In a culture that often has many different answers to a single question, it’s more important now than ever to have a clear picture of what it means to be a Christian, what we believe, and why we believe it. Here, you’ll find a guide that outlines 52 key questions of the Christian life. In this, we offer simple answers to commonly asked questions about God, the world, the person of Jesus, and how Christians should live their lives. These answers are simple so that they are easier to understand and memorize.
Our ministry team created this 52-question guide as a tool to teach the basics of Christianity so that people could develop an understanding of the world built on what the Bible says. We’ve started with the top 12, which we feel are the most essential to Christianity, and will continue building onto this as we walk through each question and answer together. By knowing these, we pray each of you will be equipped with the biblical truths to both strengthen your own faith and defend that faith in everyday life.
God is the creatora and sustainerb of all creation. He is self-existent,c sovereign,d eternal,e infinite,f and unchangeableg in his powerh and perfectioni, goodnessj and gloryk, wisdoml, justicem, and truth.n
a Gen 1; Neh 9:6a; Isa 45:18; Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16 b Neh 9:6b; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3 c Exod 3:14; Isa 46:9-10 d Isa 46:10 e Ps 90:2; Isa 44:6; Rev 1:17 f Ps 139:7-10; 1 Jn 3:20 g Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17 h Gen 1:3; Job 42:2; Ps 36:6; Dan 2:21; Jn 19:11 i Deut 32:4; Ps 18:30; Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8 j Ps 34:8; Ps 100:5; Ps 119:68; Lk 18:19; 1 Jn 1:5 k Exod 33:18; 1 Kgs 8:10-11; Isa 6:3; Isa 42:8; Jn 1:14 l Ps 111:10; Isa 40:28; Rom 11:33 m Ps 89:14; Isa 61:8 n Num 23:19; Jn 14:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18
There are three personsa in the oneb truec and living Godd: the Fathere, the Sonf, and the Holy Spiritg. They are the same in substanceh and equal in power and glory.i
a Gen 1:26; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:19 b Deut 6:4 c Deut 4:35; 1 Kgs 8:60; Isa 43:11 d Jer 10:10; Matt 16:16; Jn 6:57 e Mal 2:10; Matt 23:9; 1 Cor 8:6a; Eph 4:6 f Jn 1:14; Jn 5:23; Jn 20:31; Col 1:15 g Gen 1:2; Jn 4:24; Jn 14:26; 2 Cor 3:17 h Jn 1:1; Jn 10:30; Phil 2:6; Col 2:9 i Jn 17:22; Heb 1:3
God created mankind intentionally and purposefullya as male and female,b in His own imagec to know Him,d love Him,e live with Him,f glorify Him,g and to rule over His creation.h
a Job 31:15; Ps 139:14; Jer 1:5 b Gen 1:27; Matt 19:4 c Gen 1:26-27; Gen 9:6; 1 Cor 11:17a; James 3:9 d Jer 9:23-24; Jn 17:3 e Deut 6:5 f Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27 g Jn 15:8; 1 Cor 10:31 h Gen 1:26-28; Ps 8:6
God reveals himself to usa through His Word–the Holy Scripturesb–and through His Holy Spirit.c
a Ps 19:1; Rom; 1:19-20; Heb 1:1-2 b Lk 24:27; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19–21 c Rom 8:16; 1 Cor 2:10
God created us for a world with no sin and sadness.a When Adam and Eve sinned, they corrupted the world and it has been broken ever since.b However, God provides every believer a path back to an eternal world that is perfectc through the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to God through Christ Jesus.d
a Gen 1:31 b Gen 3; Rom 5:12a c Zech 1:3; Jn 3:36a d Jn 3:16; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 5:12a
Sin is the absence of holiness, in the same way blindness is the absence of sight. It is to fail to meet the perfect standard of God.a This failure is present throughout all mankind,b and separates us from God.c
a Rom 3:23b b Ps 53:3; Isa 53:6; Rom 3:23a c Isa 59:2; Eph 2:12
The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to save us from our sin. Jesus’ death on the cross took the place of sinners. Now, everyone who believes in and follows Him can be forgiven of their sins and enjoy eternal life.
