Beliefs and Practices of Christians

I hope you are well both in body and in spirit. I send you cordial greetings, and thank God for your friendship. Your earnest desire to find the truth, and to be guided in the right way, the way which leads to God and to salvation, gives me great joy. Often in the past you have asked questions about the beliefs and practices of us, your Christians friends, and there has never been enough opportunity to give you all the information you sought. I have, therefore, resolved to write you a long letter telling you in detail what we Christians believe, and what our religious duties and customs are.

...I pray that as you read carefully this explanation of the Christian religion, you will be drawn closer to God; you will know Him better, love Him more and obey Him more perfectly. I will now attempt to reply to your questions one by one.

1. Who is God?

I am sure, my dear friend, that your first question is, "What do Christians believe about God?" The most important thing in any religion is its idea of God. I know you have been informed by some ignorant people that Christians worship three gods. Some have even supposed that we worship the cross, and even images of men. Let me assure you that these statements are false. True Christians have always believed in One True God, and if any have ever worshipped other gods they have been in great error. Listen to what Jesus Christ said to one who asked him which is the greatest of God's commandments. Jesus replied: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:29, 30). All God's prophets in ancient times proclaimed the Unity of God, and cried out against idols and all who worshipped them.

Christians also believe that God had no beginning, and will have no end, for He is eternal. We believe that God possesses all knowledge and power, and that He created all things, seen and unseen, by His Word. If one looks upward at the sun and moon and the millions of stars, and begins to understand even a little of the greatness and wonder of all creation, he will exclaim as did the prophet David: "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork" (Ps. 19: 1). How great is the wisdom and might of the God who not only created but also sustains both the largest suns in distant space, and the smallest flowers and insects on the earth! God is Almighty, and is able to do whatever He wills to do. He has a purpose for the world, and nothing can prevent Him from accomplishing it.

We believe that God is not only very great, He is also very just and holy. In ancient times the Greeks and Romans, who believed in many gods, thought their gods were like men, who lied, stole, murdered, committed adultery, and did other evil deeds. But in the Holy Books of the Christians much is written about God's perfect holiness; that is, His complete separation from all impurity.

One of God's servants in a vision saw some heavenly beings in the presence of God praise Him and saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty' (Rev. 4:8). Therefore, though God has all power, He cannot do anything contrary to His holy nature. For example, God cannot lie, nor can He act unjustly.

God, of course, does not have a body as men do, and He is not limited to one place or time, but is always and everywhere present. However, we sometimes speak of God's hands, or eyes, or heart using these physical terms with a spiritual meaning. For while God is the Most High and is greatly exalted above us, we believe He is also very near us. So we say He sees us with His eyes, and upholds us with His hands, and loves us with His heart.

While all of the attributes of God are of the greatest importance to us, we Christians are especially thankful that the God whom we worship is a loving God. So important is this quality of love that in the Holy Bible it is stated that "God is love" (1 John 4:8), that is, that all that God thinks and does is done in love. God shows His love to men in providing them with rain and sunshine, food and drink and clothing, and all that is needed for their lives on earth. He also shows it by sending prophets to tell us about God. The greatest act of His love was the sending of the Saviour, as I will explain later. God loves everyone whom He has created, and seeks the good of all. The prophet David expresses God's care for him in these beautiful words: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Ps. 23:1-3).

It is natural that God would love those who love and obey Him. But does He love people who disobey Him? Of course, since God is holy, He loves all that is good and hates all kinds of evil....

But ... evildoers, He loves them as a kind father loves a son who has disobeyed his command. This amazing love of God for sinful men is clearly shown in a parable which Jesus Christ spoke, in which He told of a son who, while his father was still alive, asked for and received his inheritance. Then he left his father's house, and wasted all his money in evil living. But when he had nothing left and was about to die of starvation, he decided to go back to his father and confess his sin. As soon as his father saw him at a distance he ran to meet him, hugged and kissed him, and made a feast in honor of his return. The father, because he loved him, forgave and welcomed the son who had been so wicked. Jesus Christ said that is the way God loves the people who sin against Him (Luke 15:11-24). My dear friend , it is good news for us sinners to know that God loves us and wants to forgive us, and is ready to receive us when we return to Him!

