Christianity is not a religion, a sect, a religious denomination, but is a belief in the living person of Jesus Christ
Christianity is:
- discovering Christ as God, Saviour and Friend (John 15,14)
- discovering a sinful nature of man (Ps 51,7, Romans 3,9-11)
- the only solution to the sinful nature of man (1 John 2,1n , 1 John 1,7)
The Gospel gives us the answer what we should do to receive eternal life. We have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
You can see, the Gospel is a Good News. Although every man has deserved death (which is eternal separation from God, not annihilation); God alone became a man "the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body" (1 Tim 3,16) to proclaim to us his plan of salvation.
Having become a man God has paid for our sins. We have eternal life in Jesus Christ
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" Eph 2,8n
Formal godliness without holy life has no value before God "having a form of godliness but denying its power. have nothing to do with them" 2 Tim 3,5
Faith without holy life will never take you to Heaven "make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord" Heb 12,14
True believers live according the Spirit and not according flesh "those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" Gal 5,24n
Perhaps you think: I don't need God, my life is successful without Him. Yes, your needs are met but God is the one who gives you all what you have. Maybe you have never thought about it.
God wants you to give your life to Him. It means you must live in the light of God, abide in God's presence by prayer and meditation of his Word (Ps 27,1). You must abide in God's truth "send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me" Ps 43,3
Do not rely on man, on what you can do, on your means, nor on your religious or charity actions. Ask God to give you a gift of faith. Ask God to help you to live a holy life day by day. Ask Him to help you to be rich in Him "you say "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing", but you do not realise that you are wretched , pitiful, poor, blind and naked" Rev 3,17 Ask God to show you your real spiritual state.
True believers will suffer persecutions and afflictions. If you are not persecuted because of your faith in Christ, you don't have a real faith (2 Tim 3,12 John 16,33 Acts 14,22) "in fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2 Tim 3,12
Only in afflictions you can see if your faith is real. You can recognize true faith according its fruits (Gal 5,22n)
Therefore everyone has to repent, turn away from sins and believe in Christ. "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" Acts 20,21
The condition to receive forgiveness of sins is to come to the Lord and to be cleaned by His blood (Is 1,16.19; 1 John 1,9, Rev 1,5)
We come to Jesus willingly to obey His commandments. And it gives His blessings. On the other hand we can disobey Him and His Word and then consequences are terrible: judgement and punishment.
Dear Friend! please remember: God hates sin, that is why He came to this world to save us:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3,16
" All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." John 6,37
"And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other" Is 45,21n