a 1 Tim 1:15 b Isa 53:5; Rom 3:25-26; 2 Cor 5:21 c Eph 1:7; 1 Jn 1:9 d Jn 3:16; 17:3
Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins,a resurrected from the grave to give us new life,b and ascended to Heaven to reign as our King.c
a Isa 53:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24 b Isa 25:8; Rom 6:5 c Eph 1:20-21
At the end of time, God will judge unbelievers according to their sin,a the penalty for which is eternal torment in Hell.b
a Rom 2:8; Col 3:5-6 b Matt 13:41-42; Rev 20:15
At the end of time, God will judge believers according to Jesus’ righteousness,a the reward for which is eternal life with God on the New Earth.b
a Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:17-21 b Matt 25:34; 2 Cor 5:1; Heb 11:16; Rev 21
The Holy Bible is the only Word of Goda through which He has revealed Himself.b It alone is the final authority for determining all truth.c
a 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 1:20-21 b Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39; Rom 16:25-26 c Ps 1; Acts 17:11
The Church is the family of believersa who are united in Christb gathered to fulfill the Mission of God in the world as the body of Christ.c The Church is the tool God uses to accomplish His purpose on Earth.d
a Acts 2; 1 Cor 12:13 b Rom 6:3-7 c Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17; Eph 1:22-23; Heb 13:3 d Matt 28:16-20; Mk 13:10; 14:9; Lk 24:44-49; Jn 20:21; Acts 1:8
God is the creatora and sustainerb of all creation. He is self-existent,c sovereign,d eternal,e infinite,f and unchangeableg in his powerh and perfectioni, goodnessj and gloryk, wisdoml, justicem, and truth.n
a Gen 1; Neh 9:6a; Isa 45:18; Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16 b Neh 9:6b; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3 c Exod 3:14; Isa 46:9-10 d Isa 46:10 e Ps 90:2; Isa 44:6; Rev 1:17 f Ps 139:7-10; 1 Jn 3:20 g Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Jas 1:17 h Gen 1:3; Job 42:2; Ps 36:6; Dan 2:21; Jn 19:11 i Deut 32:4; Ps 18:30; Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8 j Ps 34:8; Ps 100:5; Ps 119:68; Lk 18:19; 1 Jn 1:5 k Exod 33:18; 1 Kgs 8:10-11; Isa 6:3; Isa 42:8; Jn 1:14 l Ps 111:10; Isa 40:28; Rom 11:33 m Ps 89:14; Isa 61:8 n Num 23:19; Jn 14:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18
There are three personsa in the oneb truec and living Godd: the Fathere, the Sonf, and the Holy Spiritg. They are the same in substanceh and equal in power and glory.i
a Gen 1:26; Matt 3:16-17; Matt 28:19 b Deut 6:4 c Deut 4:35; 1 Kgs 8:60; Isa 43:11 d Jer 10:10; Matt 16:16; Jn 6:57 e Mal 2:10; Matt 23:9; 1 Cor 8:6a; Eph 4:6 f Jn 1:14; Jn 5:23; Jn 20:31; Col 1:15 g Gen 1:2; Jn 4:24; Jn 14:26; 2 Cor 3:17 h Jn 1:1; Jn 10:30; Phil 2:6; Col 2:9 i Jn 17:22; Heb 1:3
God created mankind intentionally and purposefullya as male and female,b in His own imagec to know Him,d love Him,e live with Him,f glorify Him,g and to rule over His creation.h
a Job 31:15; Ps 139:14; Jer 1:5 b Gen 1:27; Matt 19:4 c Gen 1:26-27; Gen 9:6; 1 Cor 11:17a; James 3:9 d Jer 9:23-24; Jn 17:3 e Deut 6:5 f Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27 g Jn 15:8; 1 Cor 10:31 h Gen 1:26-28; Ps 8:6
God reveals himself to usa through His Word–the Holy Scripturesb–and through His Holy Spirit.c
a Ps 19:1; Rom; 1:19-20; Heb 1:1-2 b Lk 24:27; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19–21 c Rom 8:16; 1 Cor 2:10
In the beginning, God created all thingsa out of nothingb by his spoken word.c He deemed His creation to be “good.”d
a Gen 1:1; Jn 1:3 b Gen 1:2; Rom 4:17; Heb 11:3 c Gen 1:3; Ps 33:9 d Gen 1:31
God created us for a world with no sin and sadness.a When Adam and Eve sinned, they corrupted the world and it has been broken ever since.b However, God provides every believer a path back to an eternal world that is perfectc through the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to God through Christ Jesus.d
a Gen 1:31 b Gen 3; Rom 5:12a c Zech 1:3; Jn 3:36a d Jn 3:16; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 5:12a
Sin is the absence of holiness, in the same way blindness is the absence of sight. It is to fail to meet the perfect standard of God.a This failure is present throughout all mankind,b and separates us from God.c
a Rom 3:23b b Ps 53:3; Isa 53:6; Rom 3:23a c Isa 59:2; Eph 2:12
The corruption of sina makes us uncleanb and guiltyc before the Holy God. This results in shame,d suffering,e and deathf entering our lives.