In the Holy Bible we find many names for God, such as, the Almighty, the Lord, Jehovah, the Everlasting, the Living, the Most High, the Holy One, the Righteous One, the King, the Judge, the Creator, the Saviour, and the Shepherd of His people. However, the name which we Christians love best is Heavenly Father. When Jesus spoke of God He usually called Him "my Father," and he told his disciples when they prayed to say to God, "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matt. 6:9). Could anyone enjoy a greater privilege than this of being a spiritual child of God, and of knowing that the Most High God is his loving Father? This high privilege is given by God to all who believe in Jesus Christ. ...

2. Who is man?

Now my friend, having explained briefly, and in part, what Christians believe about God., I will try to tell you what they think about the nature man. For having a correct idea of man is almost as important as having a true knowledge of God. Our understanding of who man is comes chiefly from the Holy Bible.

In the very beginning of the Bible (Gen. 1 and 2) it is written, that when God had finished created the heavens and the earth and all plants and animals, He then "created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This of course does not mean that God has a body, and made a body for man like His own. Rather, it means that man was created in spiritual likeness to God. God gave man a mind with which to reason, a heart with which to love, a conscience with which to distinguish good from evil, a will to do what is right, a tongue that could speak, and a spirit through which he was able to fellowship with God. Thus, being created in the image of God, man was able to know God and to communicate with God. He was therefore, the highest of creation.

... He was not a machine, for God gave him a will with ability to choose. God made man a free agent, so that he of his own free will might choose to obey and love and serve his creator. It was God's desire that the people He placed on this earth should be His true children, loving Him as their Father, loving one anther as brothers, and happily doing God's work on earth. Today there are on the earth many races of men, with differences in features and colors of skin and languages, but all are of one blood, all belong to one family, and all are loved by God who created them all.

But, sad to say, God's desire for man was not realized. Instead of using his freedom of will to obey and serve God, man used it to rebel against God. God had commanded Adam and Eve, our first parents, not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree was in the midst of the Garden of Eden where God had placed them. He told them that if they disobeyed and ate that fruit they would surely die. Satan entered the Garden in the form of a serpent and persuaded Eve to eat the fruit. Then she gave it to Adam, and he also ate it. This act of our fist parents was not just an error, a thoughtless mistake, but was a conscious act of rebellion against God their King. In other words, they wanted to be God. They did not want to be subject to the will of God, instead, did just as they themselves wanted. What was the result? God spoke to them, rebuked them severely, and put them out of the Garden to live in a world of suffering.

Much worse than that, however, Adam and Eve lost contact with God, and as result were completely changed. Previously they had been holy and pure, but now they become impure. Before they disobey God they had been able to do all that God wanted them to do, but now, though they knew what was right, they lacked the power to do it. They began to hate that which was good, and to love that which was evil. This rebellion against God is, in the Holy Bible, called sin, and its result is death.

This story of man's first sin is of great importance for us, for from it we are able to understand the condition of mankind today. The people of the world are not pure and holy as were Adam and Eve when God created them. To realize this we do not need to look at others, let us look at our own hearts. Do we not often do what he know is wrong? We say it is wrong to lie, but sometimes we speak untrue words. We know that love is better than hatred, but how often we hate others! Why we act thus? Because we have inherited the sinful nature of our first parents, and like them are both unwilling and unable to obey God perfectly.

When a baby born into a world it seems to be pure and sinless, but very soon evil begins to appear in him. ...So we are compelled to admit that all men are sinners, and to agree with God's Word which states: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). For Jesus Christ said: "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All this evil things come from within, and they defile a man" (Mark 7:21-23). And God who knows the heart of all men has said: "None is righteous, no not one" (Rom. 3:10). However there is one exception, one person who is greater than man, about whom I will write later.

How terrible then, is man's condition! Having by his disobedience destroyed his relationship with God, he is like a lost sheep about to perish in the desert. Having ceased to be a true child of God, he has become an enemy of God and a slave of sin and Satan. Being unable to walk in God's holy path he is indeed dead in sin. As God told Adam, the result of sin is death, both physical and spiritual.

