One of the central themes of Jesus’ teaching is the kingdom of God. When Jesus began His public ministry, He announced that the kingdom of God was near. This message was not merely about a future place, a political revolution, or life after death. Jesus was calling people to live under God’s rule now.
4.3 Jesus and the Kingdom of God Read More »
The northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. The southern kingdom of Judah later fell to Babylon in 586 BC, and many Jews were taken into exile. After Babylon, the Persian Empire allowed many Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Then the Greeks took control after Alexander the Great. Later, the Jewish people were ruled by Greek successor kingdoms.
4.2 The World Jesus Lived In Read More »
Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the one through whom God reveals Himself most fully. Before studying those beliefs, it is important to begin with a basic historical fact: Jesus was a first-century Jewish man.
4.1 Jesus Was a First-Century Jewish Man Read More »
Module 4 presents Jesus Christ as the central figure of Christianity by moving from His historical setting to the major Christian beliefs about His identity and mission. It begins by explaining that Jesus was a first-century Jewish man living under Roman rule, deeply rooted in the world of Israel, Jewish Scripture, temple life, and messianic hope. The module then shows how Jesus preached the kingdom of God, called people to repentance, challenged hypocrisy, and became both a hope-filled and controversial figure because He redefined what many expected the Messiah to be.
4.0 Christianity Module 4: Jesus Christ Read More »
The doctrine of the Trinity became formally orthodox through the councils of Nicaea in 325 and Constantinople in 381. However, not all Christians accept this doctrine. Those who reject the Trinity do not all reject it for the same reason. Some reject the Trinity because they believe Jesus is not God, but is instead the Messiah, Son of God, and Spirit-filled representative of God.
3.4 Arguments Against the Trinity Read More »
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most debated teachings in Christianity. Trinitarian Christians usually believe it because they think it best explains the full pattern of Scripture, worship, salvation, and Christianity. The strongest argument for the Trinity is based on several claims that Trinitarians believe must be held together.
3.3 Arguments for the Trinity Read More »
One of the debates in the early Christian Church was how Christians could worship the God of Israel, give divine status to Jesus, and describe the Holy Spirit as divine, without breaking monotheism. The doctrine of the Trinity is the most common way Christians answer this question.
3.2 The Trinity: One God, Three Persons Read More »
The doctrine of the Trinity became central to Christianity because early Christians were trying to explain how they could continue to believe in one God while also giving divine status to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
3.1 The History of the Trinity Read More »
Module 3 explains the doctrine of the Trinity as the mainstream Christian attempt to hold together three claims at once: there is one God, Jesus is treated in divine ways, and the Holy Spirit is understood as divine and active. It traces how this doctrine developed historically through early Christian debates and church councils, then explains the core Trinitarian claim that God is one in essence and three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The module also presents the main biblical, historical, logical, relational, and salvation-based arguments that Trinitarians use to defend this doctrine.
3.0 Christianity Module 3: The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Read More »
Christianity teaches that God is holy. Holiness means that God is completely set apart from evil, corruption, impurity, and sin. God is not morally mixed, confused, unstable, or corruptible. He is perfectly good, perfectly pure, and perfectly righteous.
2.4 God’s Holiness, Justice, Mercy, and Grace Read More »
