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Back You are fundamentally a spiritual being (living in a physical body) created by, and an object of God's love. Your life does have meaning and purpose but first you need to connect with the one who created you. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHO YOU ARE Back God is the supreme personal being of the universe. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHO GOD IS Back Yes! But mankind is born separated from God by his short-comings (sin). Yet God wants to bring you close to himself. But you need to play a part in this. God wants you to believe in his Son Jesus Christ and the fact that Jesus paid the price for our sins and brought down that wall of separation through his death on the cross. Jesus was actually made a sacrifice that we might know God. So yes! You can know God through faith in Jesus. Not the power of reason. God also said that those who seek Him shall find Him. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT KNOWING GOD Back You are entitled to believe whatever you choose. Truth is truth whether you believe it or not. But please be aware of the consequences. You are fundamentally a spirit being that will be living for eternity once free from the constraints of this physical world. Where you spend your eternity will depend on what you do with Jesus Christ and your relationship with God now. By the way, God believes in you! SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT NOT BELIEVING Back As I see it, religion has caused more trouble throughout history than anything else. Yes you’re right. Religion is basically man’s way of reaching God. It is often based on obeying rules and regulations. Often trying to convince others that this way is right (even by force if necessary). In reality nothing could be further from the truth. It is impossible for man to please God by obeying rules. That is why God the Father sent his Son Jesus who is the only person who has ever lived the perfect life without sin. Jesus then became a sacrifice for the sins of the world so that those who believed on what he did would be seen perfect in God’s eyes. As a result there is no need to follow rules to be accepted in right-standing with God. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT RELIGION Back If God’s so good why is there all this suffering in the world? It’s not God’s intention that there be suffering in the world but God has given man the ability to choose (and live with the consequences). Mankind has chosen not to live according to the ways God set before him. The result has brought curse upon the earth. Jesus said that there would be suffering in this world. He also said that he came that we might have peace. A peace that transcends our natural understanding. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT SUFFERING IN THIS WORLD Back He's not a religious figure, but Jesus Christ is God’s Son. He was sent by God to make a way for people to personally know God. He did this by taking away the sins (the short comings) of mankind that separated God from man. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHO JESUS IS Back I believe in the spirit world. Where does Jesus fit in with all that? The spirit world or supernatural realm has many facets and levels but is clearly defined into two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Light, of which Jesus Christ (the Son of God) is head, and the kingdom of darkness which is ruled by Satan (a fallen angel once called Lucifer). Satan’s main objective is to avoid mankind knowing and entering into the good that God (who is Love) has for it. Satan’s main mode of operation is deception, and together with his hosts of spirits has been relatively successful in leading most of the world astray from entering into the wonderful life God has for mankind. Satan does this by having the world believe in a variety of theologies, philosophies and theories contrary to truth. Often these beliefs seem good, acceptable and quite plausible, but in a subtle and seemingly harmless way have detrimental effects on lives, especially in an eternal context. Jesus Christ is the highest authority of all (in the seen and unseen world), and is in the process of bringing all things (including the kingdom of darkness) into a position of acknowledgement of his Lordship. God is doing this through the use of his word (both spoken and written), his Spirit, his angels and his people here on earth. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT JESUS AND THE SPIRITUAL REALM Back A Christian is a follower of Christ. This means more than just following the teachings of Jesus from the Bible. And it certainly isn’t someone who tries to do good. Or even someone who believes there is a God. A Christian is a person who has turned to God, has received forgiveness of sin and have had their life touched through an intimate relationship with the Living God. This is only possible through believing what was achieved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS Back What’s so good about being a Christian? Having abundance, authority, beauty, blessings, boldness, calling, care, cheerfulness, cleanliness, comfort, companionship, completeness, confidence, counsel, creativeness, cure, delightfulness, deliverance, desire, dominion, easiness, effectiveness, endurance, esteem, everlasting life, excellence, faithfulness, family, fatherhood, favor, fellowship, food, forgiveness, freedom, friendship, fullness, gentleness, gifts, glory, God, goodness, grace, greatness, guarantee, healing, health, heaven, help, holiness, honor, hope, housing, humility, impartation, inheritance, instruction, Jesus, joy, justification, kindness, knowledge, land, laughter, liberty, life, love, might, mysteries