3. What is sin?

At this point, my friend, I must try to make it quite clear what sin is. Sin is not merely doing wrong things like stealing, or committing adultery, or getting drunk, or committing murder. Sin is basically separation from God, and is anything against the holy will of God. Not only is an evil deed sin; pride and envy and hatred and lustful thoughts also are sin. [For example, Jesus said that if anyone looks lustfully at a woman, not his wife, he is guilty of adultery. Thus, while the old commandment condemned the evil act, Jesus condemned the evil in the heart.] Jesus Christ said that the two greatest commandments of God are to love God with all one's heart, and to love one's neighbour as one's self. Since these are God's chief commands, then failure on our part to love God perfectly and to love others as we love ourselves are the greatest sins. Is there anyone who has kept these commandments perfectly? No, all have broken them except the sinless person, Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life, and that is what God requires of us. His commandments is: "You therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48).

But how can we sinners, whose hearts are full of evil, become perfectly pure and good as God commands us to be? A man who has a cancer does not need good advice about keeping the laws of health. What he needs is a skilled doctor who is able to cure him. Just so, a man sick with the disease of sin needs more than good laws and good moral sayings telling him what to do and what not to do; rather, he needs a spiritual doctor who is able to create in him a new mind and heart and will, and to give him the power to do what God requires of him. It is evident that all men everywhere need someone who is able to save them from sin and make them into children of God. I will explain later how God in His great mercy provided such a Saviour for the world. ...

5. What holy books do Christians accept?

Now, my friend, I will reply to your question regarding our Holy Books. ...

Christians do not think that later books abrogate (tansikh) or replace earlier ones. For example we do not think that the Injil has take the place of the Torah. Jesus said: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matt. 5:17). As in school the books used in the tenth class do not contradict or abrogate those of the lower classes but rather complete them, so the later books given by God do not cancel out the earlier ones, but give men a more perfect understanding of God's truth. We Christians, therefore, read all the books of the Bible, [tawrat, zabur, injil, O.T, Psalms, N.T] to learn all the lessons God would teach us. If a book should be written by anyone which does not agree with what God has said in the Bible, we know that this book is not from God. For God never contradicts Himself.

If you have ever heard it said that Christians have changed (tahrif) their Holy Books, and that the books we now have are not trustworthy, I assure you that this charge is utterly false. Christians love their Holy Books, and would never permit evil persons to destroy or make changes in them. Moreover, Greek manuscripts are in existence today which were written by hand more than 1,600 years ago and it is from them that our present translations are made. ...

Did you know that more copies of the Bible are distributed each year than of any other book in the world? Surely this would not be the case if it were believed that this is a false book!

Moreover, it is impossible that God who gave His Word for the guidance of men would have allowed it to be changed, so that it would mislead men. No, God Himself is the guardian of His Holy Word, and He has kept it for thousands of years from anything that would destroy it. Hence, it is perfectly trustworthy. ...

6. How was Jesus Christ born, and what did he do?

We now come, my friend, to the most important part of our explanation of the Christian faith, namely, the consideration of who Jesus Christ is, and His relationship to God and to mankind. But first I will narrate to you briefly the history of His life on earth, which is found in the fourfold Gospels.

One day the angel Gabriel announced to a virgin named Mary that she would have a son whom she should name Jesus. He would be called the Son of the Most High, and would be the Everlasting King (Luke 1:26-38). This was a fulfillment of the words of the prophet Isaiah spoken more than 700 years before the event. ... Later the birth of Jesus occurred in Bethlehem, a small town near Jerusalem, where David had been born a thousand years earlier. ...At the time of His birth an angel announced the event to shepherds near Bethlehem, saying: "...I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Mary became the wife of Joseph, a carpenter, who acted as a father to Jesus. [In His youth Jesus also worked as a carpenter in the town of Nazareth where He grew up. He grew in body and spirit as other boys do. He ate food and slept. He worked as a carpenter, He grew weary, and was acquainted with all the joys and pains and sorrows that people experience in their life on this earth. He is, therefore, able to sympathize with us in all our human experiences.]

When Jesus was about thirty years of age the time came for Him to begin the work for which He had come to earth....

Jesus then began choosing His disciples from whom He later selected the twelve apostles. They were not great or learned men, for Peter and John and others were fishermen, and Matthew was a tax-collector. But they realized that Jesus was the Messiah, and they left their various occupations and, without any promise of money or material gain, followed their Master for three years or so as He went about the country on foot. During this time Jesus trained them for the work they must do, as His apostles, after His going to heaven.

