The Miracles of Jesus

The miracles of Jesus attest to who Jesus is--God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9).  Jesus used the Divine Name for Himself (John 8:58)--the same Divine Name used by God when Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3:14.  However, people claiming to be God is not that uncommon in the world.  Mental institutions are filled with those who claim to be divine.  But, Jesus doesn't fit the category of a crazy person.  If anything, Jesus deserves the utmost respect and admiration for His humility, love, teaching, and self-sacrifice.  But, even though there are other great teachers in history who have exhibited extraordinary love and compassion, none have also claimed to be God in flesh--and then demonstrated it by performing miracles.  This is why the miracles of Jesus are what verify the claims of Jesus about Himself and about His being the only way to salvation (John 14:6).
The critics of Christianity must either deny Jesus' existence, the biblical documents, say that the accounts were borrowed or made up, or deny that miracles occur at all.  If their objections cannot be reasonably maintained, then they would be forced to make decisions about Jesus' claims to be divine, His miracles, and His physical resurrection with all the implications that they entail.  This means that people must decide what they are going to do with Jesus.  Will they believe Him for who He claimed to be or reject Him?  That is what it comes down to.
In Christianity, Jesus is the creator (John 1:1-3,14; Col. 1:16-17),  the Lord to whom we call (1 Cor. 1:2), the one who bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), and the one who enables all who call upon His name (Rom. 10:13) to be saved by faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9).  He is a remarkable figure whether anyone wants to admit it or not.
Following is a partial list of some of the miracles of Jesus.  It is these miracles that attest to who Jesus is because His remarkable deeds confirm His incredible claim to be God in flesh--the only way to salvation.

• Jesus was born of a virgin (Matt. 1:25).
• Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:6-10).
• Jesus caused the disciples to catch a large load of fish (Luke 5:4-6).
• Jesus cast out demons (Matt. 8:28-32; 15:22-28).
• Jesus healed lepers (Matt. 8:3; Luke 17:14).
• Jesus healed diseases (Matt. 4:23, 24; Luke 6:17-19)
• Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2:3-12).
• Jesus raised the dead (Matt. 9:25; John 11:43-44).
• Jesus restored sight to the blind (Matt. 9:27-30; John 9:1-7).
• Jesus cured deafness (Mark 7:32-35).
• Jesus fed the multitude (Matt. 14:15-21; Matt. 15:32-38).
• Jesus walked on water (Matt. 14:25-27).
• Jesus healed the sick (Matt. 8:5-13; 9:22).
• Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:5).
• Jesus calmed a storm with a command (Matt. 8:22-27; Mark 4:39).
• Jesus was transfigured (Matt. 17:1-8).
• Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:39; John 20:27).
• Jesus appeared to disciples after resurrection (John 20:19).
• Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9).

What is so important here is that Jesus claimed to be God (John 5:18; 8:24; 8:58--see Exodus 3:14) and the only way to salvation (John 14:6).  If He really did rise from the dead and perform those miracles, then what He said about Himself and who He claimed to be become vitally important.
Either the list above is a fabrication, or it is not.  Your presuppositions will determine which category they fall into.  You must ask yourself if the evidence for the Bible's reliability and the eyewitness' accounts recorded there is sufficient to warrant a serious consideration that what is written is true.

What can I expect if I become a Christian?