a Rom 5:12-14 b Isa 64:6 c Rom 3:9 d Gen 3:7 e 1 Cor 11:30-32 f Ecc 9:2-4; Rom 5:12, 6:23
No. God’s “good”a creation was broken when Adam and Eve sinned.b All manner of death and suffering was a result of the fall of humanity.c Death is the due punishment for sin,d and is experienced by all fallen mankind.e
a Gen 1:31 b Rom 5:12 c Gen 3:14-19 d Rom 3:23 e Ecc 2:14, 9:2-4
Satan is a fallen angel who willingly sinned against Goda and was cast out of Heaven for his actions.b He is the ruler of this fallen world.c He and his demons actively oppose God and His people.d
a Isa 14:13-14 b Isa 14:19; 1 Tim 3:6 c Jn 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2 d Gen 3; 1 Chr 21:1; Job 1-2; Zech 3:1-2
The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to save us from our sin. Jesus’ death on the cross took the place of sinners. Now, everyone who believes in and follows Him can be forgiven of their sins and enjoy eternal life.
a 1 Tim 1:15 b Isa 53:5; Rom 3:25-26; 2 Cor 5:21 c Eph 1:7; 1 Jn 1:9 d Jn 3:16; 17:3
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God,a uncreatedb and equal to the Father in essence and power.c He is fully Godd and fully man,e incarnated into physical fleshf and born to the virgin Mary.g
a Jn 1:1-2 b Jn 17:5; Col 1:16 c Mk 2:28; Jn 10:30 d Col 1:15-20; Titus 2:13 e 1Cor 15:21; Heb 4:15 f Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4 g Isa 7:14; Matt 1; Lk 1-2
Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins,a resurrected from the grave to give us new life,b and ascended to Heaven to reign as our King.c
a Isa 53:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24 b Isa 25:8; Rom 6:5 c Eph 1:20-21
Jesus was handed over by Jewish leaders to the Romans to be crucifieda though He had done nothing wrong.b This fulfilled God’s plan to save the world through His Son.c
a Matt 27; Jn 18-19 b 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5 c Gen 3:15; Isa 53:10; Acts 2:23
Because Jesus died, the penalty for sin has been paid for,a and all people can receive forgiveness for their sins and be reconciled to God.b
a Isa 53:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24 b 2 Cor 5:18-19; Eph 1:7; 1 Jn 1:9
After three days, Jesus rose physically from the dead,a defeating death,b leaving an empty tombc then revealing Himself to His followers.d
a Matt 28:6; Mk 16:6 b Jn 11:25-26 c Lk 24:2-3 d Lk 24:13-39; Jn 20:19-20
Jesus’ resurrection proves that God’s Kingdom has come, just as He said,a and that through faith in him anyone can be set free from the power of sin and death.b
a Lk 24:5-8 b Rom 10:9; Rev 1:5-6
Jesus physically appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.a He taught them about the coming Kingdom of Godb and then ascended into Heaven.c
a Matt 28:9; Jn 20:27 b Lk 24:13-39; Acts 1:6-8 c Lk 24:51; Acts 1:9
Jesus is now seated in power at the Father’s right hand,a where He intercedes for His peopleb and reigns as Lord over all creation.c
a Lk 22:69; Acts 2:33; Col 3:1; Heb 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22 b Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25 c Matt 28:18; Rev 1:5
Jesus will return personally and visibly in power,a the same way that He ascended into Heaven.b
a Matt 24:30; Lk 21:27; 1 Thes 4:16; Rev 1:7 b Zech 14:4; Acts 1:9
When Jesus returns, He will raise everyone from the dead,a judge us all in perfect judgment,b and restore God’s creation.c
a Jn 5:25-29 b Dan 12:2; Acts 17:31 c Isa 66:22; Rev 21:1-4
At the end of time, God will judge unbelievers according to their sin,a the penalty for which is eternal torment in Hell.b
a Rom 2:8; Col 3:5-6 b Matt 13:41-42; Rev 20:15
At the end of time, God will judge believers according to Jesus’ righteousness,a the reward for which is eternal life with God on the New Earth.b
a Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:17-21 b Matt 25:34; 2 Cor 5:1; Heb 11:16; Rev 21