Jesus then began to preach to the people as John had done, saying: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). He spoke God's Word to the people in their places of worship or in their homes, and when they gathered about Him on the hillsides or by the Lake of Galilee. All who heard Him were amazed at the wisdom and authority with which He taught, for He spoke not as a prophet would speak, but like God. The prophets all said, "Hear what God says to you." But when Jesus spoke to the people He said, "I say to you."

Soon Jesus began to heal by a word or with a touch of His hand the sick people who came to Him. A leper fell at His feet and said, "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will, be clean." At once he was fully healed (Mark 1:40-42). Many people possessed with unclean spirits came to Him, and He cast out the demons with a word. He touched the eyes of the blind and they received their sight. He even raised several dead people to life. Naturally, great crowds of people followed Him, and sometimes Jesus was so busy teaching and healing them that He had no time to eat food. He forgot His own needs as He showed His love for others. Never once did He perform a miracle for His own benefit, or show His power to make people marvel (or, wonder). All His mighty works were done to comfort and save sick and suffering people, and in this way reveal God's love to them. Once when He saw the poor and needy people about Him, Jesus spoke to them this gracious and comforting invitation: "Come to me, all who labor and are heaven-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). ...

[However, while Jesus was truly man, He was in some respects quite different from other men. As already explained, all men, even the prophets and holy men of old, have sometimes disobeyed God and are therefore sinners. But in all His life, Jesus never did, or said, or thought, anything contrary to God's holy will. He is the only sinless man (I Pet 2:22; I John 3:5). Not only did He commit no sin, His will was perfectly one with the will of God. He is indeed the one Perfect Man who has ever lived on the earth.]

Once a paralytic (crippled man) was carried by four men to Jesus and laid before Him. Jesus, knowing that the man needed both physical and spiritual healing, said to him, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Some of the religious teachers who were present thought in their hearts, "Why does the fellow talk like that? This is blasphemy! Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts, and told them that by healing the man He would prove to them that He had not blasphemed, and that He had authority to forgive sins. Then He said to the crippled man, "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet (bed) and go home." And the man at once did so (Mark 2:1-13).

From that time many of the religious leaders of the Jews began to oppose Jesus, for they were jealous of His great popularity with the people. They criticized Him for associating with sinful people, whom Jesus wanted to save, and for healing the sick on the Sabbath (Saturday), which was their holy day. Soon their hatred became so great that they determined to destroy Him (Mark 2:15-3:6). Jesus knew this. He might have used His divine power by which He raised the dead to life to destroy His wicked enemies but He never did. He taught His disciples to love their enemies and to pray for them, and He set them an example by the way He treated those who opposed Him. ...

Then He announced to His apostles that He must go to Jerusalem, and there be condemned to death by the religious rulers, and be crucified, and on the third day be raised again to life. The apostles who loved their Master were horrified, and Peter said to Jesus: "Heaven forbid! No, Lord, this shall never happen to you." But Jesus rebuked Peter, and told him that this thought of his, that Christ must not die, was from Satan. For Jesus knew that it was God's will that He should die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of men, and anyone who tried to keep Him from going to the cross was a tool of Satan. ...

It was springtime in Palestine, and many Jews from near and far began the journey to Jerusalem to be present at their greatest yearly religious festival, the Passover. ... On a Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on an ass, as had been promised by the prophet Zechariah hundreds of years before. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9). He went to God's temple, and cast out those who were making it unclean by buying and selling in that Holy House, and who were also stealing from the people who had come to worship. He severely condemned the religious rulers for their unbelief and their hypocrisy and wickedness. He also foretold the complete destruction of the Temple by their enemies as God's punishment for their sins. He warned the people not to be deceived by the false prophets who would come and try to lead them astray. He said He was going to return from heaven with great power and glory, and would judge all the nations, welcoming some people to God's kingdom, and condemning others to eternal punishment.

On Thursday evening of this week, which Christians often call Holy Week, Jesus observed the custom of eating the special Passover meal with the twelve apostles. At this time He took a loaf of bread and gave thanks to God and divided it among the apostles, saying: 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And after supper He took a cup of wine, which was always drunk by the Jews as part of the Passover meal, and said; 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me; (I Cor. 11:23-25). In this way Jesus made known to His apostles that by His death the new covenant was to be instituted. Before they left the room Jesus gave them most important teaching about their duty to love one another. He told them again of the persecution they would have to endure for His sake. And He promised them that He would sent the Holy Spirit to guide and help them after He went to heaven.