Like anything you do, you should count the cost before you commit to something.  You should know what to expect if you become a Christian.  It isn't always easy.  The Lord calls us to integrity, honesty, faithfulness, truthfulness, etc.  In a world of moral relativism such absolute qualities do not fit well.  It can cost you.
Also, if you become a Christian and then continue to live in sinful ways, the Holy Spirit will gently and convincingly prod your heart and bring you to a place of repentance.  He is persistent.  He won't give up and sometimes that repentance can be difficult, especially if He brings you to confess your sins to others and make things right.
You must understand that if you become a Christian you are no longer your own.  You have given yourself to the Lord and He takes that commitment very seriously.  He will not leave you in your sins.  He will work in you and gradually bring you to a new place in your life.  He will work bad habits and bad things out of you over the rest of your life.  Of course, this does not mean that you will become perfect.  It means that God will work in your heart to make you more like Jesus. You can expect this, because God is living in the heart of all who have received Christ (John 1:12; 14:23).  This is because Christians experience the very presence of God and God is holy.
Being saved is easy.  You just trust in what the Lord Christ has done, receive Him as savior, ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and trust in nothing else (including your own "good works") for your place in heaven.  Getting saved is easy.  The hard part is what follows after you become a Christian when the Lord comes to live in you and then begins to work change in you -- for the better.  Sometimes it is quite difficult but other times it is very rewarding.
God will accept you just as you are, but He will not leave you as you are.
So, if you want to become a Christian, expect your life to change.  Expect that you will end up with different friends and be prepared to find that many of your old habits and desires will also change.  This is what you can expect, but it is worth it.

One last thing

There is one final expectation that you should be aware of if you become a Christian: salvation.  In other words, you'll escape the righteous judgment of God.  Eternal hell is what awaits those who fail to trust in what Christ has done on the cross.  Being a Christian means that you have escaped that judgment.  This, of course, is the greatest benefit for you.

Why should I go to church?

The Bible says that we should not forsake "our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near," (Heb. 10:25).  It is wise to go to church because that is where we can go to hear the word of God preached and to experience the friendship of other believers.

It is very important that we hear the word of God.  The Bible says, "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth.  It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it," (Isa. 55:11).  Also, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart," (Heb. 4:12).  The word of God, when it is preached, presents to us the truth that the Lord wants us to know.  We need to hear the word of God presented to us, analyzed, and applied to our lives so that we can live better, accomplish what God desires for us, and can bring glory and honor to Him.

The other very good reason mentioned above for going to church is to experience friendship with other Christians.  We need friends in order to be well balanced and healthy.  Also, in church we discover opportunities to serve and be served.  Therefore, we learn to apply what is taught out of God's word and then we learn to extend it to others outside the church.

Also, in church we share in the successes and failures of others and learn how the Lord has worked in the lives of other people.  In this we are encouraged.  Remember, God did not make us to be alone.  We need the friendship of other believers.

So, you should go to church because that is where you can hear the word of God explained and applied to your life, see how God works in people's lives, and experience the friendship of others.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Some people think that to be a Christian means you can't see movies, that you can't dance, can't have a drink, or that you can't have any more fun. That isn't true. Christianity isn't about rules and regulations to follow. It is about a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament times God gave the Law which had to be followed precisely. There were instructions about clothes, food, what you could or could not do on the Sabbath, what you had to do in the temple, how priests were to carry out their functions, how strangers were to be treated, how people were to be punished, etc. All these things were to be observed properly and precisely since all of them affected their standing before God. That was in Old Testament times; but now we have Jesus, and the requirements of the Law are no longer necessary for us in order to please God.
Being a Christian means that you are changed on the inside--not controlled from the outside. It means that your heart has been changed by the presence of God. It does not mean that you are required to go to church, required to pay tithes, required to be good, required to do anything in order to stay a Christian. It means you desire to do those things because you've been changed.

Regeneration

Regeneration means that there has been an actual change in a person. When someone becomes a Christian by trusting in the sacrifice of Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins, then the Holy Spirit has come and lives in that person. Because the person has been changed from the inside, he does not desire to do those things that are contrary to God. Therefore, he will naturally desire to go to church. He will desire to be good, to be honest, etc. He does not go to church or be goo or be honest in order to be a Christian. He does those things because he already is one. It means that those things he desires to do change. He wants to change and wants to please God--from the inside.
So, being a Christian means that you have encountered the true and living God, and that you have undergone a change in your heart and soul. It means that you are not restricted to the Laws of right and wrong in order to please God because you cannot please God by what you do. God will only find pleasure in you through Jesus Christ.
To be a Christian means to follow Christ, to desire Him, to fellowship with Him, to be indwelt by Him, and to bring glory to Him in your life.

How do I become a Christian?

