What is Christianity?
- Christianity is the life and salvation God has given in and through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 17:3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 11:26 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 1 John 5:11-12 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
|
|
Where is God's truth about our Savior, Jesus Christ, made known?
- This truth is made known in the Bible: the Old Testament, which promises the coming Savior, and the New Testament, which tells of the Savior who has come.
Heb. 1:1-2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.Luke 24:27 Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. John 20:31 These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. Eph. 2:20 [You are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
|
|
Why do we call the Bible the "Holy Scripture"?
- The Bible is the "Holy Scripture" because God the Holy Spirit gave to His chosen writers the thoughts that they expressed and the words that they wrote (verbal inspiration). Therefore, the Bible is God’s own Word and truth, without error (inerrancy).
John 10:35 The Scripture cannot be broken. Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels. John 14:26 The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Acts 24:14 I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Peter 1:21 Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
|
|
What is the key to the correct understanding of the Bible?
- Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, is the heart and center of the Scripture and therefore the key to its true meaning.
(John 5:39) These are the Scriptures that testify about Me. Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. 2 Tim. 3:15 From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
|
|
How is human reason to be used in understanding Holy Scripture?
- Holy Scripture is given in human language. To determine what it says we need to apply the rules of language, such as grammar and logic. It is right to use reason as a servant of the text, but the guidance of the Holy Spirit is essential for its proper understanding.
Ps. 119:73 Give me understanding to learn Your commands. Matt. 13:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. Matt. 22:37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Acts 17:11 They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Unlike all other books, Holy Scripture is God’s Word and truth. It is wrong to question or deny the truthfulness of the sacred text (as happens, for example, with historical criticism).
Rom. 3:4 Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." 2 Cor. 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. Col. 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. 2 Peter 3:15-16 Our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
|
|
If you have a question that is not contained here, or if you would like further information regarding any of these topics, please send us an email at: pilgrimlutheran@att.net |
|
|
Sermons
Calendar
60th Celebration
Scrip Program