There is a whole generation of people who don’t know the fundamentals of Christianity. For the unchurched, Christianity can seem confusing and exclusionary. How can you believe in something you don’t understand? How do you understand something without basic knowledge? In these upcoming sections I hope to answer some of these questions in a bite sized, easy to understand way for those who are truly seeking answers.
What is the Bible?
The Bible isn’t just one book, it’s a compilation of 66 different books. The first 39 books written are considered the Old Testament. These events occurred before the time of Jesus. The New Testament make up the remaining contains 27 books, and were written by those closest to Jesus. These books document his life, ministry, miracles, and passed on by his followers.
Who wrote the Bible?
The Bible was written by 40 different authors over approximately 1500 years. Each book serves as window into our ancient world. As the oldest surviving texts, they document historical events, ancient civilizations, religious practices, natural disasters, wars, and the expansion of humanity. What makes the Bible so unique and special is that even with the varied author and large time gap between the first book and the last book, there is a consistency of thought and messaging. This consistency is made possible through the Holy Spirit who guided and inspired the writing of each book.
What does the Bible teach us?
The Bible is the totality of humanity’s relationship with God. It teaches us who we are and why we were created. It reveals our rebellious human nature to us. We are taught God’s law and warned of the consequences for our choices. Yet, we also learn of God’s unending love and His desire for relationship with humanity. Redemption and salvation are offered to us as a gift, something we could never earn or deserve. When we choose to accept this gift our desires and our lives are transformed.
Are the events in the Bible true?
The historical accuracy of the Bible is well documented. Archeologists have uncovered evidence of the ancient civilizations referred to in the Bible. Ancients writing and artifacts from other cultures share remarkable similarity in prehistoric events. Prominent rulers, cultural practices, and religions are accurately depicted in the Bible.
What does the Old Testament teach?
The Old Testament tells our origin story. We were created with a purpose that is only fulfilled when we live in harmony with God’s law. Following God’s path, humanity had open and honest relationships blessed with joy, peace, and unity. Yet our desire to be in control and rule our own lives has always been our downfall. Our pride leads us to choose ourselves over God and so we have been separated from Him. The Old Testament shows humanity’s repeating cycle of prosperity, complacency, and self-destruction. Still God longs to forgive us if we will turn from our selfish ways. Old Testament prophecy foretells of a promised savior who would change everything.
What does the New Testament teach?
The New Testament reveals the identity of our promised savior- Jesus. God became man to reach us. Jesus came to seek the lost, the marginalized, and the rejected. He taught the full meaning behind the God’s law which was love, compassion, service, and sacrifice. It is undeniable how short we fall from God’s perfection, which is why we need a savior. Jesus is the example of living a Godly life, and the New Testament teaches us how to walk in his path. It teaches us about the foundations of faith and what it truly means to live a Christ- centered life. It also warns us about the false teachers and false religions to come that would attempt to lead people astray. Knowing the true teachings of Jesus will allow us to see the difference between the authentic and the cheap imitation. All of this is contained in the pages of the New Testament.
Seek and You Will Find 