How do you become a Christian?  First of all, you don't become a Christian by joining a church, adopting a creed, or by believing in God.  There are lots of false churches, false creeds, and even the devil believes in God.  Becoming a Christian means you need to understand what the real issues are.  Let's take a look.

Jesus

Hopefully, you've already read the page on Jesus.  But by way of review, Jesus is the most important figure in all of human history.  He is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), physically risen from the dead (John 2:19-21), Lord (Luke 24:34), and Savior (Acts 5:30-32).  He came to die for sinners (Rom. 5:8) and to deliver people from the righteous wrath of God upon us.

Are you a sinner?

I ask you, are you a sinner?  Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, or been angry with someone unjustly?  If so, then you have broken the Law of God.  God has said "You shall not steal; You shall not lie; You shall have no other gods before Me; You shall not murder, etc.," (Exodus 20).  He has given the standard of righteousness and if you have broken any of God's commandments then you have fallen short of that standard and are under the inevitable judgment of God.  When you die you will face Him and on the Day of Judgment He will punish all sinners.
If you do not like this teaching, then throw away your Bible and turn from Christ, for this is the message of God's word -- that Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come.  God is holy and righteous and He must deal with those who sin against Him.
Jesus is the One you need.  Him alone.  Not your works (Rom. 3:10-12; Isaiah 64:6).  Not your sincerity.  Not your goodness.  You have nothing to offer God except your sinfulness.  It is only by the love and grace of God found in Jesus and His sacrifice that you can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God upon all who have broken His law.  Jesus saves you from God.

God's wrath on the Day of Judgment is upon sinners

On the Day of Judgment God will judge all people for their sins against Him.  He will judge all who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, dishonored their parents, etc.  He will do this because He is holy and righteous.  God must punish the sinner.  God cannot and will not ignore the person who has broken His righteous law.  The Law is a reflection of the character of God.  Therefore, to break God's law is to offend God and deny the holiness of His character.  He will be vindicated.  He will judge.
The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).  That means that your sins have caused a separation between you and God (Isaiah 59:2) and the result is death (Rom. 6:23) and wrath (Eph. 2:3).  The only way to be saved from the wrath of God, is by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1).  You must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity.  That's right, sincerity isn't good enough.  Why?  Because sincerity is an appeal to God based on the goodness of your own heart.  If you're appealing to God based on the goodness of your own heart, then you're being prideful.  Sorry, salvation is either based on Christ alone, or it is not.  This is why it is Jesus and only Jesus who can turn away the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.

The Gospel

The gospel is that Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  His death was a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 John 2:2).  This is the only way to be saved.
Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  He is the only way to the God the Father (John 14:6).  He alone reveals God (Matt. 11:27).  He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).  It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph. 2:3).  He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:2).  He can remove the guilt that is upon your soul.  Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings you to despair.  He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) that those who trust in Him would be saved.
If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous judgment of God upon you due to your sin against Him, then come to the One who died for the sins of the world.  Come to the One who died for sinners (Matt. 11:28).  Turn from your sins.  Believe and trust in Jesus.  Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh, who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Savior.  Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  Receive him (John 1:12).  Only He can wash you clean from your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the righteous judgment of a holy and infinite God.  Pray to Jesus.  Seek Him.  Ask Him to save you.
He will.
Here is a sample prayer you can offer to Jesus.  It does not have to be exact, but you will get the idea.

Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you.  I know that I am not perfect and that I cannot please you through my own efforts.  I know that I deserve to be judged according to my sins.  And, I know that I have nothing to offer you.
Lord Jesus, I ask you to forgive me of my sins.  Please cleanse me and make me right before you.  I trust in what you have done on the cross.  I do not rely on myself but only on you and I receive you as Lord of my life and as savior of my soul.  Lord Jesus, save me.  I look to you alone.

I would like to note, that the Jesus of Mormonism (the brother of the devil), the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses (an angel made into a man), the Jesus of the New Age (a man in tune with the divine consciousness), etc., cannot save you from your sins.  Faith is only as good as the person in whom you put it... the Jesus of the Bible.  Jesus is God in flesh, the creator.  God is a Trinity and Jesus is the second person of the trinity.

