10 BASIC QUESTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY
© Carlos Padilla, January 2023
1.- WHAT IS THE UNIQUE MESSAGE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY?
Christianity brings the good news that the Kingdom of God comes to this world, a kingdom of love, peace and justice, and that all who believes in the plan of God, our creator, all who knows Yahshua – Jesus, our saviour, has eternal life in His kingdom (John 14:6). This news comes because of the love of God for us; this message is called Gospel (from the Greek evangelion, good news). It is received by faith, which is the conviction of what cannot be seen (Hebrews 11:13), to believe in that message of God for humanity. It is unique because it is God Himself who offers us the salvation, which has only been possible by the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dyeing on the cross for our sins and having risen, while religions always demand that we become saved by ourselves through our own merits, fulfilling of the Law, different works, rites, etc. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/gospel.htm
2.- HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN SALVATION; WHAT TO BE SAVED OF?
God’s love is so great that He has provide to love us even while we are in our sins, living separated from Him, and the result is the decadent world that we have before us, with wars, corruption, hate, hunger, disgraces. We have lived our way, not counting on Him, not believing in Him, in sin, as our enemies. But God, as a good Father, loves each and one of us in particular, to the point of giving the life of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for us, which, as we will see further on was necessary for our salvation. We receive the love of God when we reconcile with Him, by faith in the work of Jesus Christ, we only need to receive Him in our heart, talking to Him and placing our lives in His hands. There our new spiritual lives begin, a new relationship with God. Salvation is that, that plan of God that we may receive by faith, which makes us just and holy by the blood of Christ to take our sin away from us, the enmity with God, living a life without God. We must be saved of two things: in the first place from living in this world without the blessing of God, depending of evil and injustice, without hope, and secondly and over all, from eternal death, a conscience state of separation from God and from goodness, for eternity (Matthew 3:12; 10:28; 25:41; Revelation 20:10), in a place called Hell by the Bible. In the parable of the Rich and Lazarus, Jesus tells how the poor Lazarus is in the bosom of Abraham, but the unmerciful rich who did not help him in life, is suffering in a place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). We must point out that we are talking of where we will spend eternity; that is why it is so urgent and important that all know the message of love of God in the salvation that takes us to Heaven, to eternal life in the Kingdom of God for ever. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/Etrenal-Security.htm
3.- IF WE ARE ALL SINNERS, HOW CAN WE FULFIL GOD’S JUSTICE IN THE FINAL JUDGMENT BEFORE HIS LAW AND BY HIS GRACE?
First of all is to know what sin is. Sin is to not believe in Jesus, not to believe in the work of salvation of God through His Son Jesus Christ – Yahshua on the cross to set us free from the eternal punishment (John 16:9), for love to us, and instead continue to live our way, or justifying ourselves through our own justice and works, since Adam and Eve. If that was possible, or if we could fulfil God’s Law, it wouldn’t have been necessary that Jesus Christ would die on the cross for us and to save us. That is the justification that Christ obtained for us through the Grace of God; do you believe this? My justice and my works are to the standard of holiness and perfection of God, that is why He gave His Law to Moses, but we are not able to fulfil it, even if we want to, the 613 Commandments and ordinances (Exodus; Leviticus). Therefore the Grace of God provides Jesus as our Saviour, and that through faith in His work we may come to God in peace; if we accept to deliver our lives in the hands of Jesus to begin a new live here and now. The Final Judgment is for all the unbelieving humanity, for those who believe have been saved and justified. And the judgment to the system of the world already was when Jesus overcame on the cross: “Now is the judgment of this world” (John 12:31). Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/salvation/
4.- WHY GOD BECAME MAN AND JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS?
God is just and holy, therefore His people, those who love Him, must be just and holy. And being that God loves us, but we are not just, nor holy but sinners, that for us to be able to fulfil His justice, has provided that the payment of our sins was for once and for ever, through the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, His Son Jesus Christ – Yahshua, who by dying on the cross in our behalf reconciles us with the Father so that we do not suffer the condemnation of the eternal Hell. Jesus Christ raised and is at the right hand of God until He returns at the end of time to establish the Kingdom of God. The Law of God requested that sacrifice of a lamb would pay for the people’s sin every day, but the Law does not change our nature. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, in those that accept it by faith, is Jesus Christ, who being God and having eternal live in Him, offered Himself for us, being that if we receive Him as Saviour and place our live in His hands, makes us just and holly by the Holy Spirit sent in us. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/cross.htm
5.- HOW GOD CHANGES US WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN?
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” John 3:3. Our flesh is week; that includes our mind, our soul, our spirit, feelings, will power, self control. Jesus casted out seven demons from Mary Magdalene, which means all the diabolic spiritual burden which we live with until Jesus Christ enters in us and casts out all the slavery from us, some at once, and other during our live. God can do all this when we become His temple and the Holy Spirit inhabits in us, and this way He strengthens us in our weakness, separates or sanctifies us from that which is from sin, and by the new birth, we are a new person in Christ, one that emanates the presence of God, through faith, gives us the power to become children of God (John 1:12). Since then, from the moment we receive Jesus by faith, we begin to know Him in marvellous personal relationship with God that we would have never imagined. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/receiveChrist.htm
6.- HOW TO TALK TO GOD AND LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
To pray is to talk with God. Jesus Christ – Yahshua taught us to ask and give thanks to the Father in His name. To talk to God is possible and is what God expects. God always answers to those who come to Him with open heart and trust Him. The way and the time of the answer vary as God sees convenient. Sometimes we receive direct answer from the Bible, through the Spirit, in our mind, by external signs, and other times we think there is no answer, and we must wait and trust God. The Holy Spirit comes to live in our heart if we open it to Him in faith, and intercedes for us all the time. To talk with God is part of the personal daily relationship with Him, which makes us feel we trust Him, are guarded and guided by Him. The apostle John shows us that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things of God, (1 John 2:26-27). Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/types-of-prayer/
7.- HOW IS A TRUE CHRISTIAN?
