Help for New Christians

from Jesus Is the Bridge

Basic Christian Beliefs

Key to interpreting Scripture references: The name of the book appears first. The first number is the chapter. If a colon follows the chapter number, then the following numbers represent verses within that chapter. A hyphen indicates a range of verses, either in the same chapter or continuing into a later chapter. When the words "through" or "and" appear, the numbers refer to entire chapters, or a passage that extends through a particular verse in another chapter.

Beliefs		Scripture References
1. The Trinity		Genesis 1:6; John 14 through 16; John 17:1-5; I Corinthians 8:4-6; John 12:25-30; Ephesians 4:4-6; I John 5:7
Father		Matthew 6:9; John 5:19-44; 8:14-29; II Corinthians 6:18
Son		Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 3:31-36; Hebrews 1 and 2; Colossians 2:9
Holy Spirit		John 14: 16-18, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7-14; Colossians 3:8
2. The Nature of Man - Original Sin		Genesis 3, Romans 3:10-23; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 7
3. Salvation - The Second Birth		John 3: 1-17; John 5:24; John 14: 6-7; Romans 4:24-5:2; Romans 8:14-25; Romans 10:9-10, 13; I Corinthians 15:3,22-23
4. Death, Judgment, and Eternal Life		Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 12:1-10; 16-21; Luke 13:1-9; Luke 20:34-38; I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:10; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; II Peter 3:1-13; Revelation 20:11-15
5. Heaven		II Corinthians 5:1-8; Isaiah 65: 17 through 66:1; Revelation 21-22
6. The Church		Matthew 16:13-19; I Corinthians 12:13-28; Ephesians 4:1-13; I Peter 2:5-10; Revelation 1 through 3.
7. The Creator and the Created Universe		Genesis 1, 2; Job 38-39; Isaiah 40: 12-31; John 1:1-5; Revelation 4:11
8. The Crucifixion and Resurrection		Matthew 26 through 28; Mark 14 through 16; Luke 21:39 through 24; John 18 through 21
9. Justification by Faith		Romans 3:20 through 4; Hebrews 11
10. The Great Tribulation		Matthew 24:4-51; Luke 21:10-36; Revelation 6, 8, 9, and 13 through 18
11. Hell		Luke 16:19-31; II Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:14-15
12. Satan and his Demons		Job 1:6-12; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 5:1-17; Luke 9:37-42; Luke 11:17-26; John 13:27; Ephesians 6:10-18; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 12 and 13; Revelation 19; Revelation 20:1-2, 14-15.

The Trinity This is perhaps the most difficult concept to grasp in all of Christian belief. Early pagans thought that Christians actually worshipped three separate gods. Since they worshipped many gods, this seemed a bit strange to them, but not outrageous. The idea that God is both three persons and a single person was very difficult to accept. Christian theologians and apologists through the ages have attempted various analogies to explain the idea, but with limited success at best. Some said the three persons of the Trinity are just various aspects of God's personality, as when a man is a son, or a father, or a brother, depending on the context of the relationship described. Others described the Trinity as analogous to the sides of a pyramid, which come together at the corners and encompass the same mass. I have sometimes pictured the idea as the separate fingers of a hand; each moves individually, and is distinct, but is joined with all of the others as part of the hand. The long and short of it is that no one, no matter how learned, can explain the idea. It is one of those articles of faith we accept because the Bible teaches it. Understanding it will have to wait for a face to face conversation with God. When we say God is all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient) and present everywhere (omnipresent), we are referring to the Trinity, which is not divisible.

God the Father: The Father is the ultimate source of authority and power of the Godhead (another term for the Trinity). Jesus said repeatedly that he did only what the Father told him to do, and that he spoke the words that the Father gave him. He also said that he is one with the Father, affirming the idea of the Trinity. The Father delegated his power to the Son for the duration of the battle with Satan; at the end of that battle, the authority will revert to him. It is because of the Father's love that Jesus came into the world, through the Father's mercy that our sins are forgiven, and by the Father's righteous judgment that those who refuse to accept Christ are condemned to Hell.

God the Son: The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the creative force in the Universe. It is by and though him, the Bible affirms, that everything is made that was made. His power sustains his creation, and his blood redeems it from Sin. His role was to restore the equilibrium destroyed by sin and rebellion. The plan of redemption, or buying back Man and the rest of Creation from the power of sin and death, was made at the beginning, before anything was ever made. Jesus is Savior, Lord, Coming King, and Mighty Conqueror. Without him, there is no hope of reaching the Father, no hope of deliverance from Sin and Death. All history pointed forward to his Coming before he was born, and all history since then points forward to his coming again.

God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God's continuing presence in the world. His role is to complete the redemptive work of Christ. He is the lifeblood of the church, the teacher and counselor for individual Christians and congregations, and the guarantee that all of God's promises are true. He always directs worship, adoration, praise and obedience toward Christ, not toward himself. He is, in fact, the spirit of Christ. He pricks our hearts with the awareness of sin, provides the faith necessary to believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, and empowers the church to carry out its charge. He cleanese with the blood of Christ, but his presence in us is a fountain of living water. He can be grieved, or offended, but also can bring joy and peace into our lives.