What does Jesus save us from?

Jesus is the most important figure in all of human history.  He is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), physically risen from the dead (John 2:19-21), Lord (Luke 24:34), and Savior (Acts 5:30-32).  He came to die for sinners (Rom. 5:8) and to deliver people from the righteous wrath of God upon us.

Are you a sinner?

I ask you, are you a sinner?  Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, or been angry with someone unjustly?  If so, then you have broken the Law of God.  God has said "You shall not steal; You shall not lie; You shall have no other gods before Me; You shall not murder, etc.," (Exodus 20).  He has given the standard of righteousness and if you have broken any of God's commandments then you have fallen short of that standard and are under the inevitable judgment of God.  When you die, you will face Him and on the Day of Judgment He will punish all sinners.
If you do not like this teaching, then throw away your Bible and turn from Christ, for this is the message of God's word — that Jesus came to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come.
Jesus is the One you need.  Him alone.  Not your works (Rom. 3:10-12; Isaiah 64:6).  Not your sincerity.  Not your goodness.  You have nothing to offer God except your sinfulness.  It is only by the love and grace of God found in Jesus and His sacrifice that you can be delivered from the righteous wrath of God upon all who have broken His law.  Jesus saves you from God.

God's wrath on the Day of Judgment is upon sinners

On the Day of Judgment God will judge all people for their sins against Him.  He will judge all who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, dishonored their parents, etc.  He will do this because He is holy and righteous.  God must punish the sinner.  God cannot and will not ignore the person who has broken His righteous law.  The Law is a reflection of the character of God.  Therefore, to break God's law is to offend God and deny the holiness of His character.  He will be vindicated.  He will judge.
The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).  That means that your sins have caused a separation between you and God (Isaiah 59:2) and the result is death (Rom. 6:23) and wrath (Eph. 2:3).  The only way to be saved from the wrath of God, is to be saved from it by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1).  You must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity or works.  It is Jesus and only Jesus who can turn away the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.

The Gospel

The gospel is that Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  His death was a sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God (1 John 2:2).  This is the only way to be saved.
Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2).  He is the only way to the God the Father (John 14:6).  He alone reveals God (Matt. 11:27).  He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).  It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph. 2:3).  He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:2).  He can remove the guilt that is upon your soul.  Jesus can set you free from the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings you to despair.  He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the cross (1 Peter. 2:24) that those who trust in Him would be saved.
If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous judgment of God upon you due to your sin against Him, then come to the One who died for the sins of the world.  Come to the One who died for sinners (Matt. 11:28).  Turn from your sins.  Believe and trust in Jesus.  Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh, who died and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Savior.   Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  Receive Christ (John 1:12).  Only He can wash you clean from your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the righteous judgment of a holy and infinite God.  Pray to Jesus.  Seek Him.  Ask Him to save you.
He will.
I would like to note, that the Jesus of Mormonism (the brother of the devil), the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses (an angel made into a man), the Jesus of the New Age (a man in tune with the divine consciousness), etc., cannot save you from your sins.  Faith is only as good as the person in whom you put it... the Jesus of the Bible.  Jesus is God in flesh, the creator.  God is a trinity and Jesus is the second person of the trinity.

Is there emptiness in your life?

Do you feel empty?  Is there something lacking?  Do you long for something but don't quite know what it is?  Are you longing for fulfillment?  Are you unsatisfied with the daily routine of work, or school, or whatever?  Maybe when you are by yourself and you look deep inside, you just don't feel content.  Something is missing.  Maybe you've discovered that indulging the desires of your flesh and mind have not produced the peace and tranquility that you need.

When I was younger I sought many things to replace God.  I tried to identify with something, a cause, a philosophy, even a 'look'.  I was seeking an identity.  For a while those things were entertaining and even exciting. But ultimately, the same emptiness came back.  I can remember one night I was looking for something to break the boredom.  I watched the people around me as they were pursuing the same thing I was and suddenly I realized how futile and empty it all was.  I realized that if I got what I wanted I would still be unsatisfied.  I wanted more than the same old thing.  I wanted something that wouldn't leave me feeling empty after a little while.  I wanted something real.  Somehow, I knew I could only be satisfied by encountering God and finding His purpose.