Then at midnight He led His apostles to a garden outside the city where He prepared Himself in prayer for His death. His prayer to His Father was: 'Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.' While He was still praying a band of armed men came to the garden led by Judas, one of the twelve apostles who had become a traitor. Judas approached Jesus and kissed Him, so that the men with him would not make a mistake in the darkness and arrest the wrong man. How easily Jesus might have destroyed Judas and his company with a word! Instead, He surrendered Himself to them. When Peter drew a sword to defend His Master, Jesus forbade him, and touched and healed one of the enemies whom Peter had wounded (Luke 22:39-51). Then they took Jesus to a place where a number of religious rulers were assembled and tried to find some excuse for killing Him, but they failed. Finally, the chief ruler put Jesus on oath, and asked Him: '"Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am"' (Mark 14:61,62). Their judgement was unanimous; that He was guilty and should be put to death.

Since the Jewish rulers were not permitted to put anyone to death without the approval of the Roman government, they took Jesus early on Friday morning to the palace of Pilate the governor. They told Pilate that Jesus was an enemy of Rome, and that He wanted to make Himself a king. When Pilate questioned Jesus he realized at once that this accusations was false, and wanted to release Him. But the Jewish rulers stirred up a mob to demand His death. Pilate, fearing there would be a riot, yielded to their will and gave the order for Jesus to be put to death on a cross. Jesus was at once taken outside the city of Jerusalem by Roman soldiers and nailed to a cross. As this was being done Jesus prayed for those who were killing Him, saying: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' What amazing love this was, to pray that God would forgive the men who were driving the nails into His hands and feet!

Jesus might have asked His Father to save Him from the agony of the cross and take Him to heaven, but He did not do so. He knew that it was God's will that He should suffer and die as a sacrifice for sinners, so He obeyed His father and suffered on the cross for about six hours. Then at three o'clock in the afternoon He said: 'Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit!' (Luke 23:46). Having said this He died. A soldier stuck a spear into His side and the officer in charge reported to Pilate that Jesus was dead.

Two influential Jews who believed in Jesus then went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body, and it was given to them. They took it from the cross, covered it with 100 pounds of spices and perfumes, then wrapped a linen cloth about it and placed it in a tomb carved out of solid rock, like a cave in the hillside. Then a large stone like a millstone was placed before the entrance, and Pilate ordered that it be sealed and soldiers placed so that no one could enter the tomb.

Jesus had previously told His apostles on several occasions that He would be crucified, and on the third day would rise from the dead. They thought He was speaking a parable, and when He died and was buried they had no hope of seeing Him again on earth. However, on Sunday morning when some of His disciples went to the tomb they found it open. When they entered they saw the cloth which had been wrapped about the body, but it way empty - the body was gone! Soon Jesus appeared alive to some of them and spoke to them, and they knew Him. That night, though the doors were shut, He entered the room in which the disciples had gathered, and spoke to them, and convinced them that He was alive.

During the next forty days He appeared to His disciples a number of times in various places, and explained to them why it had been necessary for Him to suffer and die. He also commanded them to go to all peoples everywhere in the world to tell them the good news, that through believing in Him as their Savior and Lord their sins would be forgiven by God.

The disciples did not weep when their beloved Master disappeared from their sight, for they knew He would always be with them in spirit, and would one day come again, as He had promised. Before His ascension to heaven, Christ repeatedly assured His followers that He would come back to them, awaiting His return. His first coming to earth was for men's salvation, but His second coming will be for judgement, and for the complete establishment of God's kingdom.

7. Who is Jesus Christ?

The people who witnessed the deeds of Christ were amazed at His power. Once He met a man blind form his birth and gave him sight. On another occasion, when a great storm was about to sink the little boat in which He and His apostles were crossing the Lake of Galilee, He commanded the wind and the waves, and the sea became calm. He called from the tomb a man named Lazarus who had been dead four days, and the dead man arose and walked out alive. And, most amazing of all, Jesus, having predicted that He would come to life and meet His disciples on the third day after His death, did just that. What man other than Jesus has ever done such deeds as these? What man has risen from the dead and never died again? No one! Hence it is evident, that while Jesus was truly man, He was much greater than the greatest of men. Who then is He?

