52 KEY QUESTIONS

of the Christian Life

Knowing and Understanding the Answers to Christianity's Most Foundational Questions

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.

Foundations

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