In His great mercy, God has touched me.  In the midst of my sin, in spite of pursuing my fleshly desires, He came to me and healed my heart. Emptiness is no longer my companion.  In fact, it is so unfamiliar to me that I can barely remember what it was like.  Now, I have peace, contentment, and fulfillment because I have found salvation and fellowship with God.  This fellowship is found in Christ.  "God is faithful through whom you are called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ," (1 Cor. 1:9).  When you find Christ and his salvation, you discover your purpose and you find your hope fulfilled.

Good-bye emptiness.

Are you looking for God?

Some people know there is a God.  They just know.  They are aware of a calling, a presence, a special something about God that is in them.  They want Him.  They know they need to be connected to Him.

Are you like that?  Is there a longing in your heart?  Is there a soft but regular desire to be fulfilled, to be completed in a way that only being with God can accomplish?  I know that feeling.  I know it well.

As a child, I always knew that God existed.  There was always a quality in my heart that desired Him, that "knew" He was there, that he was out there somewhere.  I can't explain it.  It was something I was born with.  I needed God.  I knew that I wouldn't be complete unless I was with Him and loving Him.  I'm glad I've found Him, or should I say, I'm glad he found me.

Those who are looking for God know the echo in their hearts of God's voice calling them.  They know it.  They feel it.  It is there.  It is soft, yet persistent.  It is gentle, yet constant.  It echoes and draws us to Him, to find Him, to know Him, to touch Him.

Sometimes, we realize that everything in the world is ultimately meaningless unless we do what He wants, unless we are in His will.  We can gain money and possession, but they don't satisfy.  We know that when we die, it will all fall away and mean nothing.  That is why we look up to the heavens.  That is why we hear the voice of God calling us.  Do you hear it?  Do you feel its presence?

Are you looking for God?  Is what you have in your life fulfilling, or do you feel empty.  If these words resonate with you, then you need to encounter God by encountering Jesus.  He is the good Shepherd of love and forgiveness.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).
Did you get what Jesus said?  He said that His sheep hear HIS voice and they follow Him.  Is He calling to you?  Do you hear his voice in your heart?

Do you want forgiveness of sins?  Jesus forgives sins (Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48).
Do you want to know God?  Jesus reveals God (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22).
Do you want to have joy and peace?  Jesus gives them (John 15:11, John 14:27).

You won't find God in man-made religions like Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.  You only find God through Jesus who said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6).  Trust Him.  After all, He raised people from the dead, performed great miracles, died, and rose from the dead Himself.  Who else has done that?

Is the Bible reliable?

One of the most important questions asked by non-Christians as they look into Christianity is whether or not the Bible is trustworthy.  Can the Bible be trusted?  If it has been corrupted, then we cannot trust what is attributed to Jesus' words and deeds.  So, is the Bible reliable or not?

Yes, the Bible is reliable.  The original writings of the Bible have been lost. But before they were lost, they were copied.  These copies were incredibly accurate, very meticulous, and very precise.  The people who copied them were extremely dedicated to God and their copying tasks.  They took great care when copying the original manuscripts.  This copying method is so exact, and so precise, that the New Testament alone is considered to be 99.5% textually pure.  This means that of the 6000 Greek copies (the New Testament was written in Greek), and the additional 21,000 copies in other languages, there is only one half of 1% variation.  Of this very slight number, the great majority of the variants are easily corrected by comparing them to other copies that don't have the "typos" or by simply reading the context.  You should know that copying mistakes occur in such ways as word repetition, spelling, or a single word omission due to the copyist missing something when moving his eyes from one line to another.  The variants are very minor.  Nothing affects doctrinal truth and the words and deeds of Christ are superbly reliably transmitted to us.

