Biblical Christianity Summary

Character of God

God is pure. Throughout the Bible Adam and Eve disobey God and have to leave the Garden of Eden, and Jesus is born, dies, and is resurrected. There is so much change happening from the beginning to the end of the Bible. However, through all this change God, remains the same. God is always present and trying to guide humanity to do the right thing. Even when God is perceived as harsh and cruel in his punishment, it is essential that we keep faith and that it is a struggle we must endure to become stronger. God’s punishment is a form of love. God does not give what you cannot handle. “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (I Corinthians 10:13). God is dedicated to all of his people whether they sin or not; he is forgiving, loving, and caring. Only God knows what each person can handle and what they must go through in order to be who they are supposed to be. This tells us that even when David was in complete agony when his son was dying in 2 Samuel 12:16, God knew that this was a lesson David needed that would make him a better king for his followers. Even though God allows his people to suffer, he is not the source of any evil or suffering. God knows what is right for all his people and does not put anyone through something they are unable to handle.

God is the trinity: he is God, he is Jesus, and he is the Holy Spirit. Each aspect of God displays different characteristics of who God is. This is why Jesus is able to heal sinners instead of further punishing them. Jesus, our savior, is the caring and forgiving side of God. He died for our sins, granting humanity forgiveness for all eternity.

We can see a different side of God in the Old Testament; he seems harsher and less forgiving. This is a different side of God’s personality. He is the father teaching his children what is right. The father, son, and holy spirit all embody all characteristics of God, even though their behaviors vary. The holy spirit is what people feel when they commit themselves to the religion. Christians are guided to let the Holy Spirit take control of their lives, to let go and let God guide their life. It is how we know that God is always present. Essentially, this is how we know God can always see what we are doing. All in all, God is one being, with three distinct roles and one personality.

The Role of the Bible in Shaping Christianity

The Bible is the method in which modern day Christians communicate with and understand God’s word. In the olden days, God spoke directly to a prophet about his wishes and commandments and that person communicated with God’s followers. That role, the prophet or the spokesman has been replaced with the Bible. However, the Bible is interpreted differently by every individual that follows the Christian faith. Churches apply different interpretations of the Bible and its teachings to their congregation and the congregation follows those beliefs and teachings. The congregation than uses those teachings and applys them to day-to-day life. Even though the Bible is interpreted differently by one another the main purpose of those teachings is not lost. This is the source of all information about Jesus, who is our savior in the Christian community.

Without the gospel, there would not be a way to apply Jesus’ story to modern day life. The stories and lessons that Jesus taught to his followers are at the core of Christianity. The Bible has created something for people to believe in, something for humans to have faith in, and way of life.

At the beginning of the Lutheran denomination, Martin Luther thought that Christianity had been corrupted. He wanted to lead the people back to the Bible and to reintroduce Christianity to its biblical origins. In 2 Timothy 3:15, it states that, “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” This shows that the Bible brings religion to life. It creates a method in which we can develop a relationship with God.

Character, Condition and Need of Humanity

When God created the world, he created humans with free will and independent thought. As humans, we have the ability to think for ourselves and form our own opinions regardless of God’s wishes for the race. This creates the potential for sin and dysfunction throughout the world. God could have very easily created a race that was obedient and dependent, however, having a race that chooses to worship even in the face of temptation is far superior to a race of robots. Humanity can be driven by temptation and desire, but the people who resist temptations and sin in the name of God are rewarded with eternal happiness and peace. Being devoted to God means resisting the human urge to sin regardless of the situation. There are times when sin seems easier than doing the right thing, and in the short term it might be, however, living a life of devotion and positivity will create a better life overall.

Even though the ideal goal of humanity is to live a life free of sin and evil, the nature of humankind is to sin. God may be disappointed in humans when they act immorally, but he understands that it is human nature to sin and he loves all people regardless. Giving in to temptation is an aspect of human life each one of us has to live with. Jesus died for the sins of the human race, which means that the race will be forgiven for its sins. Jesus’s sacrifice gave humans the gift of forgiveness and a direct relationship with God. We are not expected to live a perfect life free of sin, however, when a human strives for perfection, they will end up in a world of joy, forgiveness, and faith.

Jesus and His Work

Jesus is essential to all denominations of Christianity. He was born to the virgin Mary and is the son of God. Traveling from city to city across the world, Jesus provided care and guidance to all kinds of people. His main focus was on sinners and providing forgiveness and healing to people who had done wrong in their lives. He sent an inspirational message that forgiving those have wronged and providing a second chance is more important, useful, and influential than focusing on people who already do good. Jesus says in Luke 6:35, “love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Jesus cared for sinners because only being kind to those who are kind to you is not true kindness. Of course, the ability to heal lepers and give a blind man sight is something only a divine being could accomplish, however this level of forgiveness and understanding is something all mortals can apply to their lives as well.

The manner in which Jesus died increased His importance to the Christian faith. Jesus was betrayed by His apostle, Judas, in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. He was hung from a cross next to two criminals; people gathered to watch and throw things and make fun of Jesus as he died. Since Jesus was half God, he could have saved himself at any time throughout the process, however, he chose not to. He died in order to protect us from our own sins. This act of selflessness still affects believers today because it was the ultimate gift to humanity. The cross serves as a guide to modern-day Christians. Jesus was faithful and devoted to God while on the cross. He knew His current discomfort was part of God’s plan for the world. When humans are experiencing hardship or misery, they must follow Jesus’s example and hold faith that it is all part of the plan.

The Nature of Christian Faith

Throughout the Bible, the characters are praised for their unwavering faith in God. For example, Moses had faith that God was in the burning bush telling him to lead the people out of Egypt. Noah had faith when God asked him to build the ark and help God recreate the human race. These examples, as well as many others, show that faith can be displayed by trusting in God, following His word, respecting the bible, and accepting it as truth. Time after time, the noble people throughout the Bible are those who have faith and trust in God. It could be argued that faith is the most important part of Christianity. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’ This shows that having faith, trust, and a belief in God and Jesus is the way we please God and live a rewarding life. Faith gives humans the ability to believe in something bigger than themselves. Religion is an abstract concept that cannot be proven or explained; humanity must have the faith to accept and trust Christianity.

The Role of Church in Society

Church is a method in which communities come together in worship of the scriptures, the heavens, and God. When people gather for a common purpose, it strengthens the cause and enhances the meaning of the cause. In the case of church, people come together as a community to show their grace and trust in the lord and His teaching. All ages and backgrounds are welcomed and embraced in church; it is a place to grow and learn. Attending a church regularly is a way to remain connected to those in heaven. Worshipping God and embracing His holy spirit connects us to the heavens and allows those who have passed to watch over us. Also, gathering as a community adds another perspective to our faith and understanding of the religion. Having an outlet to discuss our understandings of the scripture allows people to further develop their beliefs and create a further understanding of God’s word and Jesus’s life. Church enhances our society’s humanity and grace. It brings God into a world that is in desperate need of His perspective and teachings.