Copyright https://www.christianity.com 2025, Christianity.com Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:24:38 -0500 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/6-simple-steps-to-understanding-the-gospel.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/6-simple-steps-to-understanding-the-gospel.html Jessica Brodie https://www.christianity.com/author/jessica-brodie/ We often hear the word gospel in Christianity—perhaps we call something “the gospel truth.” We might say, “Share the gospel,” or “I like gospel music,” or ask, “Which Gospel talks about the birth of Christ?” But what does the word gospel actually mean, and what is the gospel?There’s a difference between the various words we use for gospel. Broadly, the word can mean the teachings of a religious instructor or something considered an infallible truth. For instance, there is an Islamic gospel. Gospel music is a particular music genre that arose out of the religious revivals of the 19th century and might also apply to Christian music that spreads the word of God. But for Christians, the word gospel means two things primarily: It can refer to one of the four Gospel accounts, theological literature written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that tell the story of Jesus’s life, ministry, and teachings.  It can also generally refer to the good news of Christ and our salvation found in scripture. Most of the time, when we use the word “gospel,” this last definition is what we mean: the good news of what God has done in Jesus.Let’s take a look at what is the gospel in its full, beautiful, life-changing truth.Photo Courtesy:  Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-the-holy-spirit-impacts-your-life-in-8-remarkable-ways.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-the-holy-spirit-impacts-your-life-in-8-remarkable-ways.html Mike Leake https://www.christianity.com/author/mike-leake/ I’ve been on this kick of listening to music from the 80’s and 90’s. When I was prompted with this title, I couldn’t help but think about that Janet Jackson song, “What Have You Done For Me Lately.” I doubt many of us would be so bold to ask this question of the Spirit, but I do wonder if it’s not an unasked question bubbling under the surface for many of us. In some traditions, you’re aware of the Spirit’s movement when you come to church every Sunday. Many of our songs speak about the Spirit coming in fire and rain and so many other natural disasters—but we also want to make sure He knows that He’s welcome in this place. You might say that the Holy Spirit does “everything!”In other traditions, you’ve maybe not heard about the Spirit for a few months. You know that the Spirit is a member of the Trinity, you know that Jesus spoke about sending the Spirit, and you know about the Spirit’s work in Acts, but today…? Well, what does the Spirit do today? You know the Spirit is working and moving, but what exactly is He doing? Both groups can benefit from meditating on specific things that the Spirit does. Saying that the Spirit does “everything” might be so far-reaching that you miss the very specific and unique things that the Spirit does. If you extend His work too far into unspecified waters, it becomes a little muddy. And for those who don’t talk much about the Spirit, you’ll benefit from realizing how much the Spirit does even if you don’t see His work. Here are eight things the Spirit does for us.  Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Aleksandra Golubtsova Sat, 29 Jun 2024 09:10:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-to-apply-5-things-jesus-said-about-forgiveness-today.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/how-to-apply-5-things-jesus-said-about-forgiveness-today.html Mike Leake https://www.christianity.com/author/mike-leake/  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8If you want to know what Jesus would say about forgiveness today, look no further than what Jesus said about forgiveness some 2000 years ago. Yet, I believe there is significance to the word “today,” even in Hebrews 13:8. Hebrews 13:8 is in your Bible because we need the encouragement that Christ is unchanging. Such a concern implies that many other things do change. We might be tempted to think that perhaps some of Jesus’ calls to “turn the other cheek,” “love your neighbor,” or “forgive your enemies” were in a specific context. Perhaps we could say that Jesus doesn’t and didn’t know your unique circumstances when He said these things. “He doesn’t know,” we might argue, “the importance of the cultural war we are in.” Forgiveness, we may assume, is for a different era with different rules. Hebrews 13:8 keeps us from saying silly things like this. Jesus’ words about forgiveness still stand today. Although there is much that could be said about forgiveness, I will limit myself today to five headings. Photo Credit:  Image created using DALL.E 2024  AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/7-ways-to-embrace-the-power-of-saving-grace.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/7-ways-to-embrace-the-power-of-saving-grace.html Britt Mooney https://www.christianity.com/author/britt-mooney/ Sola gratia. Grace alone. Centuries ago, Martin Luther and the Reformation addressed issues within the Catholic church, attempting to center believers upon Christ instead of an institution. Among the doctrines they espoused, they taught Christians were saved by grace alone. The reformers pointed to the following verse, among others:“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9People often confuse mercy and grace. Both encompass unmerited favor. However, mercy is God’s favor in not giving us the punishment we deserve. Grace is God’s favor in giving us the power to live with him. Both are gifts, neither deserved. The next sentence in Ephesians, verse 2:10, further explains this: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Our works didn’t save us. God’s work did. The gift of grace results in our doing good works initiated by God. In order to walk with him, we require mercy (forgiveness of sin, removal of punishment) and grace (the power to do the works God has prepared for us). How do we access this grace? Here are 7 ways to embrace and grow in the power of saving grace.Photo Credit:  Image created using DALL.E 2024  AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:55:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/4-things-saving-grace-is-and-4-things-saving-grace-is-not.