View source for Essence of Christianity

{{quote | text={{Bible verse|1 John|4|10|lang=WEB}}   [[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.

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.
: ''{{Bible verse|1 Corinthians|15|3|lang=WEB}}''
: ''{{Bible verse|1 Corinthians|15|4|lang=WEB}}''

===[[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
: ''{{Bible verse|Ephesians|1|7|lang=WEB}}''

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]]
: ''{{Bible verse|John|3|16|lang=WEB}}''

===[[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.

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{{returnto}} [[Christianity]]