When explaining anything, it is crucial to define your terms. The word "Christianity" is no exception, with hundreds of very different connotations. Because many of my posts will be about my beliefs and how they shape my life, I figured I should first define that foundational term. Here is a short summary (John 21:25):
He is the God who blessed Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7, 1 Samuel 12:22, Jeremiah 3:14 13:11; Isaiah 49:3) because of His promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 2:24, Deuteronomy 7:8, 9:5, Psalm 105:42, Luke 1:69-75, Hebrews 6:13-15), for the sake of His Name throughout the nations (Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 36:21-22; Isaiah 43:25, 48:11, 63:14).
He is the God Who chose to send His Son (John 3:16, Acts 2:23, 4:28; Romans 3:2-26, 8:32) at a fore-ordained time (Romans 5:6-8, Galatians 4:4) to live a perfect life (Isaiah 53:9, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5), to die (Romans 3:25, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 John 4:10), to be resurrected back to life (Acts 2:32, Romans 4:25, 6:4-9; 1 Corinthians 15: 4-8, 2 Corinthians 5:15), and to return to heaven (Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9, Ephesians 1:20, 2:6) to intercede on our behalf as our Most High Priest (Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 4:14, 6:20, 8:1, 1 Timothy 2:5-6). To be seated as King and Judge on His heavenly throne at the right hand of the Father (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19; Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 3:1).
He is the God Who chose to extend that blessing (Galatians 3:28-29) to the Gentiles (Isaiah 56:6-8, Romans 11:11-26) through His Son (Galatians 3:8-14); Jew and Gentile joined together in Him (Romans 10:12, Ephesians 2:11-22) for His glory, making the two into one Body, with Him as Head (Colossians 1:18), by His Son's death on the cross (Ephesians 2:14-16), without showing favoritism to any gender, race, or economic status (Acts 10:34-35, Galatians 3:28) .
2. The Father has begotten the Son (John 3:16, Romans 8:32, 1 John 4:9-10), Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:11), Who is fully God and was made fully man (John 1, 1 John 5:6, Colossians 2:9).
Jesus is the Jewish (Psalm 132:11, Matthew 1, Acts 13:23, Romans 1:3, 9:5) Messiah (Matthew 26:63-64, 27:11; Luke 22:70, 23:3) prophesied about in the Old Testament (there's about 300, so look here for some of them). He lived according to the Law of the Torah (Luke 2:21-22, 39- 47; John 2:13, Galatians 4:4) and never sinned (Isaiah 53:9, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5), so that He could be (John 17:19, Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 4:4-5, Hebrews 2:16-18) the complete and eternal (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 28, 10:12-14; 1 Peter 3:18) sacrifice for our sins. He became the curse of death (Galatians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 5:21)-- the debt we deserved to pay according to the Law (Romans 1:32, 3:23, 6:21-23, 8:13; James 1:15)-- that we may instead live holy lives through Him (John 17:19, Romans 8:3-4, Hebrews 9:14, 10:10, 13:12; 1 Corinthians 15:45) and join Him in Heaven after our physical death (John 11:25).
He died on the cross as a sacrifice (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19) and rose again 3 days later (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, 1 Corinthians 15:4-6) for the glory and praise of His Father (John 7:18, 8:50, 12:27-28, 14:3, 17:1). Through His death (Isaiah 53:5, Romans 4:25, 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 Peter 2:24), those who put their faith in Him (John 11:25, 14:6; Romans 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:18) have been granted access into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 10:19-22), into the very presence of God (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 9:1-28).
Jesus was spoken of since the beginning (again: here) and His redemption of the world (Genesis 3:15) was proclaimed in the Torah, through the feasts, sacrifices, traditions, and prophecies (Luke 18:31, 24:27, 44, Romans 15:8, 2 Corinthians 1:20; see also: this book). He will return once again to the earth (Matthew 24:30, Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Revelation 1:7), in all His glory and God-likeness (Revelation 19:11-16) leading the army of believers in triumph (Joel 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Revelation 19:11-21) over Satan and setting up His eternal Kingdom on the earth (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 21:1-22:6).
3. The Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in (John 14:17, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 2:22, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) those who have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), by grace (Acts 15:11, Romans 3:24, 2 Timothy 1:9-10), through the blood sacrifice of Christ (Isaiah 53:4-5, Hebrews 2:14, 10:1-18; Ephesians 5:2, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 Peter 2:24), for the purposes of God (Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9), as a Teacher and Guide (John 14:26. 16:13). The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and shapes us into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Peter 1:2).