The science of studying ancient literature and its accuracy of transmission to is called historicity.  The Bible is so exceedingly accurate in its transmission from the originals to the present copies, that if you compare it to any other ancient writing, the Bible is light years ahead in terms of number of manuscripts and accuracy.  If the Bible were to be discredited as being unreliable, then it would be necessary to discard the writings of Homer, Plato, and Aristotle as also unreliable since they are far far less well preserved than the Bible.

The Bible was written by those who were inspired by God, so it is accurate and true, and represents historical occurrences.  When we look at the New Testament we realize that it was written by those who either knew Jesus personally, or were under the direction of those who did.  They wrote what they saw.  They wrote about the resurrection of Christ.  They recorded His miracles and His sayings.  It comes down to whether or not you believe what it says about Christ.  Do you?

What about other religions?

There are many religions in the world.  They do not all teach the same thing.  In fact, many of them contradict each other.  So, they can't all be true and it cannot be said that each is a different path to God.  What are we to say about all those other religions compared to Christianity?  To get to the point, all other religions besides Christianity are false.
If Jesus is who He said He was, God in flesh, then whatever He says is authoritative and true.  He said that He was the way the truth and the life and that nobody comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).  Right there we see that any other way, according to Jesus, is not true.
Christianity bases its truth and its doctrine on the word of God, the Bible.  In the Word of God, Jesus claims to be the only way.  Since He performed many miracles, raised people from the dead, commanded a storm to be still and it obeyed, healed diseases, and rose from the dead, then we are forced to face the reality of His words.  Is what He said true or not?  Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or He is Lord.  No one else in history, except Jesus, has fulfilled detailed prophecies, performed many miracles before eyewitnesses, and risen from the dead.  Jesus is unique.
Those of us who are Christians, have trusted what Christ has said.  We believe in what He said and did.  Like it or not, Jesus is the one who said He was the only way.  It is not the Christians who are being "narrow-minded."  It is Jesus.  Therefore, to say that other religions can be true means that Jesus is false.  To say that there are other ways to God, also means that Jesus is false.  This is what it comes down to.  Either Jesus is who He said He was and what He said is true, or He is false.  This is the choice you must make:  To trust what He said, or reject His words.

What about different denominations?

The reason there are different denominations within Christianity is because the Bible allows for us to have differences of opinions.  Within Christianity there are very few essential doctrines that define what it means to be a Christian.  These essential doctrines are,

1. Jesus is both God and man (John 1:1,14; 8:24; Col. 2:9; 1 John 4:1-4).
2. Jesus rose from the dead physically (John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15:14).
3. Salvation is by grace through faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-2).
4. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:8-9).
5. There is only one God (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8).
6. God exists as a Trinity of persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Trinity).
7. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (nature of incarnation).

As long as a church believes in these essential doctrines, then it is Christian.  However, there are many things in the scriptures that have been interpreted in different ways.  For example, on what day of the week should we worship, Saturday or Sunday?  Should we baptize by sprinkling or baptize by immersion?  Do we take communion every Sunday, once a month, or once a year?  The answers to these questions do not affect whether or not someone is a Christian.  It is in these issues, and others like them, that denominations are formed.  It does not mean that one denomination contradicts another.  It means that though they agree in the essentials, they differ in some nonessentials.  This is permitted in Scripture:

"Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.  ² One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.  ³ Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.  ⁴ Who are you to judge the servant of another?  To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  ⁵ One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.  Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind," (Rom. 14:1-5).

Sadly, there is another reason for denominational differences and that is the failure of Christians to live according to the will of God.  The truth is that we are all sinners and we do not see things eye-to-eye. It is an unfortunate truth that denominational differences are due to our shortsightedness and lack of love.  But, the good thing is that God loves us so much that He puts up with our failures.  There waits for us, in spite of our differences, a great reward in Heaven.  Neither salvation nor damnation is dependent upon our differences.  Our salvation is based on our relationship with Christ.

What is salvation?

