christian doctrines (anon)]] |
}}

[[Christianity]] is about [[God]] reaching out his hand in friendship to mankind. [[Christian]]s believe that the everything within the universe was [[creation|created]] by God. God is a personal being, and by some mystery that we cannot understand, he is three, yet one: [[God the Father|Father]], [[Jesus|Son]] and [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]]. He created people in his image, to [[love]] him. Yet every person has rebelled against God. But instead of turning his back on us, God the Son, became a man, Jesus, and lived among us, dying because of us - the death that we should have died. [[Death of Jesus|Jesus was crucified]] on a cross, but [[Resurrection of Jesus|he rose from the dead]], and now calls us to trust him, to love him and to [[repent]] of our rebellion. If we do this, then our relationship with God becomes restored, and God the Spirit lives within us, assuring us of the promise of everlasting life.

==Main article==

The good news of Jesus, or the [[gospel]], is summarized in [[1 Corinthians 15]]. This passage is a simple statement that gives a portrait of what the essence of Christianity is - forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
: {{web_verse|1 Corinthians|15|3}}
: {{web_verse|1 Corinthians|15|4}}

===[[Jesus]]===

Jesus Christ is the central figure that separates [[Christianity]] from other religions. Christians believe that he is both [[God]] and a man; that he created the world and mankind, and that he is alive today. He was born around the 4 BC and grew up in Judea (current day Palestine) where he taught about God's [[love]] and the [[repentance]] of [[sin]]. 

===[[Becoming a Christian]]===

To become a [[Christian]], a person must believe in his heart and confesses that [[Jesus Christ]] is [[Lord]]. When he accepts the fact that he has disobeyed [[God]], but also accepts Jesus' death on the cross as punishment for his [[sin]]s, that person has become a Christian. [[Ephesians 1:7]] in the [[New Testament]] shows that forgiveness of sins are through Jesus
: {{web_verse|ephesians|1|7}}

There are many biblical passages that show that belief, or faith, in Jesus Christ is what brings life to people. Faith in Jesus is ultimately what makes a person a Christian. Perhaps the most famous of these verses is [[John 3:16]]
: {{web_verse|john|3|16}}

===[[Living as a Christian]]===

When we become a [[Christian]], we are called to live for [[God]] in every aspect of our lives. He brings us into a relationship of [[love]] with him and with other Christians and calls us to live for him fully, obeying him and trusting in him completely.

==Quotes==

==Links==

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]]