Below is a list of some things that Christians believe:
Christians believe that God is the creator of all people, the world, the universe, and everything seen and unseen. This is based on various Bible passages, including the Bible's book of Genesis.
Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he is one with God, and that he was sent here for our salvation. In John 10:30 (NIV), the Apostle John quotes Jesus as saying, "I and the Father are one."
Christians believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God and born through the virgin Mary. As explained in Matthew 1:18 (NIV), "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." Through his unique birth, Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is "God with us," as in God incarnate. He is both fully human and fully God.
Christians believe that Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Jesus was arrested by religious leaders who opposed his ministry, put on trial, falsely accused, falsely convicted, mocked, beaten, and then crucified by the Romans, about 2,000 years ago. Some scholars estimate that his public ministry lasted three-and-a-half years, from late AD 26 to early AD 30. His public ministry is explained in the New Testament of the Bible, mainly within the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Christians believe that Jesus died after being crucified. He was buried in a tomb owned by a man named Joseph of Arimathea, who was a follower of Jesus. In Matthew 27:57-60 (NIV), the Bible says, "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away."
Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected, which means that he died and was restored to life again. People who believe in Jesus will also be resurrected after they die, and given eternal life in the Kingdom of God, also known as the Kingdom of Heaven, and simply as heaven.
Christians believe that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. This happened after Jesus was resurrected. We too will go to heaven, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. As explained in Mark 16:19-20 (NIV): "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it."
Christians believe that Jesus will return again to judge the living and the dead, and to establish a kingdom that will have no end. In Matthew 24:30-31 (NIV), Jesus is quoted as saying that He will return during the last days of man: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
Christians believe that people are "saved," as in forgiven of their sins, if they confess their sins and confess their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. As explained in Romans 10:9-10 (NIV), "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
All people may receive salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. In Romans 10:12 (NIV), for example, it says: "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him…"
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - Jesus, as quoted in John 3:16, NIV translation.
To learn more about Christianity, visit About-Jesus.org for these related articles:
• The uniqueness of Jesus as a religious figure.
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