Christianity 101

You will die someday.

Yep, that's an inevitable part of life. All of us will one day die. Everyone knows this (I hope) but why does it seem like most people are not interested to talk about it nor prepared for it? 

How about you? If you would die today, where do you think you will go? Actually, we can only be in one of two destinations: Heaven or Hell.

Are you sure you'll go to heaven? Or, are you sure you really don't care if you go to hell?

What if I tell you right now that you can be assured of your afterlife destination? How, you ask? For that, let me first take you back thousands of years ago... 

A perfect relationship

In the beginning, God created the earth and everything in it. He also created man in His own image. Why? He created us to be the object of His love. So it goes without saying that God loves us, His creation, and wants to build a relationship with us.

It was all so perfect at first. Adam and Eve and God in paradise. Man has everything he could ever want.

Image source: Beulahbaptistwarsaw.org

Problem: sin

But then sin entered the picture. Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. And they did. They believed the lies of Satan and committed sin. As a result, they were banished from paradise and the perfect relationship with God was cut off.

Why? Because God who is holy cannot stay in union with man who is now marred with sin.



Punishment of sin

You could shrug your shoulders and say "So what if I'm a sinner? Isn't everybody?" Well, yes, everybody is basically a sinner. Committing even one sin in your life will make you one. And I'm certain that we've all committed several in a day. Our problem comes with the consequence of sin. There is a punishment meant for sinners and that is "eternal death". In hell.

Imagine being thrown into a fiery lake where everywhere you turn there is just darkness and hopelessness. Now imagine spending an ETERNITY in there. Yikes.

Man's futile solutions

Of course man has been trying to create ways in order to save himself from such punishment and bridge the gap to God. Most common of these is by doing good works. The world will try to convince you that in order to qualify in heaven, you must do good works. See, the problem with this reasoning is this: How much good works is enough? Now I'm not saying we should not do good works -- I'm merely pointing out that being "good" is not the way to get to heaven and connect back to God.

Still, others will say the answer is religion. If only you would go to church every Sunday or if you only you will become a member of our religion, then you can be assured of your place in heaven. Doesn't sound bad right? Sure it sounds good on the surface but when you think about it carefully, there is nowhere in the Bible that says becoming a part of a religion is going to save you.

God did not create us to attend church. God did not create us just to follow a list of rules. God did not create us just to be part of a religion.

God created us to have a lasting relationship with Him -- to love us.

God's perfect solution

But like always, God came to the rescue. He put into motion a perfect plan so that His creation won't have to suffer the punishment of sin anymore but instead spend eternity with Him in heaven. He sent His only Son Jesus to go here on earth and live as a man.


Jesus lived a life that can serve as an example for us. One hundred percent man and one hundred percent God, Jesus showed us that it is possible to be tempted and not sin. He modelled for us how to love the Father and other people.

Then in the greatest act of love, He died on the cross FOR US. He took all of our sins with Him on the cross and exchanged His holiness and righteousness with us. He provided the way for us to be reconciled to God. He saved us from the punishment of sin by his death on the cross. And he gave us eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

It's the perfect solution. There's nothing more we can add to it. IT IS ENOUGH.

The Cross + Good Works

The Cross + Religion

The Cross + Education

It's just "The Cross".

Let's not insult Him by adding to His already complete work. (As if we can really add something significant.) Jesus' death on the cross is enough to save you. IT IS FINISHED.

And just like a gift that He already paid with His life, all we need to do is ACCEPT it. (Saying "Thank You" wouldn't hurt, too.)

Why Jesus?

Why does God need to send His only Son to die on the cross? Can't He just send Abraham or David or Moses to do it? After all, they have such very good records according to the Bible. The thing is, the sacrifice needed to save mankind has to be perfect. Pure. Blameless. Without sin. Jesus is the only man who lived and never sinned. He's the only one qualified to be the sacrifice, to take our punishment.

In the Old Testament, it has been mentioned that the Law required shedding of blood in order for sins to be forgiven. In the same way, God has to fulfill the Law by letting Jesus die on the cross to cleanse us of our sins, once and for all.

You may say that if blood needs to be shed, can't you just die for your own sins? How about you just commit suicide or something? Bad news: it's not going to work. Remember the requirement for a savior? Pure. I'm pretty sure you don't think yourself as such.

Think of it this way: Let's say you want to ride the MRT. Sure you have Php 20 but you can't just use it to buy your way into the train. You have to buy the proper card pass with your Php 20. You can insist all you want that you have Php 20 but it is NOT ACCEPTABLE because the requirement is a card pass worth Php 20.

What should you do?

Acknowledge and confess that you are a sinner.


Repent and ask for God's forgiveness.

Believe and accept that Jesus already died for your sins.

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