As I previously stated, Jesus Himself claimed to be the Son of God. Not only at His trial before the Jewish council but many times before that trial, Jesus made this high claim for Himself. Moreover, He usually referred to God as 'my Father'. Once, when He said: 'I and my Father are one,' His enemies wanted to throw stones at Him, for they thought He had spoken blasphemy. But we know that Jesus was not a liar or a blasphemer, for all that He said was true. We should remember that if anyone should say that Jesus is not God's Son he makes Jesus a liar, and if He is a liar no one should believe on Him. But Jesus, in claiming to be the Son of God, was only repeating what God had said to Him in a voice from heaven at His baptism, which was: 'Thou art my beloved son; with You I am well pleased' (Mark 1:11). In all the books written by the apostles of Jesus it is stated many times that Jesus is the Son of God, and all the Christians of the world have always believed this to be true. You, of course, understand that this term is used not in a physical but in a spiritual sense. It is evident that God did not take a wife and have a son, for such a thing is utterly impossible and unthinkable. The title 'Son of God' expresses His closeness to and His oneness with God who is His true Father.

Now I know you wish to ask, "How is it possible for Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and one with God since God is One?" This is indeed a mystery too great for our little minds to comprehend. Who can fully know the essence (zat), that is, the nature or character of God, except God Himself? But we must remember that God is almighty, and nothing, that is not contrary to His holy will, is impossible for Him. Moreover, we see in the world of nature, which God created, something which illustrates, though imperfectly, this great reality. Look at the sun in the heavens - it is so great and so hot that if it should come nearer to the earth we would all perish. And so the sun sheds forth the sunlight, which is really one with itself, and, through it, lights and warms our earth. In a similar way our great God send His Light, which is one with Himself, into our world to give us life. God calls that Light His Word and His Son. That Light became Jesus Christ, who said of Himself: 'I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life' (John 8:12). When we see the sunlight we see the sun, and likewise when we look at Jesus Christ we see God. Jesus once said: "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (that is, God) (John 14:9). Therefore, we Christians are sure that God Himself has come to us in His Son Jesus Christ.

My friend, does it seem strange to you that the Almighty God should come in this way to our earth to save sinful men? But remember, God, who is so great, always acts in love, and in coming in Christ to our world He has perfectly revealed His divine love to us. No doubt you have heard the story of the good king who loved the people of his kingdom so much that he sometimes would put off his royal robes, dress as a poor man and go to the homes of the people to talk with them and help them. This is an inadequate illustration of how the Son of God, who was one with the Father, left His heavenly glory, came to earth and lived in poverty as a man to reveal to them God's love and bring them to Him. What amazing love was this!

8. What Was Christ's Work on Earth?

As we have just seen, Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal God to men and to bring men close to God and to establish God's kingdom on earth. I explained in Section 2 how man became a rebel against God, and not only was separated by a wall of sin from God, who is holy, but was utterly unable by himself to obey and live close to God. So God undertook to remove the wall of sin, and to change the evil hearts of men so that they would be both willing and able to love and obey Him. How did God do this? I will now try to explain one of the most important doctrines of the Christian religion.

As I related before, the Holy God told Adam and Eve that if they disobeyed they would die. Our first parents disobeyed God's command about eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge, and God sentenced them to death. But even as He punished them He gave them a promise to prevent them and their descendants from losing all hope. Satan had come in the form of a serpent to deceive them, so God announced to them that one of their descendants, whom He called 'the seed of the woman', would at some future time strike at the serpent's head, and the serpent would strike at his heel. By this God meant that a Savior born of a woman would come who would defeat Satan, but in doing so would Himself be wounded by Satan. This was the first promise of the coming of Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, who, by dying on the cross for sinners, and rising again, defeated Satan.

Long after this promise God gave a clearer and fuller promise through His prophet Isaiah. In his book, which was written many hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah predicted the coming of One who would suffer and die in the place of sinners, that they might be forgiven and live. Isaiah, writing as though the even was past, said; "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us al.l Yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isa. 53). In brief, the Savior whom God promised, will die as a sacrifice for the sins of men.