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/4-things-saving-grace-is-and-4-things-saving-grace-is-not.html Mike Leake https://www.christianity.com/author/mike-leake/ Saving grace is a word that you’ve likely heard a few times. There was even a television show on TNT named Saving Grace. It was about a lady with an angel on her shoulder, and it somehow squeezed out three seasons. I suppose you could say that its saving grace was the strong performance of lead actress Holly Hunter.Of course, “saving grace” would imply that there were elements of the show that some saw as off-putting. Perhaps some potential viewers were turned off by its graphic content. Others believed that the plot was somehow both inconsistent and highly predictable. That’s why we’d say it needed a “saving grace.”That’s how we typically use the word. Like if I wanted to make a bit of a swipe at my friend Gary but then started to feel bad, I might say something like this: “Gary sure smells like moldy French cheese, but his saving grace is that he has a drawing personality and a wonderful sense of humor.” The phrase means a redeeming quality that rescues the whole enterprise. The saving grace is that little thing that keeps you from being discarded onto the ash heap.The Bible itself talks about saving grace, but it means something quite different. To help us understand what this concept means, it might be helpful for us to outline 4 things that saving grace is NOT and 4 things that saving grace IS.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/piola666 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/4-key-insights-into-gods-plan-for-your-life.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/slideshows/4-key-insights-into-gods-plan-for-your-life.html Chad Roberts https://www.christianity.com/author/chad-roberts/ People who love God make mistakes. Perhaps you know what it is to look around and all of a sudden not feel as close to God as you once were. There is a strong promise in Psalm 37:23 that can guide our feet back onto the right path, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in his way.” The original word for established is the Hebrew word kuwn. There are multiple layers of this fascinating word in the original language of the Old Testament. Our translators have to choose one English word to convey its meaning, but in Hebrew, there are many rich meanings to uncover. The NIV uses the word firm. The NLT uses the word direct, and the KJV uses the word ordered. Other words could be appoint, fix, and prosper. I would like to explore some of these various meanings to help you see the greater scope of how God desires to work in your life. I think God wants to do far more in us and through us than we can comprehend. So, as we explore this verse together, let us invite the Lord to take a far more active role in our daily decisions. Let us welcome Him to do daily life with us.Photo Credit: Image created using DALL.E 2024  AI technology and subsequently edited and reviewed by our editorial team. Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/how-truth-transforms-your-understanding-of-faith.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/how-truth-transforms-your-understanding-of-faith.html Dr. Kenneth Boa https://www.christianity.com/author/dr-kenneth-boa/ Christianity makes concrete historical claims that bring its truth or falsity to the very center of the conversation. Tue, 21 May 2024 15:10:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/should-christians-be-cautious-when-a-celebrity-comes-to-faith.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/should-christians-be-cautious-when-a-celebrity-comes-to-faith.html Dr. Josh Moody https://www.christianity.com/author/dr-josh-moody/ It’s the Lord’s role to discern matters of individual salvation, and only he can see the heart. Whether, though, one leans cynic or celebratory with these stories there does seem to be a fresh sense Christianity is worth considering. Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:15:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/plus/why-did-jesus-die-for-us.html https://www.christianity.com/plus/why-did-jesus-die-for-us.html Vivian Bricker https://www.christianity.com/author/vivian-bricker/ While many people will never love us or proclaim to love us, the unconditional love of Jesus always remains. Sun, 17 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0400 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/can-we-be-sure-of-our-salvation.html https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/can-we-be-sure-of-our-salvation.html Dr. Kenneth Boa https://www.christianity.com/author/dr-kenneth-boa/ Explaining God’s gift of eternal life along with a few biblical passages may be enough to answer this question. But sometimes people will have specific objections to the idea of assurance, and when this happens, we will need to answer these objections. Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:40:00 -0500 2025-01-27T02:24:38-05:00