Christianity in brief.

In the beginning, God created all things.¹

The first humans, Adam an Eve though God had said not to, they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, at that point sin entered the world.²

Every person has sinned³. There is a price for sin, death. “Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 Contemporary English Version of the Bible) Sin can not remain in the presence of God.

At the right time God sent His Son,⁴ Jesus Christ born to a virgin named Mary.⁵ Jesus lived without sin⁶, was crucified and died⁷ to pay the price for the sins of all.

On the third day Jesus was raised⁸ and seen by many witnesses⁹ before being taken up¹⁰ into Heaven (Jesus also appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus¹¹ after His ascension to Heaven), giving us an assurance that those of us who believe in Him as the Scriptures say will be raised and go to Heaven for ever.

“You see, God loved all the people in the world. He loved everyone so much that he sent them his only son, his special son. God sent him to die instead of them, so that if anyone trusts him God will not finish them up, but they will live with him for ever.” John 3:16 Plain English Version

For those who would like to get right with God I suggest a simple prayer:

• God I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of your standards.

• Thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, paying the price for my salvation from sin, to be raised on the third day and to later ascend to Heaven. as an assurance

• I choose to place my faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.

• Thank you that Jesus' ascension to Heaven is my assurance that you will take me to live with you there forever after my life on Earth is over.

You should now develop a habit of reading the Bible and talking to God every day. You should also join a Bible believing church (that does not add any other books to it) and fellowship there regularly¹².

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 Last edited 11 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Genesis 1-2

2Genesis 3

3Romans 3:23

4Galatians 4:4

5Luke 1:26-38

6Hebrews 4:15

7John 19:16-30

8John 20-21

91Corinthians 15:6-7

10Acts 1:6-9

11Acts 9:3-6

12Hebrews 10:25

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

The Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven.

Christianity is unique, being the only religion which celebrates the death and resurrection and ascension to Heaven of it's leader, Jesus Christ.

After appearing to His followers in various settings over a period of 40 days proving that He was alive.¹ Jesus led some of them to Bethany and blessed them. While He was blessing them Jesus was taken up into Heaven.²

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Acts chapter 1 verse 3

2Luke's Gospel chapter 24 verses 50-51

Eye witnesses to the resurrected Jesus Christ.

Christianity is unique, being the only religion which celebrates the death of it's leader, Jesus Christ.

When sin entered the world, death and destruction came with it. Jesus died to pay the price for the sins of the world. Before His death Jesus predicted that He would rise on the third day.

On the Suday morning Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome went to the tomb. On the way they were wondering who would roll away the stone from the tomb. When the women arrived they walked straight into the tomb and saw an angel (who looked like a young man) sitting on the right side wearing a white robe. They were frightened.

At first the disciples did not believe them. Two of the disciples ran to the tomb and found that Jesus wasn't there. Then they walked away wondering what had happened.

There are several instances recorded in the Scriptures when Jesus appeared to people after His resurrection:

• To the women who had gone to the tomb on the day of Jesus' resurrectionⁱ.

• To two of the disciples on the road to Emmausⁱⁱ.

• To Peter in Jerusalemⁱⁱⁱ.

• To the ten disciples in the upper room^iv. To the eleven disciples in the upper room^v.

• To seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee^vi.

• To the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee^vii.

• To more than 500 people^viii.

• To James and those Jesus commissioned to represent Him^ix.

• At the time of His ascension to Heaven^x.

• To Saul of Tarsus (better known as the apostle Paul, Saint Paul to Catholics) on the road to Damascus^xi.

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iMark's Gospel chapter 16 verses 9 & John's Gospel chapter 20 verses 14-17.

iiLuke's Gospel chapter 24 verses 13-32.

iiiLuke's Gospel chapter 24 verse 34 & 1Corintians chapter 15 verse 5.

ivMark's Gospel chapter 16 verse 14, Luke's Gospel chapter 24 verses 36-43 & John's Gospel chapter 20 verses 19-20.

vJohn's Gospel chapter 20 verses 26-27 & 1Corintians chapter 15 verse 5.

viJohn's Gospel chapter 21 verses 4-7.

viiMatthew's Gospel chapter 28 verses 17

viii1Corintians chapter 15 verse 6.

ix1Corintians chapter 15 verse 7.

xLuke's Gospel chapter 24 verses 50-52 & Acts 1 versees 3-9.

xiActs chapter 9 verses 3-6 & 1Corintians chapter 15 verse 8.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christianity is unique, being the only religion which celebrates the death of it's leader, Jesus Christ.

