Chapter Two - Christians

CHAPTER TWO

Christians

IF YOU SAY you are a Christian, here’s what that means.

You believe in one God, three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You believe Jesus of Nazareth was born to a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, was crucified, buried, and physically rose from the dead three days later.
You believe He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, and the only path to salvation.

You believe the Bible is true. Some say literally, some say spiritually, but it’s your source code.
Old Testament: Genesis to Malachi.
New Testament: Matthew to Revelation.
Sixty-six books total. Written by men, but inspired by God.

You believe humanity is fallen.
That all people are born with sin.
That sin separates us from God.
That Jesus’s death on the cross paid the penalty.
And that accepting Him, believing in Him, is the only way to be saved.

Salvation is by grace, through faith.
Not by works. Not by being a good person.
Only by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
That’s the gate.

You believe in Heaven and Hell.
Heaven is eternal life with God.
Hell is eternal separation. Some say fire, some say darkness, some say torment.
But it’s permanent. And it’s the consequence for unbelief.

You believe in the moral teachings of Jesus.
Love your neighbor. Forgive. Be humble. Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t lust. Don’t kill.
You believe the Ten Commandments still matter.
You believe the Sermon on the Mount is binding.
You believe the Holy Spirit lives in you and helps guide your thoughts, choices, and conscience.

You believe Jesus will return.
Second coming. Final judgment. Resurrection of the dead.
You believe there will be a reckoning, a dividing of sheep and goats.
And only those who believed in Jesus will enter eternal life.

You may go to church on Sunday.
You may pray. Read scripture. Get baptized.
Take communion. Listen to worship music.
Call God “Father.” Ask Jesus into your heart.
Call it a relationship, not a religion.

But this is the framework.
This is the claim.

Jesus is the way.
The truth.
The life.
No one comes to the Father except through Him.

That’s the line.

Everyone else, every Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, and atheist, is wrong.

And unless they accept Jesus, they are lost.

That’s the system.