Salvation is being saved from the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.
A lot of people think that salvation means being saved from yourself or the devil.  But that is not accurate.  All who have sinned against God are under the judgment of God.  This judgment is known as damnation where God condemns to eternal hell all those who have offended Him by breaking His Law.
This does not mean that God is unfair.  It shows that God is holy.  God must punish the sinner.  But, He has provided a way of escape so that people will not face His righteous judgment.  This means that God is both holy and loving.  He must manifest each quality equally.  So, being saved from the wrath of God is called salvation.
Salvation is found in Jesus, and only in Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1,14), and who died for our sins and rose from the dead.  1 Cor. 15:1-4 says...

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"

This is how salvation works:  All of us have sinned against God and deserve judgment.  But Jesus never sinned (1 Pet. 2:22).  He lived the Law of God perfectly.  In this He has a perfectly righteous standing before God.  When the corrupt Jewish leaders forced Rome's hand into crucifying Jesus, God used this crucifixion as the means to place the sins of the world upon Jesus (1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 2:2).  This is when Jesus became sin on our behalf.  2 Cor. 5:21 says,

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The crucifixion became the place where Jesus bore our sins in His body and suffered in our place.  "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed," (Isaiah 53:5).  Remember, no sinner could please God perfectly and no sinner could offer a perfect sacrifice to God.  Only God in flesh, Jesus, could do that.
So, since there is nothing we can do that is righteous before God (Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous deeds are filthy rags), then we cannot please an infinitely holy and righteous God by anything we do.  But, Jesus who is perfectly righteous before God the Father, died in our place.  What we could not do, He did.
If you want to escape the righteous judgment of God, then you need to trust in the sacrifice of God.  You need to be made right before God, by God.  This righteousness of Christ is given to you if you accept him, trust in Him, and believe in what Jesus did.  This is why the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God," (Eph. 2:8).
When you trust in what Christ has done on the cross, and in no works of your own (since they aren't good enough anyway), then the righteousness of Christ is given to you -- even as your sins were "given" to Jesus.  It's like a trade.  He gets your sin.  You get His righteousness.
Once you have trusted in what Christ has done, then you possess eternal life and you will never face the judgment of God.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand," (John 10:27-28).

What is sin?

Sin is the breaking of God's law.  If God says "Do not lie" and you lie, then you have broken His law and sinned.  When you sin, you offend God because it is His law that you have broken.  Also, the reason God says to not lie, not cheat, etc., is because these laws reflect the moral purity of His nature.  Therefore, the Law is a reflection of the character of God.  It is wrong to lie because God cannot lie.  It is wrong to steal because God cannot steal, etc.  The moral law is not arbitrary.  It is based on God's holiness.

The law, then, is a standard of moral purity.  The Old Testament contains the Law of God.  It is a perfect standard because it is God's standard.  When we fail to keep the law, we sin.  When we sin, we offend God.  This offense against God results in a judgment.  Laws are laws because they have penalties.  There is no law without a penalty.  Therefore, breaking God's law brings judgment which is separation from God.  "But your sins have made a separation between you and your God," (Isaiah 59:2).  And, "the wages of sin is death . . . " (Rom. 6:23).  So, to sin, to break God's law, results in judgment.  The judgment is known as damnation which is the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner.  If God did not judge the sinner, then He is not upholding His holiness; and he would be allowing sinners to go unpunished.

Of course, Jesus came to take our place and die for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24).  This means that Jesus bore our sin in His body on the cross and paid for them.  He took the judgment upon himself.  This further means that anyone who trusts in what Jesus did on the cross will have his sins removed; he will be saved from God's future judgment.

So, replying to the question "What is sin?" is best answered by saying that it is breaking God's law.  All people have sinned.  Therefore, all people are under God's judgment--except for those who've trusted in God's provision to escape that judgment.

Where are you?  Are you in the place of God's judgment or of salvation in Christ?

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the central figure of Christianity.  He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6).  Also, Jesus claimed to be God in flesh.  If you compare what God said to Moses in Exodus 3:14 ("And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”) with what Jesus said in John 8:58 (Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,"), then you quickly see that Jesus was claiming to be God.  In fact, others testified that He was divine as well:

John 20:28, "Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

Col. 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form."

Heb. 1:8, "But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever..."

