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Sunday, December 6, 2009

Apostles' Creed

I saw a quotation in the net "God is too big to fit in one religion". This quotation is refer to an analogy where the is a hill and to reach the top, there is many ways, in other words, there are many religions that lead us to God, but is that true? Let us listen to what Jesus said:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

So obviously that quotation and that analogy is totally WRONG. It is WRONG to say that there are many religions that lead to one true living God, only through Jesus, we can know our heavenly Father.

By the way, all religions have different view of God. Buddists not believe in God, but believe in reincarnation and karma. Hindus believe there are many gods (polytheism). Muslims believe in Allah alone, they don't believe Trinity, and they recognize Jesus as a prophet only, but Jesus himself said that he is Son of God*. The most important is, all religions other than Christianity believe in work-based salvation, i.e. by accumulating piles of good work, one may gain entry into heaven, but we should know that the entrance into heaven is received, not earned!

* But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:63-64)

So what christians believe? The answer can be found in Apostles' Creed.

The Apostles' Creed
Source: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/apostles.htm

I BELIEVE in God the Father almighty,
I also believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord,
conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell,
rose again the third day,
ascended into heaven,
sat down at the right hand of the Father,
thence he is to come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the remission of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh and life eternal.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Christian = ?

Many people might ask, "Who is Christian?" Since the word Christian come frome the combination of Christ + ian, a simple answer to that is the follower of Jesus Christ. But this answer don't really reflect who Christian actually is.

I found a very good definition for the word Christian from a English dictionary (better than those given in Wikipedia >.<).

Chris-tian ( krɪs-tʃən) n. A person who believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior from sin, eternal death, and the devil; one who knows that he has eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ who died for him and rose again: The disciples of Jesus were first called Christian at Antioch [in Syria] (Acts 11:26).

Note: ...... A Christian knows that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Roman 6:23). He knows that it is by grace (unmerited love and favor of God) that we have been saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). A person may become a Christian, no matter who he is or what evil he has done if he repents (turns from his evil ways) and believes (out his trust in) Jesus for salvation. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus] will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15).
Have you repent and call on the name of the Lord already?