What Christians Believe
1. People were created in God’s image to love and to be loved.
"Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings? You make us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor" (Psalm 8:4,5 CEV)
2. God’s love remains strong. It is never withdrawn from us. It is always available to us.
"Love comes from God...Real love isn't our love for God but his love for us. God send his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven...We love because God loved us first" (1 John 4:7,10,19 CEV)
3. Our ability to give and receive love is blocked for two basic reasons. As creatures facing death, we are prone to selfishness and we are prone to feel unworthy.
"Once we are also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and monds" (Ephesians 2:3 CEV) "Simon Peter...knelt down in front of Jesus and said, 'Lord, don't dome near me! I am a sinner'...Jesus told Simon, 'Don't be afraid! From now on you will bring in people instead of fish'" (Luke 5:8, 10 CEV)
4. God sent Jesus to conquer death and forgive our selfishness and heal our unworthiness.
"God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Chirst, and God's kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he as given us a place beside Christ in heaven" (Ephesians 2:4-6 CEV)
5. Jesus’ revelation of God, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the grave all work together to bring us life, forgiveness, and healing.
"If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won't be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death...God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners are to be a sacrifice for our sin" (Romans 8:1-3 CEV)
6. People who are rescued from sin and shame by Jesus are chosen to be God’s people to offer the peace of Jesus’ forgiveness and healing to others.
"God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others" (2 Corinthians 5:18 CEV)
Christians Are People Who:
Admit they are powerless over their own selfishness and unworthiness.
Discover Jesus is the one who can forgive and heal them.
Make a Decision to turn their lives over to the loving God that Jesus revealed.
Grow and develop a deeper relationship with God through their involvement in Jesus’ church.
Help Jesus’ church fulfill its mission to make disciples for him.