A Christian or disciple of Jesus Christ is who knows God in a personal way in Jesus Christ, and follows Him every day in His Word and works. Is he who loves God over all, and who shares his faith, who loves his family, the other Christians of his church, or of the world, and who loves his neighbour, and can be seen by his works and way of life. The believers in Jesus Christ, who are born again through the work of the Holy Spirit, form the Body of Christ called the Church (from the Greek ekklesía, assembly or congregation). The Church is universal and local. Universal because all those who are part of it in the world, are the same body. Local, because a Christian owns himself to his brethren, and in local community preach the Gospel and make good works. Jesus taught us that amongst the brethren we must love one another like He loved us, and He gave His life for us, and adds that this way all will know that we are His disciples, if we would love one another in that same way, (John 13:34-35). Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/go-and-make-disciples/
8.- WILL WE ALL RAISE AFTER DEATH FOR ETERNAL LIFE, SOME TO HELL AND OTHERS TO HEAVEN, THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Jesus Christ – Yahshua rose from death, and more than 500 brethren saw Him alive again, and at the end the apostles saw Him ascent to Heaven before their eyes, (1 Corinthians 15:6). Yes, there is life after death, as Jesus Christ and the apostles teach, as we have seen that it is the urgency of the Gospel, the Message of Salvation of God for us, so important, because let us remember that it is about where we will spend eternity after resurrection. Jesus resurrected Lazarus (John 11:38-44), and the sepulchres were opened when Jesus rose and many saints rose then (Matthew 27:52). The question is, where will you spend eternity: in Heaven or in Hell? We will all be resurrected, except those Christians alive when Jesus Christ comes, who will be caught up alive to Heaven, together with those Christians risen (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Also the non believers and enemies of God will be raised for the judgment of condemnation to Hell. The Kingdom of God, the Heavens and eternal life are the message of Christianity, as we saw in the first questions. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/resurrection.htm
9.- ARE THERE MIRACLES TODAY AND DO ANGELS INTERVENE FROM THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION?
If you have experienced miracles in your life, you have the answer. We also know people who have experienced miracles and appear convinced, or the evidence shows it that way. The amount of miracles in the Bible shows us, or the miracles that Jesus Christ, and also his apostles did are without doubt clear evidence that they exist, if we prefer a source of faith authorized and reliable. But, today there are miracles even though we do not have apostles that have the gift to do them always, the prayer of believers still works miracles many times, healings and things that seemed impossible, even if a few times, and not for that reason we should stop asking for them, for even though times are different than when our Lord came, we are also close to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the world is becoming more against faith, but God is the same. The angels are spiritual beings created by God who serve Him, and us, from His behalf as we saw that they served even the Lord Himself, Joseph and Mary and many saints. But there are others who revealed themselves, as well as there are people who are enemies of God. The spiritual dimension is more real than the physical that we can see, hear or touch. Everyone who begins the journey of the faith knows this reality. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/Angels.htm
10.- WHY THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT OTHER BOOKS?
Jesus Christ Himself tells us that the Scripture of the Old Testament was inspired His Word, and the New Testament adds His Words on earth and those that His apostles received from Him. Jesus said: “One jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-20). The 66 books that form the Bible follow an evident canon or unity of message only found in those books and in others it does not, leaving out any other book that is against. On the other hand, the fulfilment of the Biblical prophecies, without exception, is unique and proves it supernatural origin, more than 300 about Jesus Christ. The Message of God in the Bible is that which gives man love, peace, justice, order and hope, it provides us the mind of Christ, and the Holy Spirit teaches us when we study it, when we come with sincere heart to learn from the Father. Read a Bible Study at: https://www.yahshua.net/Bible.htm
CONCLUSION
Today we have seen 10 basic questions to Christianity. No doubt there are many more, and of that, with the grace of God, we will deal with in following blocks of questions, existential and philosophical, prophetical, and of the concerns of today in the XXI century, etc. But without doubt these are the main ones because it is about our beloved ones, our neighbours and people we talk to, so they may know the message of God for all, that the Salvation has already been provided and that if we believe in God and in His plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ we have eternal life in the Kingdom of God, being that once we know God our true live begins.
The prayer that the Lord Jesus taught us “Our Father in Heaven (Matthew 6:9:13)” answers these 10 questions: “Our Father in Heaven”, recognizes God in the first place, and that He is our Father, and that the heavens exist and is the spiritual dimension that embraces all, and to pray to God. “Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come”, teaches us to worship God and wait His kingdom as our hope which is offered to us in the Salvation plan, a kingdom that exists and that is to come here. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”, teaches us to trust God and have faith in Him, to know that miracles are given by Him and like in the dimension of heaven with the angels, all depends of Him on earth. “Give us this day our daily bread”, teaches us to ask God and to recognize Him as our provider of blessing, and we know that not only of bread a man lives but of all word from the mouth of God, The Bible. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”, God forgives our sins, He has the plan of salvation for us, and to Him we must come in repentance to be a true Christian born again. “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”, Jesus was tempted to test him as the Messiah and that he could overcome the devil. We sometimes must be put to test in our faith to makes us stronger and to learn to depend of God. And the evil of this world and of the one to come, called Hell, is real, therefore we cry to God to deliver us and save us. “For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever, amen”, we recognize that the kingdom of God exists and is His, that the power is of God and we give Him the glory, because He lives through eternity, where we long to live with the Lord forever in His presence. The Bible replies all our questions because it is God Himself who has revealed it for us. Amen!