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity.  He is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ² He was in the beginning with God...  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth," (John 1:1-2,14).

Because the word was with God and was God and became flesh, we then state that Jesus has two natures: divine and human.  Therefore, Christianity teaches that Jesus is both God and man at the same time.  The reason that he is God in flesh is because only God can atone for our sins; we can't do it on our own because we are finite, sinful beings and we cannot please an infinitely holy God.  Jesus had to be a man to be able to die for humanity.  This means that Jesus took our place on the cross; that is, He took our place and suffered the wrath of God the Father.  If you trust in what Christ has done, then you will be saved from the righteous judgment of God.  More on that next.

God is infinitely holy, sinless, and just.  When we sin, when we do something contrary to God's will, then we have offended God.  Since He is infinite, our offense against Him takes on an infinite quality -- because of who we have offended:  an infinite God. Since no person can please an infinite God (because we are finite and sinners) then the only one left to remove our sins is God Himself.  Therefore, Jesus is God in flesh, the one who died on the cross, bore our sin in his body (1 Pet. 2:24), and physically rose from the dead.

Right now, in heaven, Jesus is still in the form of a man: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Tim. 2:5).  Jesus rose from the dead in the same body he died in: "Jesus answered and said to them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' ²⁰ The Jews therefore said, 'It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?'  ²¹ But He was speaking of the temple of His body.  ²² When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken," (John 2:19-22).  Also, He retained the wounds of His crucifixion after He rose from the dead: "Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing,” (John 20:27).  Forty days after His resurrection He ascended into heaven bodily:  "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight," (Acts 1:9).  He will return again from the heavens, and will judge the world and all people:  "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven," (Acts 1:11).  Yet, at the same time, He is still divine, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form," (Col. 2:9).
Jesus never did anything wrong.  He performed many miracles such as healing, casting out demons, walking on water, calming a storm with the command, raising people from the dead, and rising from the dead himself.  Though there have been many great teachers throughout history, none of them have performed such miracles and claimed to be divine as Jesus claimed.  This is why we can believe Him when He says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me," (John 14:6).
We trust what Jesus said.  Therefore...

• Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:55-60; 1 Cor. 1:2 with Psalm 116:4; John 14:14
• Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6
• Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1:9
• Jesus forgives sins - Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48

Who is God?

The question "Who is God?" is a good question.  It is better than asking "What is God?"  This is because God exists, created us, loves us, is concerned for our being, desires to provide for us, and sent the Son to redeem us.  If we were to ask "What is God?", we might be tempted to say that God is the infinite being, the creator, a presence, or something like that.  In some respect, this would be true.  But the first question "Who is God?" brings us closer to understanding more of who God really is in His character and His love for us as revealed in the Bible.
The Bible teaches us that in all existence, from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God.  God was never created, is completely loving, completely just, completely holy, completely merciful, and that He desires the best for us.  God is holy and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, "His eyes are too pure to look upon evil," (Hab. 1:13).  This does not mean that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong.  It is a way of describing how holy God is.  God cannot sin.  He is perfect.
In Christianity, God is a Trinity.  This means that God is three persons, not three gods. Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Each is not the same person as the other; yet there are not three gods but one.  This is similar in analogy to the nature of time.  Time is past, present, and future.  The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future.  But, there are not three times.  There is only one thing called time.
The reason the word "person" is used in describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is because each exhibits attributes of personhood -- not in a body of flesh and bones, but in personality.  In other words, each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc.  These are attributes of personhood and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each demonstrate these qualities.
Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son, and still exist in such a way so that He can run the universe.  Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.
Following are a couple verses that hint at the Trinity.

• Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
• 2 Cor. 13:14, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

The Bible says there is only one God:  "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God," (Isaiah 45:5).  Yet, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called God.
Below is a very brief chart that shows that each of the persons in the Trinity share the same attributes that only God shares.  But remember, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have wills, and speak, etc.  Therefore, we say there are are three persons.



So, "Who is God?"  God is the Trinitarian, holy, omniscient, creator of the universe who is revealed through the person of Jesus.