The Church is commanded to proclaim the gospel to all mankinda and to serve as Christ did.b As the light of the world, the Church must point to Christ in all ways.c
a Matt 28:19; Acts 1:18 b Matt 20:28 c Matt 5:14-16; 2 Cor 5:20
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.a The Spirit enters all believers at salvation,b and He guides them toward Christlikeness.c
a 1 Cor 2:10; 2 Cor 3:17 b Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 1:13-14 c 1 Cor 6:11; Gal 5:16; 22-25
Because He is both fully Goda and fully human,b having two distinct natures in his one person.c He is the image of the invisible God; the perfect image of God.d
a Col 1:19; Titus 2:13 b 1Cor 15:21; Heb 4:15 c Heb 1:3 d Col 1:15-20
Jesus was incarnated as the perfect image of Goda without the corruption of sin,b though tempted as we are,c so that He could take our place on the crossd and restore us to the image of God.e
a 2 Cor 4:4b; Col 1:15-20 b Heb 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5 c Matt 4:1-11; Heb 4:15 d Jn 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 2:14 e Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 15:49; Col 3:10
Only the infinite and eternal Goda can rescue humanity from the power of sinb and restore creation from the curse of the fall.c
a Jn 1:1-3, 8:58; Heb 13:8 b Matt 1:21; Rom 8:2; Eph 1:7 c Col 1:20; Rev 21:5
Faith is trusting in Jesus alone and what He has done for our salvation.a We trust Jesus, even when we don’t understand it all.b
a Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8-9 b Rom 8:28, 11:33-35
Repentance is turning our hearts and minds away from sin and towards Christ who can forgive us and make us new.a Repentance is more than being sorry for sinning, it is a whole-life change that results in following Jesus as our Lord and Savior.b
a Ezek 33:11; Acts 3:19 b Matt 3:8; Acts 26:20b
True faith will result in transformed livinga as the Holy Spirit works in us to make us more like Jesus.b
a Matt 3:8; Acts 26:20b b Rom 15:16; 1 Pet 1:2
Justification is to be declared right with God.a It is a gracious act of Godb where the believer is seen as righteous through the work of Jesus on the cross.c At salvation, the believer is justified by grace through faith in Christ alone.d
a Rom 4:5-8; 2 Cor 5:21 b Rom 3:24a; Titus 3:5 c Rom 3:24b, 5:9; 1 Pet 2:24 d Rom 5:1; Eph 2:8
Salvation from sin is not earned,a but given by the perfect mercy of God.b No one is able to make themselves right before God.c Forgiveness comes only by grace through faith in Christ.d
a Eph 2:8-9 b Rom 3:10-12 c Rom 3:20, 5:6; Eph 2:9 d Rom 5:1; Eph 2:8a
Sanctification is the process of the Holy Spirit making believers more like Jesus in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.a This process is not instantb nor will it be complete in this life.c
a Rom 8:29; Gal 5: 16-26; Phil 2:12-13 b 2 Cor 3:18; Phil 3:12 c Phil 1:6; 1 Jn 1:10, 3:2
The Holy Bible is the only Word of Goda through which He has revealed Himself.b It alone is the final authority for determining all truth.c
a 2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Pet 1:20-21 b Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39; Rom 16:25-26 c Ps 1; Acts 17:11
God wrote the 66 books of the Bible through the inspired handsa of 40 different authors over 1500 years. All Scripture is “God breathed” for our learning.b The Bible in its original writing contains no errors as all the words are directly from God.c
a 1 Pet 1:20-21 b 2 Tim 3:16-17 c Ps 19:7; Prov 30:5; Matt 24:25; 1 Pet 1:24-25
The Law demands personal, perfect, and continual obedience;a that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves.b What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.c We are expected to be Holy as He is Holy.d
a Jas 2:10 b Deut 6:5; Matt 22:37–40; Lk 10:27 c Ps 19:7-9; Jas 1:25 d Gen 17:1; Matt 5:48; 1 Pet 1:16
No human, except Jesus,a has been able to keep the law perfectly since the fall.b Our sinful nature drives us to commit sinful actions.c