When sin entered the world, death and destruction came with it. Jesus died to pay the price for the sins of the world. Before His death Jesus predicted that He would rise on the third day.ⁱ

After Jesus' death His body was taken, wrapped in clean linens and placed in a new tomb freshly cut out of stone with a large stone across the entrance. While they did this Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb, watching where they placed Jesus' body. Then they went away and prepared sweet smelling spices for His burial. On the Sabbath they rested as commanded by the Law of Moses. After sundown the High Priests and Pharisees had a meeting with Pilate, they said that Jesus had claimed He would rise from death on the third day and requested that the tomb be guarded so that the disciples could not steal the body and claim that Jesus had been raised from the dead. So Pilate said to take some soldiers and secure the tomb the best they could. So they sealed the tomb and placed soldiers there to guard it.ⁱⁱ

When the Sabbath was over Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Salome bought spices to embalm Jesus' body. On the Sunday morning they went to the tomb. On the way they were wondering who would roll away the stone from the tomb. Suddenly there was an earth quake. An angel of the Lord rolled the stone away from the tomb and sat on it. The guards shook with fear and fell like dead men. When the women arrived they walked straight into the tomb and saw an angel (who looked like a young man) sitting on the right side wearing a white robe. They were frightened.ⁱⁱⁱ

The angel said to the women “ Do not to be afraid. Jesus isn't here because God had raised Him to life, look here is the spot where Jesus' body was laid. Go quickly, tell His disciples that Jesus has been raised to life and is going ahead of them to Galilee. They will see Him there. The women hurried off to tell the disciples the good news. Matthew records Jesus appearing to the women at this time. At first the disciples did not believe them.^iv

Peter and John took off running to the tomb. John got there first, stopped outside, looked in and saw the linen cloths laying there but didn't go in. Peter arrived and went straight in. Peter saw the cloths lying there with the cloth that had been around Jesus' head rolled up separate from the others. John went in also. Then they walked away wondering what had happened.^v

More information on this can be found in the final chapters of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

For those who would like to get right with God I suggest a simple prayer:

• God I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of your standards.

• Thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, paying the price for my salvation from sin, to be raised on the third day and to later ascend to Heaven. as an assurance

• I choose to place my faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.

• Thank you that Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven are my assurance that you will take me to live with you there forever after my life on Earth is over.

You should now develop a habit of reading the Bible and talking to God every day. You should also join a Bible believing church (that does not add any other books to it) and fellowship there regularly¹.

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 edited 11 April 2021

This page was written using Open Office, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Hebrews 10:25

iMatthew 16:21, 17:23 & 20:19; Mark 8:31 & 10:34; Luke 9:22, 18:33 & 24:6 See also: Matthew 26:16, 27:40; Mark 14:56-58, 15:29; John 2:18-22

iiMatthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:52-56, John

iiiMatthew 28:1-6, Mark 16:1-6

ivMatthew 28:7-10, Mark 16:7-11, Luke 24:1-11

vLuke 24:12, John 20:2-10

The Death of Jesus Christ.

Christianity is unique, being the only religion which celebrates the death of it's leader, Jesus Christ.

When sin entered the world, death and destruction came with it.

Jesus predicted that he would be handed over for crucifixion on the passover day, at the same time the high priests, religious leaders and the chief priest were in a meeting conspiring to kill Jesus.

Judas Iscarriot went to the high priests and asked what they would give to hand Jesus over to them. The price was settled at thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas looked for the right time to hand Jesus over.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed He said to His disciples that one of them would betray Him. The disciples responded surely you don't mean I will betray you. When Judas Iscarriot said this Jesus said “Don't play games with me Judas”¹.

Later that night Judas Iscarriot did betray Jesus. Jesus was arrested by a large crowd sent by the chief priests and the elders. The crowd took Jesus to Caiaphas the High Priest, the teachers of the Law and the elders. They tried to find people who would testify against Jesus until somebody came forward saying that Jesus had said He would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. When confronted with this Jesus said nothing. When asked if He was the Messiah, the Son of God Jesus replied in the affirmative. On hearing this the High Priest tore his clothes and declared Jesus to be guilty of blasphemy. They tied Jesus and took Him to the Pilate, the Roman governor.

