Basics of the Christian Faith Made Easy
Copyright 2022 Rose Publishing
Published by Rose Publishing
An imprint of Tyndale House Ministries
Carol Stream, Illinois
www.hendricksonrose.com
The Made Easy series is a collection of concise, pocket-sized books that
summarize key biblical teachings and provide clear, user-friendly explanations
to common questions about the Christian faith. Find more Made Easy books at www.hendricksonrose.com.
ISBN 978-1-62862-944-6
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
14 Key Christian Beliefs previously published as Essential Doctrine Made Easy
Norman L. Geisler
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the (NASB) New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Cover and page layout design by Cristalle Kishi
Photos and illustrations used under license from Shutterstock.com.
Other photos by Soul devOcean/Unsplash, p. 4; Eugenio Hansen/Wikimedia, p. 18; Tim Green/Wikimedia, p. 22; stained glass: Alfred Handel, photo: Toby Hudson/Wikimedia, p. 30; Nheyob/Wikimedia, p. 91; falco/Pixaby, p. 93.
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Introduction
T he world today holds an array of faith traditions, each presenting their own version of our relationship to God, what happens after death, and Gods ultimate plans for the world. Perhaps youve been exploring the menu, familiarizing yourself with the tenets of different religions.
When it comes to the Christian faith, you may have found yourself asking questions like What makes someone a Christian? What are their core beliefs? How do they believe an ancient book like the Bible can guide their faith and practices? Or maybe youve wondered, What are Christians really doing when they pray? Why pray to someone you cant see? Whats the point behind customs like baptism and communion?
It can be overwhelming trying to sort through the vast amount of information on these subjects. Whether youre on a personal quest to find God, someone whos simply interested in learning more about what Christians believe, or a seasoned Christian who needs help explaining your faith to a friend, Basics of the Christian Faith Made Easy aims to provide concise answers to these questions and more.
First, well take a look at the basis of Christian faith and how its revealed in their collection of Scriptures, called the Bible , and from there well explore the Christian concept of Gods character. Next, well zero in on the central historical figure of ChristianityJesus Christand examine how Christians view his claims.
Once a person has placed their faith in Jesus Christ, or become a believer, as Christians are sometimes called by their own, they seek to follow his teachings and emulate his charactera process called discipleship. Well touch on whats involved and the practices and disciplines of discipleship, as well as baptism and the Lords Supper, which have been part of the Christian church for centuries. Finally, well wrap up with what Christians believe about death, the afterlife, and Gods ultimate plans for the earth and humanity.
If you would like to jump to a quick reference that summarizes key Christian beliefs, feel free to take a peek at the chapters at the back of this bookQuick Reference: 14 Key Christian Beliefs and The Apostles Creed. A short list of resources for further reading and study is also included at the very end.
If you want to dive in at the beginning, youll learn some basics about the Biblewhat it is and how Christians look to it as the authoritative source that describes who God is and how he relates to people. Are you ready to go? Lets get started!
How Do Christians Know about God?
G od : Its a word thats thrown around a lot, but have you ever wondered who God is or whether God even exists? The Christian faith is one that holds a strong belief in a supreme being who is closely involved with the world he created. But what makes Christians so sure that there is a God, and from where do they draw their concept of who he is and what he is like?
In a nutshell, Christians point to (1) the beauty and complexity of the world around us , and (2) their collection of Scriptures, called the Bible .
Creation
Christians believe that the wonders of the world we seeand even the intricacies of the world we cant seepoint to a supreme Creator. The universe with its myriad stars and galaxies ... the fact the earth is the perfect distance from the sun, making life sustainable ... the vibrant colors of a rainbow or a sunset ... our planets thousands of unique (and often curious) plant and animal species ... the amazing craftsmanship of the human body ... Christs followers claim that such beauty and majesty could only originate from a divine being. The following passages from the Bible illustrate this concept:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
Psalm 19:12
Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualitieshis eternal power and divine nature.
Romans 1:20 nlt
The Bible
In addition to creation, Christians point to the Biblea collection of ancient writings and lettersas the source that reveals Gods identity, works, and character, as well as his plan for mankind. The Bible, Christians say, clearly shows that despite humanitys many failures, God still cares deeply for the people he created and is actively involved in their lives. But what exactly is the Bible, and what does it say? Lets take a closer look.
What Is the Bible?
Many think the Bible is a thousand-plus pages of religious restrictions and requirements, but Christians see this as a misconception. To understand their point of view, try looking at it like this: Imagine rooting around in your great-grandfathers basement. Buried in the corner next to an old phonograph is a big, overstuffed briefcase. Your heart racesmaybe its full of gold, jewels, or money!
The Bible is a written history of the people of Godan assortment of ancient texts by dozens of authorskings, prophets, scribes, followers of Jesus, and others.
Actually, its even better than that. Within that leather portfolio you discover a treasure trove of old family documents: love letters and postcards, news clippings of major events, and tattered snapshots of relatives you didnt even know you had! You find birth and baptismal records, property deeds, marriage licenses, death certificates, and family genealogies. From that dusty satchel, you retrieve poems from someones old journal, three or four outdated maps, plus a few vacation souvenirs. At the bottom of the briefcase, you even come across some old sheet music, a few secret family recipes, and folded-up building plans for your granddads place, the old family homestead.
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