7 Great Truths

~ Critical Components of Christianity ~  

The Bible is the Truth Handbook. Jesus Christ was Truth in human form (John 1:14,17). Here are Seven Critical Truths as presented in the Scriptures. 

The Divine Inspiration of the Bible ~ If the Bible was written by man alone, it has no authority with regard to directing our lives. But if the Bible is what it claims to be, then its contents are critically important for every living person on earth. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, emphasis added).

The Triune God; God in Three Distinct Persons ~ God is unique in that He is simultaneously One God yet three distinct persons—each with a distinct personality. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20, emphasis added). “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God [Father] will call’” (Acts 2:38-39, emphasis added).

Jesus  Christ is Fully God ~ God the Father’s only Son came to earth in human form to redeem mankind. If He were not fully God, He could not have lived a sinless life. His blameless life sacrificed on your behalf was the only sufficient substitute payment for your sins. He was and is fully God. “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (John 4:25-26). “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death’” (Revelation 1:17-18).

The Atoning Death of Christ ~ The sinless life of Jesus Christ was the only possible substitute payment for your sin. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)

Justification is by Faith Alone ~ To accept the free gift of salvation you must come to God on the basis of faith. (You exercise faith every day, such as when you drive over a highway bridge even though you do not fully understand the engineering and other aspects which cause it to hold you up. You exercise a huge amount of great faith if you believe the complex design of the world just happened by happy coincidences rather than by design.) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). 

The Triune Aspect of Salvation: Past, Present, and Future ~ God offers you a point of salvation when you accept His Son, on-going salvation on earth, and eternal salvation with Him forever in the future glory. “Although he was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9, emphasis added).  There is more on this topic in a three-part post on this blog on March 2, 9, 16, 2010 – readily available by clicking on “March” under “2010” in the Abundant Life Now “Blog Archive” in the left column.

The Certainty of Future Eternal Punishment for Those Who Do Not Accept Christ as Their Personal Savior ~ Your future is in your hands! A righteous God demands judgment for sin including your sin. In His great grace He has offered an alternative for you: eternal judgment or the alternative of eternal glory by accepting the death of His Son on your behalf. You choose your final and eternal destiny in either the smoking or non-smoking section of eternity! “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).