Pilate was in the habit of setting one prisoner chosen by the people free at the time of the passover. He gave the people a choice of Jesus Barabas (a murderer) or Jesus (Christ) who is called the Messiah and incited by the Jewish authorities the crowd called for Barabas to be freed and for Jesus Christ to be crucified. Pilate asked what crime Jesus Christ had committed, but the crowd just kept yelling “crucify him”. So Pilate took a bowl of water and washed his hands in front of them saying that he was not guilty of this man's death. The people replied that the guilt should rest on them and their children. Then Pilate had Jesus whiped and handed Him over to be crucified.

The whole company of soldiers gathered, stripped Jesus of His clothes and put a scarlet robe on Him. They made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on His head, put a stick in His right hand and mocked Him saying “Long live the king of the Jews”. They spat on him, and took the stick and hit him over the head. When they had finished mocking Him they took the robe off and put His own clothes back on Jesus and led Him off to crucify Him.

When they arrived at Golgotha, the place of the skull, they crucified Him between two thieves and divided His clothes among them by throwing dice.

At noon the whole country was covered in darkness for three hours. At three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God why have you abandoned me?” Jesus gave another loud cry and died.

According to other information I have come across God knew at this time the day and the hour that Jesus Christ would die on the cross.

At that moment the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth shook with a violent earthquake which caused rocks to split.

Jesus had said that He would be lifted up (crucified) and rise back to life on the third day.

“This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.²”

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Matthew chapter 26 verse 25, The Message Bible.

2First John chapter 4 verses 9 & 10, The Message Bible.

The birth of Jesus Christ.

One teaching that is important to Christianity is the birth of Jesus Christ.

God created Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman). God told Adam that he was allowed to eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because when you eat from it you will die.

At this time God made the first prediction of the coming of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. There are many more predictions (usually known as prophesies) of the coming of Jesus Christ recorded in the Old Testament.

God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin by the name of Mary who was engaged to marry a carpenter by the name of Joseph (who was a descendent of King David). Gabriel told Mary she would concieve and give birth to a son who would be named “Jesus”. This son would be known as the Son of God. Mary said “I am the Lord's servant, may what you said happen to me.” Then the angel left.

When Caesar Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem and took Mary, his fiance with him. While they were there Mary gave birth to a son. The child was named “Jesus”.

There were some shepherds in the fields nearby watching their flock when an angel of the Lord appeared and said “Don't be afriad, I bring good news. Today in Bethlehem the saviour was born. He is wrapped in a cloth, lying in a manger. Suddenly a choir of angels appeared singing praises to God. When the angels disappeared, the angels went and found Jesus. The shepherds told everyone what the angels had said about Jesus. The shepherds returned glorifying God for the things they had seen and heard.

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program (translations in other languages are also downloadable). For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

The first consequence of sin, spiritual death.

One teaching that is important to Christianity is that all people have sinned and fallen short of God's standards.ⁱ

God created Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman).ⁱⁱ God told Adam that he was allowed to eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because when you eat from it you will die.ⁱⁱⁱ When they ate the fruit they died spiritually. Their bodies died much later.

When Adam & Eve ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were stripped of their purity and holiness, realised that they were naked and therefore were afraid to face God.

God put into place a plan of redemption for mankind at this time. When He told the snake that the offspring of the woman would crush the head of the snake and that the snake would wound His heel God fortold the crucifixion of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to give His life as the redemption price for many. Anyone who trusts in Him is aquitted of their sins, anyone who does not is under the death sentence for failing to believe in God's only begotten Son. Who ever has Jesus Christ has life, whoever rejects Jesus Christ rejects life.

“Say the welcoming word to God--"Jesus is my Master"--embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation.”^iv

There is more truth to be extracted from the Scriptures mentioned, that will have to wait for me to make the time. I have referred to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program (translations in other languages are also downloadable). For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 last edited 31 May 2021.

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iRomans 3:23

iiGenesis 1:26-28; 2:6-7, 18 & 21-25

iiiGenesis 1:29 & 2:16-17

ivRomans 10:9, the Message Bible

1Romans chapter 10 verse 9, the Message Bible