The Christian Way
1. God
God always has been and always will be. The Bible says it is foolish not to believe in God.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 – all quotes: English Standard Version)
God is not three gods, but one God in three aspects:
God is the Father. “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
God is the Son (Jesus Christ), who came to Earth to save us from sin. [Jesus said:] “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” (John 8, 58)
[Jesus said:] “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
(Note: The word ‘Son’ referring to Jesus is used as a title in the Bible, not literally. It signifies Jesus’ subordinate role to the Father while on Earth.)
God is the Holy Spirit. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Above all, God is HOLY. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)
2. Human nature
It is human nature to sin continually as a result of turning away from God and therefore being alienated from Him. We all deserve to be condemned by God, because He is holy and hates all sin.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“For the wages of sin is [eternal] death.” (Romans 6:23)
3. What is sin?
[Jesus said:] “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-22)
4. Has God just left mankind to its fate?
No. God wants us to repent of our sins.
“The Lord is […] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God came to Earth as Jesus Christ to save repentant people from sin. On the cross, Jesus took their sins upon Himself and died in their place, so God would no longer hold their sins against them. Then He rose from the dead.
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24-25)
“[Jesus Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem [save] us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14)
5. How, then, can we be saved?
If we truly repent of our sins and believe that Jesus Christ is God the Saviour, trusting in Him as our Lord, we will be saved.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
6. But don’t we have to do anything to be saved?
No. There is nothing we can do to be saved, because God has already done everything for man in Jesus’ death on the cross. All we can do is, by God’s grace, repent of our sins and believe in what Jesus has done, and put our trust in Him alone as our Lord and Saviour.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
It is not ‘doing good’ or ‘being good’ that saves us, but simply faith in Jesus’ grace and mercy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
7. What happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour?
When we trust in Jesus, we become a child of God – not because of our good deeds, but because of God’s grace. Our sins are forgiven, and we are saved from eternal death.
“To all who did receive Him [Jesus], who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
“[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
God’s Holy Spirit within us, given when we put our faith in Jesus, not only gives us peace and joy, but also enables us to regard our sinful nature as dead and to become Christ-like.
“To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)
“Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
God will then enable us to carry out His perfect plan for us, whatever it may be.
“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
If you want to know more about Jesus and the Christian Way, read the Bible’s New Testament (English Bibles can be bought at ul. Marszałkowska 15A, Warsaw) and attend an English-speaking church.