revealed, newness, oneness, partnership, patience, peace, perfection, possession, power, prayer, preservation, priesthood, prosperity, provision, pureness, purpose, redemption, rejoicing, renewing, rest, restoration, rewards, righteousness, safety, salvation, sanctification, satisfaction, signs, sincerity, spirit, strength, supplies, sustenance, testimonies, thanksgiving, time, trust, truth, understanding, use, virtue, vision, will, wisdom, witness, wonders, words, work, Yahweh and zeal . . . plus being able to worship God with our life. So what are you waiting for? SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN Back I grew up in a Christian family, isn’t that OK? Unfortunately no. Every person must have an individual response to what they’ve done with Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. This is a personnel experience not something that you receive from being born into a particular family. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT PERSONALLY ACKNOWLEDGING JESUS Back As long as I believe in God that's fine isn't it? To give mental accent to God falls far short of what God has for you. God is looking to have an exciting and rich relationship with you. But this relationship can only come about by you first having the barrier of sin removed between you and God. This is achieved by:
SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT COMING TO JESUS Back Christian, Muslim, Hindu . . . whatever. Most religious leaders will tell you they have or know the way, the truth or the life. But Jesus said that he is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. This also shows that by having a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ you will experience The Way, Truth and Life. It has always been God’s desire to be known. This is in contrast to religion where man is trying to find God. Jesus took the initiative. All God needs now is your response. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT JESUS BEING THE WAY Back Isn’t it about obeying the Ten Commandments? It is impossible for man to obey the Ten Commandments. We just haven’t got the ability to do it. Everyone falls short of God's standards. In fact the Ten Commandments were actually given to prove that it is impossible for mankind to live up to God’s standards, and to show that we need God’s way of right standing with him. This was brought about through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT OBEYING THE LAW (TEN COMANDMENTS) Back What does it mean to be 'born again'? A religious leader came to Jesus at night asking him “How can a man see the Kingdom of God?” Jesus’ response was that a man needs to be “born again”. The Kingdom of God is not a physical place but a spiritual one. And to enter into it you need to born again. Your first birth, which is physical, allows you to live and function in this physical realm, but your second birth, a spiritual one, allows you to live and function in God’s spiritual realm. To be born again you need to ask Jesus Christ to come into you heart by his spirit. Ask him to transform your spirit and expect a change to take place. Once you are born again all things will become new. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT BEING BORN AGAIN Back God loves us so he would only ask us to give things that are not the best for us (just as we would with our children). What we have to give is nothing in comparison to what we receive. The price we might pay for being a Christian is far less than what we pay for not being one. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE PRICE WE NEED TO PAY Back You’re right. We cannot keep it up by ourselves. God gives us the ability, power and strength to live the Christian life. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT BEING SUSTAINED BY GOD Back That’s right. None of us are! The new life you receive from God is a gift. We can never make ourselves good. That’s why Jesus came. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GRACE Back I'm basically a good person isn't God happy with that? No matter how good you behave it is impossible that you will be right in God’s sight without believing in what Jesus did on the cross. He came and died as a sacrifice on our behalf that we might be made acceptable to God. We are all born with a sinful nature—a natural bias for not doing right. Only by inviting Jesus into (and making him the master of) our heart and allowing the Spirit of God to have his way in our lives can a transformation of our nature take place. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT OUR SINFUL NATURE Back I’m so unfulfilled and dissatisfied with life. Has Christianity got an answer for me? Yes! You are unfulfilled because you are separated from your creator—God. You need to be brought near to God by turning from your own (unfulfilling) way of living and making Jesus (God's Son) the master of your life. From this point you can learn what God (who knows and loves you) wants you to do with your life. Only being in the centre of God's will for you life brings fulfillment and satisfaction. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT A FRUITFUL LIFE Back Praying is simply talking to God. He can hear you because he is everywhere. Praying is also not meant to be one-way. Look and listen for God's response. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT PRAYING Back If I become a Christian, would I have to go to church? There is nothing to say you have to go to church, but there are some good reasons to do so. Church is a place where you can be helped to grow spiritually by the Spirit of God through teaching, worship, and people. The other exciting thing is you can be used by God to help others move towards what God has planned for their lives. