Christianity

In a world that values religious tolerance, Christianity is often misunderstood and misrepresented on television, social media, and online ministries—including my own. Having participated in these misunderstandings and misrepresentations, I humbly present this snapshot of Christianity—spanning from eternity past to eternity future and everything in between—for the glory of God and your good.

It is profound to consider that, even before the creation of the world, the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—established a sovereign plan. Out of His boundless grace, love, and mercy, the Father chose a people in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). Christ would accomplish their redemption “through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV). Upon believing the gospel, these chosen ones are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13), who guarantees their immediate and future adoption—the redemption of their physical bodies (Ephesians 1:5, 14).

With the creation of the world, the fall of Adam (through whom sin entered the world), and the first promise of the gospel (Genesis 1–3:15), the sovereign plan of God began to unfold. The Old Testament, inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), foretold a coming Savior—one who would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), forsaken by His Father (Psalm 22:1), become a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53:4–6), and rise again (Psalm 16:10) for the justification of many (Isaiah 53:11).

At the appointed time, the inspired New Testament reveals that “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea” (Matthew 2:1), thus fulfilling the long-awaited prophecy of Micah. Fully God and human (Philippians 2:6–8), Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God the Father and humanity (Luke 2:52). He began His earthly ministry—teaching in synagogues, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 9:35), and performing “miracles, wonders, and signs” (Acts 2:22). Jesus also called, discipled, and sent out the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:1–15). Yet the cross remained His ultimate mission.

Following the betrayal of Judas, Jesus faced the leaders and Pilate, who ultimately ordered His crucifixion (Mark 15:1–15). While on the cross at “about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, Jesus appeased the wrath of God and bore the sins of the elect, fulfilling Psalm 22:1 and Isaiah 53:4–6. With His mission complete, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30)! He died and was laid in a “new tomb” (John 19:41–42). But death could not hold Him!

“On the first day of the week” (John 20:1), Sunday—the third day—Jesus rose triumphantly, fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 16:10. His resurrection was witnessed by “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (Matthew 28:1–8), the apostles, over five hundred others, and finally by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:5–8), establishing it as a proven historical fact.

Jesus then commanded His followers to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–5), who would empower them to be His “witnesses” in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Following this, Jesus was “received up into heaven,” where He “sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). There, He rules and reigns for a symbolic thousand years (Revelation 20) while interceding for His people (Romans 8:34).

With the ascension of the righteous One to the right hand of God, Jesus affirms that heaven requires perfect righteousness (Matthew 5:20, 48). Through the gospel message, then, the Holy Spirit convicts the world “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8, emphasis added). And through His power, the elect are granted “repentance from dead works” (Hebrews 6:1) and submission to the imputed righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ—the ultimate purpose of the law (Romans 10:3–4). They are thus justified (legally declared righteous) before God, fulfilling Isaiah 53:11.

Justified by faith, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and adopted into the family of God, we (the elect) are free—not to sin (Galatians 5:13) or waste our lives (Ephesians 5:16), but rather to obey out of humility and love, beginning with water baptism (Matthew 28:19). This life of obedience should continue (John 8:31), with reverent fear and joyful suffering, both within and beyond the church in the present age as we hold fast to the promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

As the end approaches, a “falling away” and the revealing of “the man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) will precede the visible return of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16). At that time, we will receive our promised adoption—glorified, resurrected bodies conformed to His (Philippians 3:20–21). We will then give an account of our lives at the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10) before entering the New Heaven and New Earth, where “righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Such is Christianity.