The Father regenerates our hearts (Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:15-17, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:3, 23, 2 Thessalonians 2:13), drawing us to the Son (1 Peter 1:2) removing our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19, 2 Corinthians 3:6-4:18). By doing so, He empowers us to do the will of God (Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Galatians 5:16, 2 Timothy 1:7), while creating in us the desire to do it (Philippians 2:13).
The Spirit will always glorify the Son (John 16:14, 1 John 4:2).
The Spirit is the seal of God on our hearts until our death or Jesus's return (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:5).
4. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal parts of one Being (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, 17:20-21), each with different roles. Regarding their roles in salvation: "God's elect, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood" (1 Peter 1:2).
5. Jesus will come again at the end of the earth to judge the world (Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10) and to set up His Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 20:4-6). He will bind Satan for 1000 years (Revelation 20:2), let him roam the earth once again (Revelation 20:3, 7-8), before banishing him to the lake of burning sulfur forever (Revelation 20:10) along with those who rejected Jesus as the Son of God (John 3:36, Romans 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) and are therefore not found in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15). This hell is God's justice (Romans 2:2-11) and is under His authority (Revelation 1:18). Imagine: trying to slap the President in the face versus slapping your friend in the face; both slaps have consequences, but because of the elevated rank of the President versus that of your friend, the consequences are rightly more severe for the one than the other.
6. Every word in the Bible, though transcribed by men, is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). His Word is perfect (Psalm 19:7-11) and consistent, despite being written over many centuries, by multiple writers, and through several cultural zeitgeists. His Word is timeless and therefore relevant to all people at any time (2 Timothy 3:17). His Word doesn't change (Romans 15:4, 8), because the Author doesn't change (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8).
7. God betrothes Himself (Isaiah 54:5, Ephesians 5:22-32) in faithfulness and holiness (Hosea 2:19-20) to those who repent and believe that through Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:25-27)-- through faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9) as the satisfying sacrifice (Romans 3:25-26, Ephesians 1:7, 2:13, 5:2; 1 John 2:2)-- that we can be in a personal relationship with such a holy God (John 14:6, Romans 5:2, Hebrews 10:19-22). We are not perfect, but He is faithful (Hebrews 10:23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:13) and His promises are sure (2 Corinthians 1:20, and feel free to look at this list again...).
8. God is not centered around our happiness, but His glory (1 Samuel 12:22, Isaiah 48:11, Ezekiel 20:22, Jeremiah 14:7, Malachi 1:11). He exists not to gratify us (Luke 9:23), but to be glorify Himself, for He alone is worthy (Psalm 86:9-10, Revelation 4:11, 15:4). Without Him, we cease to exist (Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:28, Hebrews 1:3). He is the purpose of life (Ephesians 4:22-24) and He is worthy of all glory and honor and praise that could ever be expressed (Jeremiah 10:7, Revelation 5:12, 7:12). Salvation is for His purpose (Acts 13:48, Ephesians 1:4-5, 11-12; Romans 8:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:9).
What are some (I could never list them all-- Job 9: 10-12, 11:7, 36:26; Romans 11:33) characteristics of God?
He is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24, Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Corinthians 1:9)
He is loving (Psalm 145:17, 1 John 4:8)
He is all-powerful (Matthew 19:26, Isaiah 14:27, 2 Chronicles 20:6)
He is good (Psalm 34:8, Mark 10:18, 1 Peter 2:2-3)
He is perfect (Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:15) and everything He does is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31, Deuteronomy 32:4)
He is matchless (Isaiah 46:9, 1 Samuel 2:2, 1 Chronicles 17:20)
He is King (2 Chronicles 20:6, Matthew 6:10, Revelation 19-21)
He is just (Nahum 1:3, Habakkuk 1:13, Psalm 9:4, 18:26)
I may or may not add some more characteristics later, but you can also read the Bible-- it's all about Him.
Wow, this is really detailed. Is this from a Christian organisation/denomination or did you research and write it yourself?
ReplyDeleteI spent a couple weeks researching it- looking at main passages and their cross references. It was pretty time consuming, ha, but I figured it would be good for future reference!
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