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GATHERING WITH BELIEVERS Back At the end of the day, don’t churches just want my money? Like anything, resources are required to keep things going and these often come through people in the church. Church leaders should be trusting God to supply what’s required not using their own influence to get results. Giving is part of the christian life (which God loves) but let it be motivated by love and faith and sown into a field which is prepared by God. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GIVING AND GOD'S PROVISION Back I went to church for years . . . It was dead boring. Many churches are religious. In saying that I mean they believe and promote a way to God based on performance usually by adhering to a set of (written or unwritten) rules. They often have an emphasis on tradition. The result is death . . . the absence of God. It is important to find a church that is based on faith, grace, love and the realities of the living God. It’s teaching founded on the Bible. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT CHURCH FUNDAMENTALS Back All those different churches, which is right? Church organizations are often formed out of what was once a genuine move of God through a person or group of people. Ideally once God is moving in such a situation it is important that growth flow and be directed by what God is doing and saying. What can happen though is that people develop an over-emphasis on one or more particular doctrines or beliefs. This usually results in more of an organization mentality than an organic attitude. As these organizations strengthen there is generally less spontaneity, liberty and moving of God by his Spirit in the group and its gatherings. Often the difference between particular groups is their view or interpretation of what the Bible is saying about a particular subject. Who is right? No one group has a total understanding on all things but a wise group is one that acknowledges this and is prepared to, and has the ability to learn and change as God leads them. Jesus said that we can judge by the fruit we see. If there are results of life, love and liberty from God, this is a good sign. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE CHURCH Back The Church is basically the assembly of Christians. It has three contexts.
SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GATHERING OF BELIEVERS Back How do I choose a church to go to? Firstly there are some fundamental beliefs that qualify a Christian church.
Secondly there are some functions that should be practiced in a church with the intention of building the church up to what God plans it to be. These are:
Choosing a church is a very important decision and should be made carefully (and prayerfully). SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT CHURCH FUNDAMENTALS Back All the Christians I know are either hypocrites or weird. Just because a person becomes a Christian it doesn’t mean that everything is sorted out immediately. A Christian is a person who has right-standing with God through faith in what Jesus Christ did on the cross. A Christian’s heart may change, but the outworking of what has happened inside of a believer may take time to workout through every area of his or her life. Try and be patient, God hasn't finished with them yet! SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT CHRISTIAN GROWTH IN OTHERS Back Tell me about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the manifest presence of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is a person (the third person of the Godhead). Jesus said before leaving this earth that he needed to go so the Holy Spirit could come to his followers. He said that the Holy Spirit would be like him in that he would teach, comfort and his presence would show the nature and attributes of God in healing, deliverance, signs, wonders and miracles. Also when you receive the Holy Spirit into your life he gives you the ability (the power) to live the Christian life. He will also give direction and clarity to what the bible has to say. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT Back What does the future hold for the world? The Bible tells us that these are the last days of this age. They are also the days before Jesus returns. Jesus said that as the time draws closer to his return that it would be a difficult time on the earth. He said there would be an increase in false prophets, wars and natural disasters. There would also be persecution and world-changing events in and around Israel. For those who do not have right-standing with, and know God personally, the future isn’t good. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WORLD EVENTS Back Is there such a thing as the devil or Satan? Yes. Satan originally was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. His original name (Lucifer) actually means “bright and shining one”. But Satan became prideful, and in an attempt to be like God rebelled against God taking with him one third of the angels in heaven. To this day Satan’s goals are to stop people knowing and experiencing the goodness of God, or if they are Christians, restricting their effectiveness in life. He does this with the help of a host of unseen wicked spiritual beings. Satan’s realm is darkness (spiritual and moral) and his mode of operation is deceit and lies. His objective is to kill, steal and destroy. Death (separation from God) itself is Satan’s ultimate goal, but Jesus’ victory over death when he rose from the dead was a triumphant occasion, not only for himself but for Christians, as Satan’s authority in the spiritual realm was broken. Satan and his follower’s destiny is an eternal punishment prepared for them by God. SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT SATAN Back
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