THINGS THAT MATTER
Christianity is about faith in Jesus Christ.
To have a faith that is worth holding to one must know the FACTS.
Faith in Jesus Christ begins and ends with what God says in the Bible.
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God
The Bible is the Written Word of God
What God says about
The Bible
The Bible is God’s written Word given by the Holy Spirit without error in the original manuscripts through selected men. The Bible has absolute authority in all matters of faith and conduct. It is God’s written revelation of redemption as accomplished through the person and work of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; John 10:35; Luke 24:46, 47).
God
There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit).
God the Father
God the Father is an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He is the sovereign Lord of all. He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, to save all who will believe in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
God the Son
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is God in the flesh (John 1:14, 18; Col. 2:9). He lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary atoning death for the sins of all mankind. He was raise bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where he eternally intercedes for those who call upon Him. He will personally return and establish His eternal kingdom beginning with a 1000 year reign on this present earth (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 19:11-21; Isa. 9:6, 7; 32:17).
God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God who came from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and coming judgment, to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ at the moment of salvation and is the believer’s abiding helper, teacher and guide.
Salvation
Everyone is a sinner by nature ( born of Adam) and by choice (free-will) and under God’s just condemnation of physical and spiritual death. Anyone who repents of their sinful life and trust in Jesus Christ alone, who died in their place and rose again for their righteousness are given new life by the Holy Spirit and receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Great Commission
In Matthew 28: 18-20 Jesus commands all believers to “make disciples.” To make disciples one must BE a disciple. That is, believers are to be followers of Christ, i.e. Christians.
To Make Disciples is the mandate of the Great Commission. There are three parts to making disciples given in the Great Commission: Go, Baptize and Teach. Disciples of Christ are to be G0ing to everyone, all the time, everywhere with the Gospel of Jesus Christ which must believe to be saved from God’s wrath, to Baptize new believers into the earthly body of Christ, the local church (Water Baptism is the outward sign or testimony that one has been spiritually baptized by Christ with His Holy Spirit into His Spiritual Body, the Church. It is a public commitment to Christ Who has saved them.) and to Teach the Word of God to believers so that each one may grow up in the knowledge of Christ, to in turn can make other disciples, everywhere to the end of time.
Church
All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are made members of the household of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a living spiritual congregation of whom Christ is the sole authority. The local church is a physical gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for learning the Word of God, worship, service, accountability and fellowship. God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world and making disciples of all people.
All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are made members of the household of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a living spiritual congregation of whom Christ is the sole authority. The local church is a physical gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for learning the Word of God, worship, service, accountability and fellowship. God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world and making disciples of all people.
Eternity
Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin has eternal life and anyone who does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be separated from God forever in conscience torment in the Lake of Fire. This is called the second death (Matt. 3:12; 25:41; John 3:36; Matt. 18:8; 25:46; Rev. 20:10).
Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin has eternal life and anyone who does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be separated from God forever in conscience torment in the Lake of Fire. This is called the second death (Matt. 3:12; 25:41; John 3:36; Matt. 18:8; 25:46; Rev. 20:10).
The Judgment Seat of Christ, following Christ’s Second Coming, is the single most important coming event for all believers. It is when every believer will stand individually before the Lord Jesus Christ Who saved him and equipped him to serve Him. It is here that an account will be given to the Judge of all the earth for one’s walk of faith or lack thereof demonstrated in their life on earth. This Judgment Seat will be where the believer’s eternal glory, position in the Kingdom and rewards are received to the praise and honor of God and His grace. This judgment is for believers only.
