Frequently Asked Question about Christianity
I have heard and actually asked a lot of these questions in the past, so I am adding them here for others to read and comment on. If you have any questions, please contact me and I will post the answers here. I will be adding more questions in the future.
FAQ on Christianity
FAQ on God, Jesus, etc.
- What is the Trinity?
- Who is Jesus?
FAQ on what the Bible says about...
- Being a witness?
- Homosexuality
- Commandments
- Forgiveness
FAQ on End Times
- What is the Tribulation?
- What is the Rapture?
- What are the signs for the coming of the end times?
What is Christianity?
The word Christianity or Christian, is derrived from Christ, Jesus. The last part, ian, means “relating to or belonging to
”. So, in essence, if you say that you're Christ·ian that means that you belong to Christ; which also goes hand in hand that you are Saved through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately many people call themselves a Christian and do not have a personal relationship with Christ. In Revelation 3:1-6 this is explained.
To summarize, Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh and that He died on the Cross for our sins and is the only way in Heaven. John 3:16-18, John 5:4, Romans 5:8-11, 1st Corn. 15:22.
Of course this includes many other Commandments that must be followed.
What does it take to be a Christian?
There are two views on this from 3 different perspectives. I am going to explain them briefly.
The first and most widely viewed opinion is that you have to give up your life and not have any fun in your life. This is a lie straight from the deceiver and could not be anymore wrong. This view is coming from a non-Christian who is afraid of giving their life because they have no other knowledge other than what was given to them by satan.
The second view which is also popular is that all you have to do is be a good person and do good things, thus earning Salvation. The Bible says in Ephesians 2, 8 that we cannot earn our way into Heaven but that it is given to us freely if we accept Christ.
The third view comes from a Christian who knows the Word and has a relationship with Christ. This belief that I hold and many other Christians comes straight from the Word. It takes faith and belief in that Christ is the Son of God who came to Earth to save us from our sins and that through Christ can we only be saved. This is the first step to having a relationship with Christ. Next, we must know and follow His Word. We must take up the Armor of God and trust wholly on the Lord, we must preach the Word to those who are not saved; we must of constant communication with Him and follow after His heart. This may sound difficult and painful, a view I once shared, but when you have that relationship with Christ He takes away all of those feelings and fears. Your life will not be easy, you will have trails and tribulations but if you trust on the Lord and cast your troubles on Him he will take on the burden for you. You will be persecuted because of Christ, but Jesus said that you should feel honored and blessed to be in His name.
This may sound uninviting and not worth the trouble, but I can assure you that through Christ my life has been so much better. I do have my times where I am depressed, scared and untrusting, but I remember Christ's promises and love for me and that He is with me always. Because of Him I come through victorious.
What does it mean to be Born Again?
The term “Born Again
” essentially means that if you asked Christ into your heart than you are made new, you have a second birth, a spiritual birth in Christ. Second Corinthians 5:13 says that anyone be in be in Christ is made new.
Who is Jesus?
First and foremost Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, the second part of the Trinity. As Peter answered Jesus in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God
”.
Many people believe that Jesus was just a good man, a gentle, a man of good morals. Even many of God's Chosen people, the Jews, believe that He was just a man. The Bible, God's Word, states clearly over and over that Christ is God come in the flesh. I will provide you with not all but some of the proof that Jesus is indeed The Son of Man.
Another passage in the Bible, before Christ's birth; a prophet stated that a virgin will bare a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel, which means God with Us.
To find out whom Jesus is and what He is, we first should look at His name. God always uses names to signify a persons roll or importance. Many times God has named and even changed people's names to reflect the purpose of His plan. The first Gospel of the Bible, Matthew, the name of Jesus is explained. In Matthew 1:20-21 an Angel of the Lord came to Joseph, Jesus' earthily father, and explained that the baby in his soon-to-be wife's womb was conceived not by man but by the Holy Spirit (which is evidence Jesus is not just a man) and that he was to name the child JESUS: for He will save His people from their sins'. The New Testament was written in Greek, but the name Jesus means the same in Greek as it does in Hebrew: Joshua; which means God is Salvation. So to re-translate this verse: “You shall call His name 'God is salvation,' for He will save His people from their sins.
” Just because your name may be Joseph or even dare I say Jesus, does not mean you are God's Salvation, etc. Your name was given to you by your parents, not by God or one of His Angelic messengers.
So you know what the name Jesus means, but what does Christ mean? Christ is translated to “Christos
” in Greek which means “anointed
”. The meaning in Hebrew is the same, Anointed one. You can find this by studying the languages or looking at John 1:41. Before Jesus, in the Old Testament “days
”, the Prophets- people that were directed by God- foretold that an anointed one, the Messiah will come and what His purpose would be. An helpful way to understand what anointing means is that whatever is anointed is set apart for a extraordinary purpose, something that would be consecrated for Holy use. An example is the Tabernacle that was built in Exodus.
Jesus has so many purposes and so many wonderful attributes to Him that it would take pages and pages to write about. I am going to go over a few of my favorite names of the Lord.
Light of the World, Alpha and the Omega, The Great I AM, Lamb of God, Savior, Good Shepherd, The Way and the Truth, Advocate.
Being a witness
Being a witness means that you are a living testimony for Jesus Christ, to go out into the world and preach His Word, to spread the Good News and to save the lost not only through words but by your everyday actions. Being a witness does not just mean that you would have to go out and talk to people about Christ and how to become a Christian, it also means that you as a Christian need to live your life for Christ, practice His teachings and commandments. I can say from my own personal experience as a Christian that I struggle with this every day.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples and to whomever is a Christian. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
”
I use the same method of witnessing as The Way of the Master, I like how they use the Ten Commandments as Christ did when witnessing to others.
Homosexuality
Courtesy of Reverend fun
Random Scripture
Matthew 24:27: For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.