a Heb 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5 b Isa 53:6a; Rom 3:23 c Ps 51:5; Mk 7:21-22; Rom 7
No. God initially created mankind to live in a world with no sin and brokenness.a However, because of sin, starting with Adam and Eve, we are now corrupt.b As a result, we are unable to keep the Law.c
a Gen 1:31 b Rom 5:12 c Ecc 7:20; Rom 3:10-12
No, every sin is an offense to God’s holiness, righteousness, and goodness; and against his righteous law.a God is righteously angry with our sinsb and will punish them with perfect justice in the life to come.c
a Jas 2:10 b Nah 1:2; Rom 2:5-6 c Acts 17:31; Rom 14:10; 1 Pet 1:17
Yes, through the cross of Christ, Jesus offers to pay the penalty of sin to satisfy His justice, delivering us from sin and its punishment.a
a Isa 53:4-6; Rom 8:1; 1 Pet 2:24, 3:18
The Church is the family of believers who are united in Christa, in all timesb and all placesc, and expressed in many different local congregations.d
a 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 6:10; Eph 1:22-23 b Jn 17:20 c Acts 1:8; Rev 7:9 d Acts 14:23; Rom 16:3-16; 1 Cor 16:1-4; Gal 1:1-2; Col 1:2
God wrote the 66 books of the Bible through the inspired handsa of 40 different authors over 1500 years. All Scripture is “God breathed” for our learning.b The Bible in its original writing contains no errors as all the words are directly from God.c
a 1 Pet 1:20-21 b 2 Tim 3:16-17 c Ps 19:7; Prov 30:5; Matt 24:25; 1 Pet 1:24-25
The Church is the family of believersa who are united in Christb gathered to fulfill the Mission of God in the world as the body of Christ.c The Church is the tool God uses to accomplish His purpose on Earth.d
a Acts 2; 1 Cor 12:13 b Rom 6:3-7 c Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17; Eph 1:22-23; Heb 13:3 d Matt 28:16-20; Mk 13:10; 14:9; Lk 24:44-49; Jn 20:21; Acts 1:8
Baptism is the washing of water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as commanded by Christ.a Through baptism, believers signify their union with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection.b
a Matt 28:19; Jn 3:5 b Rom 6:4-5; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:13
The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is eating the bread and drinking the cup that represents and reminds us of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood on the cross.a
a Matt 26:26-29; Mk 14:17-25; Lk 22:7-22; Jn 13:21-30; 1 Cor 11:23-29
Prayer is talking with God and having fellowship with Him.a By faith,b when we pray we come to the Fatherc through the Sond by the Holy Spirit.e
a Ps 17:6, 66:17; Prov 15:29; Matt 6:9-13 b Jas 1:6 c Matt 6:6; Heb 4:16 d 1 Tim 2:5 e Rom 8:26; Eph 6:18
To place anything before God is idolatry.a Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope, happiness, significance, and security.b
a Exod 20:3-6, 23:13; Lev 26:1; Acts 17:29 b Hab 2:18; Ps 135:15-18; Rom 1:21-23
Abraham is a man chosen by God to father the great nation that would show God to the worlda and eventually bless the whole world through his descendant, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.b
a Gen 12:1-3; Deut 30:1-10 b Zech 12:10–14; Matt 1:1-16; Rom 11:25–27
Israel was the father of the Nation of Israela and his descendants, called Jews,b were set aside by God to fulfill the promise God made to Israel’s grandfather, Abraham.c
a Gen 35:22c-26 b 2 Kgs 16:6; Esth 2:5; Matt 2:2 c Gen 12:1-3; Deut 30:1-10
Israel was chosen by God as a special family through which God would bring the savior of the world.a The Old Testament follows that promise through the family of Abraham until the birth of Jesus, the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham.b
a Gen 12:1-3; 2 Sam 7:12-16 b Matt 1:1-16
Christians must have an eternal view of God’s promises.a God created us as eternal beingsb and when we fixate on the short time we live on this earth, we miss the perspective of God and his promises.c
a Col 3:2 b Ecc 3:11 c Matt 6:19-20; 1 Cor 15:42-54; Rev 21