QUICK FACTS:
Founder: Jesus of Nazareth
Founded In: 30 AD in today’s Israel
Adherents Worldwide: 2 billion
Adherents in US: 159 million
God(s) and Universe: One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Human Situation and Life's Purpose: All have sinned and are therefore separated from God. Salvation is through faith in that Jesus is the Christ (and for some sects also in sacraments and good works). Purpose is to know, love, and serve God
Afterlife: Eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven or Hell
Practices: Prayer, Bible study, baptism (outward expression of an inward feeling), Eucharist (Holy Communion), church on Sundays, numerous holidays
Texts: The Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments)
SUMMARY:
Christianity was founded in the early 1st century AD, with the teaching, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, whose accounts are captured in the writings of the New Testament. Followers believe that he is the begotten Son of God and the Messiah prophesized in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). To Christians, Jesus Christ is a teacher, the model of a virtuous life, a performer of miracles, the revealer of God, as well as an incarnation of God. Most importantly, Jesus is the savior of humanity who suffered, died, and was resurrected to bring about salvation from sin, meaning that he is bridge from our sin to God. Christians call the message of Jesus Christ the Gospel ("good news") and hence label the written accounts of his ministry as gospels. In the Gospels (formally known as the first four books of the NT) describe a three-year teaching and healing ministry during which Jesus taught twelve close disciples and other followers.
The LIFE of JESUS of NAZARETH:
The title "Messiah" comes from the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (māšiáħ) meaning anointed one. The Greek translation Χριστός (Christos) is the source of the English word "Christ Read through The Gospel According to Luke and The Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Holy Bible for an accurate depiction of Jesus and the time after his resurrection. These two documents are held in high regard by biblical historians and archaeologists for their historical accuracy and trustworthiness.
Following scriptures are from the New American Standard Bible:
Jesus' birth:
Matthew 1:18 …she [Mary] was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit
Luke 2:8-16 …today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…
Luke 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Jesus' ministry
Luke 8:1 He [Jesus] began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him.
Luke 4:15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
Mark 6:56 Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.
Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons.
Luke 4:41 Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
Luke 11:53 the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects
John 12:42,43 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Jesus' arrest and crucifixion
John 5:18 The Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
Luke 22:3-6 …And he [Judas] went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him [Jesus] to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.
Luke 22:7, 8 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it."
Luke 22:39-46 … [Jesus praying before he is taken away by the crowd] "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Mark 14:43 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Mark 14:46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him.
Mark 14:50 And they all [the disciples] left Him and fled.
Mark 14:53 They led Jesus away to the high priest
Mark 14:55-64 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent…The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus… And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
Mark 15:1 … binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
Luke 23: 1-2 … brought Him before Pilate... and they began to accuse Him
Matthew 27: 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted… So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?"… out the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death…Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus (W)who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!"
John 19:17-18 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.
Mark 15:33, 34 When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty." … They put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:31-34 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away… but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Mat 27:57-61 … Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. … wrapped it [Jesus’ Body] in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Jesus' resurrection
Luke 24:1-12 [Mary Magdalene and others] … found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. … [those who found tomb empty] telling these things to the apostles. But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
Mark 16:12, 13 After that, He [Jesus] appeared in a different form to two of them [disciples] while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others.
Luke 24:36-49 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst. But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit…And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet… He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
1 Cor 15:6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time…
Luke 24:49 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Acts 1:7, 8 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Mark 16:15-18 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Acts 1:9-11 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… they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They … 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."
According to the Scripture and Christian Followers:
Christ has paid the death penalty for our past, present, and future sin. We are forgiven. We are free. Christ rescued us from slavery to the Law. In Him we have freedom. Through Him we have received God’s Spirit. In Him we are children of God.
In Christ we can have joy, peace, contentment, and the security of God's love, no matter what our circumstances. In Christ we have victory over sinful behavior. Christ has given us His righteousness in exchange for our unrighteousness.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, one is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. “In Christ we have new life--His Life!” Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” 2Corinthians 5:17
Two Greatest Commandments Jesus Taught:
- Love God with your heart, soul and mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
Many Christ Followers believe that when you do give you life to Christ, it is then time to show and live like you have been rescued. You “have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in [you]. The life [you] lived in the body, [you] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [you] and gave himself for [to you]” (Galatians 2:20).