The Nature of Man: Since the fall of Adam, the first man, every human being has been born into sin (Romans 3:23).  The sin nature is part of us. We are not, as humanists teach, inherently good, and always pointed toward getting better. Instead, the Bible says that we are all sinners, and that not one of us is righteous. Since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), all of us are spiritually dead and separated from God. Left to our own devices, and our own best efforsts, all of us deserve nothing more than eternal punishment in Hell.

The Second Birth: God did not leave us in our predicament. He sent Christ to overcome the old sin nature in us, and provide a way for us to be reconciled to him. Since we are dead in our sins, we can't have a relationship with God until we are given new life, free from the deadening power of sin. Jesus told Nicodemus specifically that he must be born again to find eternal life. We are no different. When we accept Christ as our Savior, Paul says, we are a "new creation" (II Corinthians 5:17). Unfortunately, the old dead part of us, which Scripture calls "the Flesh," lingers on even after we are reborn. For the rest of our lives in this flesh, we have to fight against that part of our nature that wants to drag us down where we were again.

Godly Habits

Daily devotionals: This is an absolute necessity for any Christian, new or old. It should consist of a scripture reading (you may want to obtain a Bible reading calendar), a time of meditation on the meaning of what you've read, and prayer. Your prayer time is a time of conversation with God, not a monologue. It should begin and end with praise, continue with confession, and then move to petitions and requests. Set aside a quiet time and place for your devotionals every day; make it part of your routine. If you are a parent, especially a father, make sure the family as a whole also has a devotional time. For family gatherings, a daily devotional guide is good. Church attendance: Much of our strength as Christians comes from the fact that we are a part of a body, the body of Christ. Find a church fellowship where you feel accepted, and where the Spirit of the Lord is at work. Attend regularly, and support the church with the talents, finances, and time the Lord has given you. Tithing: This is the Biblical standard for Christian giving, with the promise of blessing. It is both a command and a commitment, but not to be done grudgingly; the Bible says the Lord loves a cheerful giver, not an ill-tempered one. Give what you feel comfortable in giving, but always pray the Lord will lead in the direction of giving more. Witnessing: Tell others about your new life in Christ, at every opportunity. One of the following sections gives some advice about leading someone to Christ, but whether you do that or not, never hesitate to testify about what the Lord has done for you. Jesus said if we confess him before men he will confess us before the father; the reverse is also try, if we deny him before men. Holiness: Your body is the temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives in you (I Corinthians 3:16). Whatever you do, think, or say that affects your body also affects the working of the Holy Spirit in your life. Examine your habits, good and bad. If you wouldn't do then in the presence of Christ, don't do them. If they have a hold on you, as the Lord to break the hold. If you fail, and end up doing the same things over and over, he's patient. Love is a choice, forgiveness is a choice; don't base either on your emotions alone.

Famous Scripture Passages

The Creation Story		Genesis 1 and 2
The Fall of Adam and Eve		Genesis 3
Cain and Abel		Genesis 4:1-15
Noah and the Flood		Genesis 6 through 8
Abraham and Isaac		Genesis 21-22
Sodom and Gonorrah		Genesis 19:1-26
The Story of Joseph		Genesis 37 and 39 through 47
The Baby Moses		Exodus 2:1-10
The Burning Bush		Exodus 3:1-5
The Ten Plagues		Exodus 7 through 12
Crossing the Red Sea		Exodus 14:15-31
Manna in the Wilderness		Exodus 16
The Ten Commandments		Exodus 20
The Walls of Jericho		Joshua 6
Gideon and the Fleece		Judges 6
Samson and Delilah		Judges 16
David and Goliath		I Samuel 17
David and Jonathan		I Samuel 20
David and Bathsheba		II Samuel 11 and 12
The Wisdom of Solomon		I Kings 3
The Shepherd Psalm		Psalms 23
The Longest Chapter in the Bible		Psalms 119 (176 verses)
Pride goeth before a fall.		Proverbs 16:18
Train up a child		Proverbs 22:6
A virgin shall conceive		Isaiah 7:14
A voice crying in the wilderness		Isaiah 40:3
For unto us a child is born		Isiah 9:6
The Christmas Story		Matthew 1:18 through 2:18; Luke 1:5 through 2:39
The Feeding of 5000		Matthew 14:13-21
Nicodemus and the Second Birth		John 3
The Beattitudes		Matthew 5:3-12
The Raising of Lazarus		John 11:1-45
The Shortest Verse		John 11:45
The Day of Pentecost		Acts 2
The Love Chapter		I Corinthians 13

The Roman Road

Much of the battle of leading someone else to Christ lies in overcoming our own fear. There are many good books and courses which cover the "how to's" of personal evangelism, but one of the tried and successful methods is called the Roman Road. To save someone, many pastors will tell you, you first have to get him or her lost, or help them realize that they, like all of us, are sinners. The first Scriptures which we point out and read to prospective Christians are those which describe man's sinful state, and the consequences. We then look at passages which describe how to be saved, and the assurance of the believer. The Scriptures given are only a framework, but they do provide an effective means of leading someone through the steps to salvation.

To return to the calling page, please close this window.  Otherwise, click one of the buttons at the top of the page to return to the Salvation page, or the Jesus Is the Bridge Home Page.

For Christian gifts for your family and friends, see Christian Gifts at ChristianBook.com.

ChristianCinema.com DVD Rental Club
The best in family friendly and faith-based DVDs to your door