The Story of Christianity
Last night I was invited to speak at the Interfaith Dialogue held at NOVA Southeastern University. There were seven different speakers who each were given five minutes to present their faith and then there was a period for Q&A from the audience. Here is a copy of what I presented...
"I am excited to speak about my greatest passion here…
Intro: Every good story has four parts: a setting, problem, climax, and resolution. Allow me five minutes to share with you the story of the Bible, the Story of Christianity, so that you may better understand the world in which you live, the God who Created it, and the free offer of salvation for all who ask.
The setting begins with these words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”
God: Creator, Sustainer, Absolutely perfect in every aspect of His being, All Powerful, All Knowing, and unchanging, He is Just and Holy, and All Things were Created for His Glory
God spoke the universe into existence, with humanity as the crown of His creation, bearing His image.
Humanity was created perfect and enjoyed perfect unity and communion with God. But, humanity willfully rebelled against God, the Sovereign Creator, Ruler & Sustainer of all life.
This state of rebellion is called sin, and God being perfectly holy, just and righteous, cannot allow sin to go unpunished. All of humanity, since that time has been born into sin, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.”
That puts everybody here in the boat of being a sinner. “What are you talking about? I’m a good guy. I’ve never had detention, I make good grades, I try to do what is right and what is expected of me, I mean come on! I’m not that bad!” Well not that bad is still bad. And compared to God’s righteous and holy standard, it quickly becomes real bad.
And God can’t just dismiss sin. He can’t just say, well ok, I’ll just forget about that. For that would be a travesty of justice. It would be like the judge in the case against Michael Devlin who reportedly has admitted to kidnapping those two boys in Missouri, “You are free to go.” Every person in this room would be outraged. You would be forming picket lines and demanding that judge to be taken off the bench, “He is not fit to rule because he is UNJUST!”
Thus, the Problem. Human effort can never reach the standard of God’s perfection and God’s justice demands payment for sins committed. So, how can God being Just, reconcile a fallen humanity to Himself?
The climax comes at the Climax of history: The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. More than just a great teacher, He is God. He was present with God before the foundations of the world, and humbled Himself by leaving the glories of heaven to live here among us.
Jesus’ coming is the center point of all history, even our calendar is based upon His coming. He came for one reason…to die. He came and lived a perfect life and offered Himself as the payment to God, for the sinful humanity, who put Him to death.
He was crucified on a Roman cross and buried in a borrowed tomb and rose again on the third day conquering sin and death.
He died in your place, so that you can live in the reward He earned, eternal life with God, in the glories of heaven. Jesus’ death allows God to be just and punish all sin, and enables Him to show great mercy in forgiving sinners. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what reconciles a rebellious humanity to God.
You see, in Christianity, it is not about what you have done, or need to do, or a certain magical combination of steps which will grant you eternal happiness. No, it is about what God, through Jesus Christ, has done for you. All you must do is believe. Jesus said himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.” In Jesus Christ there is full assurance of eternal life, and great joy and hope in this life. It is not merely standards and principles, but through Jesus Christ, there is a real and active, daily relationship with God.
The Resolution is that the Good News of Jesus Christ is going forth and people are believing. They are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation from their sins, and finding great peace, hope and joy in Him. And one day, Jesus Christ will return. And on that day every one will know that He is Lord, for He will return as the ruling King and Judge of all the earth. For those who have believed, they will be with Him in Glory, but for those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ, their payment will be due and they will have to pay their debt to their Maker.
The Hope of the Christian is found in Jesus Christ alone, and the Good News of His salvation is for all who will believe. And for those who do believe, their duty is to share the message of Christ in love, knowing that apart from the mercy and grace of God, no one would believe."
"I am excited to speak about my greatest passion here…
Intro: Every good story has four parts: a setting, problem, climax, and resolution. Allow me five minutes to share with you the story of the Bible, the Story of Christianity, so that you may better understand the world in which you live, the God who Created it, and the free offer of salvation for all who ask.
The setting begins with these words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”
God: Creator, Sustainer, Absolutely perfect in every aspect of His being, All Powerful, All Knowing, and unchanging, He is Just and Holy, and All Things were Created for His Glory
God spoke the universe into existence, with humanity as the crown of His creation, bearing His image.
Humanity was created perfect and enjoyed perfect unity and communion with God. But, humanity willfully rebelled against God, the Sovereign Creator, Ruler & Sustainer of all life.
This state of rebellion is called sin, and God being perfectly holy, just and righteous, cannot allow sin to go unpunished. All of humanity, since that time has been born into sin, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.”
That puts everybody here in the boat of being a sinner. “What are you talking about? I’m a good guy. I’ve never had detention, I make good grades, I try to do what is right and what is expected of me, I mean come on! I’m not that bad!” Well not that bad is still bad. And compared to God’s righteous and holy standard, it quickly becomes real bad.
And God can’t just dismiss sin. He can’t just say, well ok, I’ll just forget about that. For that would be a travesty of justice. It would be like the judge in the case against Michael Devlin who reportedly has admitted to kidnapping those two boys in Missouri, “You are free to go.” Every person in this room would be outraged. You would be forming picket lines and demanding that judge to be taken off the bench, “He is not fit to rule because he is UNJUST!”
Thus, the Problem. Human effort can never reach the standard of God’s perfection and God’s justice demands payment for sins committed. So, how can God being Just, reconcile a fallen humanity to Himself?
The climax comes at the Climax of history: The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. More than just a great teacher, He is God. He was present with God before the foundations of the world, and humbled Himself by leaving the glories of heaven to live here among us.
Jesus’ coming is the center point of all history, even our calendar is based upon His coming. He came for one reason…to die. He came and lived a perfect life and offered Himself as the payment to God, for the sinful humanity, who put Him to death.
He was crucified on a Roman cross and buried in a borrowed tomb and rose again on the third day conquering sin and death.
He died in your place, so that you can live in the reward He earned, eternal life with God, in the glories of heaven. Jesus’ death allows God to be just and punish all sin, and enables Him to show great mercy in forgiving sinners. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is what reconciles a rebellious humanity to God.
You see, in Christianity, it is not about what you have done, or need to do, or a certain magical combination of steps which will grant you eternal happiness. No, it is about what God, through Jesus Christ, has done for you. All you must do is believe. Jesus said himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.” In Jesus Christ there is full assurance of eternal life, and great joy and hope in this life. It is not merely standards and principles, but through Jesus Christ, there is a real and active, daily relationship with God.
The Resolution is that the Good News of Jesus Christ is going forth and people are believing. They are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation from their sins, and finding great peace, hope and joy in Him. And one day, Jesus Christ will return. And on that day every one will know that He is Lord, for He will return as the ruling King and Judge of all the earth. For those who have believed, they will be with Him in Glory, but for those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ, their payment will be due and they will have to pay their debt to their Maker.
The Hope of the Christian is found in Jesus Christ alone, and the Good News of His salvation is for all who will believe. And for those who do believe, their duty is to share the message of Christ in love, knowing that apart from the mercy and grace of God, no one would believe."
posted by Mark & Kristin Schweitzer | 10:36 AM
2 Comments:
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