The Basic Truths Of Authentic Christian Faith

For God so loved the world, that He gave 

His only begotten Son, that whosoever

 believeth in Him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life. For God sent not 

His Son into the world to condemn the world; 

but that the world through Him might be saved. 

He that believeth on Him is not condemned: 

but he that believeth not condemned already, 

because he hat not believed in the name of 

the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16-18 

     The above verses are very familiar, not only to Christians but for many, if not most, who have come from a Christian based country, know and even could recite those words; at least verse 16. To be able to recite the above verses, especially verse 16 does not make a person an Authentic Christian. Therein lies a problem: faulty thinking, about God, about Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. There is even faulty thinking about the interaction of emotions and faith. A problem lies in a misunderstanding about cultural Christianity. 

     There are many theological theories about the word "world" in the above verses. Some say this refers only to the "elect." Others say that it means the world, all people. This Scripture is clear and should not cause faulty thinking about the word "world." This verse, verse 16 especially gives us an essential fact about Jesus Christ and His mission here on earth. Historically the Church has accepted the fact that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah and that He came to save. We are instructed by these verses several things: that God love the world. Verse 15 clarifies this word "world": "...that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15). Who will not perish? Whomsoever, and this word is a possessive case of used as an attributive adjective and speaks to the one or ones belonging to whomsoever and is related to this pronoun "whosoever", that whoever, or whatever person. These pronouns, if you remember in your studies of grammar, is that a pronoun is a word of replacement or substitute for nouns and noun phrases referring to persons or things mentioned in or understood from the context and having very general reference as I, you, he, she, them, this, what, who. Therefore, "whosoever" refers to a person who "believes" in Jesus, not just believes but believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior and was sent by God to save the world. Jesus came to redeem mankind. To do this will of the Father redemption had to do what man could not do for himself and could only be done be Jesus Christ. What was, and is, the plague that mankind from which he/she could not have healing? Death! Mankind dies! This death entered into mankind by Adam and Eve sinning against a Holy and Just God and ignored the warning of God that they would die if they did what God instructed them not to do. Mankind needed and needs, redemption first from death to maintain hold upon them and then when this redemption is complete then mankind could have redemption from their personal sins, and this, by believing. "Whosoever believes!" If you do not believe then there is not redemption. For this to occur, for this redemption to have an affect God would have to do the one thing that only He could do: send to earth to be a man who would show us the way to live now, and to reveal to us that He is the promised Messiah who redeems, the world in general and for a believer in absolute. By the wisdom of God all things were created: "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" Psalm 104:24). The apostle John gives us as to who this wisdom is that created all things: "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3). God sent to earth His Wisdom, Jesus Christ to become man to redeem man. A fact that we must not overlook is that Jesus was despised by many people, and was rejected by His own people, and experienced sorrow and grief. Think on this: If this is true of Jesus, God in a man, to live as a man, had all the problems that we too face should we think it not to happen to anyone who believes on Jesus Christ and lives the life that He has commanded us to live? It was sin, and our sin(s) that Jesus was and did suffer on the cross taking the sin of the world and all for those who believe, or will believe with Him: death was destroyed by death. A sinless man sinned and brought death, a sinless man died sinless and brings life. For this to have for us life we must repent of our sins, and accept what He has done for us: this is Authentic Christianity. Jesus died on the cross and history has recorded this fact, and that those who were His disciples saw Him after He arose from the grave, alive and saw Him ascend into heaven: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once" (1Corithians 15:3-6a). Jesus died on the cross to pay for sin(s) and this would not have the needed affect upon a person without one thing that only God could provide: His Holy Spirit to indwell all who put Authentic Christian Faith in Jesus Christ. Authentic Christian Believers have what is needed to live Authentically and to live: "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please god. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:8-9). It is having the Spirit of God indwelling in you that you can be Authentic Christians and have a change from the inside/out to live Authentically. One thing though: you must decide to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and this He will do and will recall to you what you have put into your mind and this from the Scriptures. This indwelling, this saving grace by Jesus Christ transforms as to be able to become all that God intended for you and I to be and for us to live, even after death in this life by the coming of Jesus Christ for His bride, that is all Authentic Christians, those who have truly repented and believe on the Jesus Christ. You will live forever in the presence of God as you cannot live now in this world. God will raise you from the dead, give you a new body, immutable, incorruptible. Death will be no more, sin will be no more. 

     These then are the basic truths of Authentic Christian Faith.

Then shall the dust return to the earth 

     as it was: and the spirit shall return 

unto God who gave it.

                   Ecclesiastes 12:7

Give rise to true humility and gratitude

Richard L. Crumb