About two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, despite the many temptations He endured. He is the perfect example for us. While He lived on the earth, He was God in the flesh (also referred to as the son of God). He performed many miracles to prove that His word was true. He appointed apostles who would later receive the Holy Spirit and record God's Word and begin the Church of Christ. He was despised and rejected by the Jews. He was humiliated and put to death on a cross, despite the fact that He was innocent. He died and was buried, but on the third day He rose from the grave. This is the gospel (good news). Since He (the perfect sacrifice) shed His own blood, there is no longer a need for the temporary sacrifices of animals to atone for sins (the wages of sin is death). We can now have forgiveness for our sins by submitting to His will. Just as He died, was buried, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven where He now lives and reigns, we too may have the hope of eternal life in heaven by following His example and being obedient to Him.
| Luke 1:27,31,32 |
...The virgin's name was Mary...you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest ... |
| Hebrews 4:15 |
...[Jesus] was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin . |
| 1 Peter 2:21-22 |
...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth." |
| Acts 2:22 |
...Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs ... |
| John 1:1,14 |
...the Word [Jesus] was God....And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...the only begotten of the Father ... |
| Matthew 10:1 |
And when He had called His twelve disciples ... |
| Matthew 16:18 |
[Jesus said] ...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. |
| John 16:13 |
[Jesus said to His apostles] However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. |
| Luke 9:22 |
[Jesus said of Himself]...The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 |
...the gospel...by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day .... |
| Hebrews 9:13,14 |
...if the blood of bulls and goats...sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? |
| Romans 6:4-6 |
...we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. |
| Acts 2:1,4,38,41,47 |
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come....they [the apostles(see Acts 1:2,5,26 and Acts
2:1,14,43)] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance....Then Peter said to them [the multitude], "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." ... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.......And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. |
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