This was just what Jesus Christ did. John the Baptist said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And Jesus, just before His death, said that His blood would be shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. Then He voluntarily gave Himself up to be sacrificed. He revealed God's love to men, as well as His own divine love, y giving His life to save sinners. 'While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.' And Jesus said: 'God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.'

Since God is just He will not forgive sinners unless the penalty for their sin is paid. No man is good enough and great enough, even though he were a great prophet, to be the sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, or even for his own sins. So God in His great mercy and love came in Christ to take our sins on Himself. In the death of His Son, who is one with Him, God has paid the penalty for the sins of all who believe on Him. God's Son is so great that His one sacrifice is sufficient to atone for the sins of the world. Hence, no other sacrifice is needed for sin. Thus Jesus Christ, by His voluntary death on the cross, removed the barrier between man and God and made it possible for sinners, who have been forgiven, to come close to the Holy God. Jesus not only told men more about God than anyone lese has ever done, He also, by His holy life and His love in dying for us sinners, revealed to us the very mind and heart of God. A holy man in Iran once said to me, 'Before I became a Christian I thought I knew God, but I did not. I came to know God truly when I saw Him in Jesus Christ.' Any seeker for God will find Him in Christ.

9. What Must One Do to Be Forgiven by God and Saved From Sin?

We now come, my friend, to a question that is very important to you and to me and to everybody in the world. Since we know that we are sinners, we must ask God to show us what He would have us do in order that He might pardon and accept us. As you know, many different opinions exist in regard to this matter. Some people think that because they are members of a certain race, or followers of some religion, they will certainly be accepted by God. Others believe that by doing good works they will be able to cancel out their evil deeds, and in this way earn their own salvation. Still others hope that some prophet or holy man will pray for them, and persuade God to pardon them. However, the Bible teaches that in none of these ways is it possible to secure eternal salvation. No one is good enough to be accepted by the Holy God.

Is there then no hope for us sinners? Yes, praise God, there is hope! What we could not do ourselves, and what no prophet could do for us, God in His great love has done. The Bible says: 'He is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world .the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We see, therefore, that the way which God has opened for us sinners to come to Him and be received by Him is faith in Jesus Christ, the God given sacrifice for sin, and there is no other way. For Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). God sent His Son to save all the peoples of the world, and Jesus invites everyone to come to Him. He said that He would never reject anyone who came. This means that any person in the world who hates his sin and sincerely repents and believes on Christ, the Son of God, as his Savior, will surely be forgiven. Anyone, old or young, poor or rich, leaned or unlearned, bad or good, may come. However, it should be understood that faith in Christ is not merely intellectual opinion that Jesus is the Son of God. Faith in Jesus Christ is committing one's self to Him, as a sick person puts himself into the hands of a skilful doctor whom he trusts to cure him. ...

[We rejoice that Christ is not dead and buried, as are Moses and the prophets of old. No, He is alive and near us in spirit. As He healed the sick people who came to Him, in faith, when He lived as a man in Palestine, so He is able, in the same way, to save us today.

Like the sunshine, Jesus is both on earth with us and also in heaven with His Father. He is ever in the presence of God and, there, continually prays for those who have believed on Him. The Bible says, "Consequently, He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). His death on the cross for us, and His continual praying for us, are effective not merely in saving believers from hell, but in bringing them close to God, and making them pure and holy while they are still living in this evil world. My earnest prayer, my friend, is that you and all who are seeking God may be willing to receive His gift of salvation through Christ. No one can buy salvation, but God gives it as a free gift if we will stretch out the hand of faith and accept it.

Conclusion

Now, my friend, I must bring my long letter to a close. I hope I have been able to give satisfactory answers to some of your questions. No doubt you still have other questions which I have not answered. For example, you may be wondering whether the discoveries of science make the faith I have described impossible. Not at all! God is the author of all truth, whether it be in the Bible or in nature, and there is no conflict between true science and true religious faith. Some of the greatest of modern scientists have been devout Christians. The more the scientists discover of the marvels of this vast universe, the better we are able to understand the greatness of the wisdom and the power of God who created and upholds all these things.

Or, you may be troubled, as many people are, by the terrible problems of war and poverty and injustice in the world, and you ask why God permits all this evil to exist. The answer which the Bible gives is that these evils are caused by sinful man and not by the Just and Holy God. God is even now judging and punishing the nations for their sins. And finally, as we have seen above, God will judge every man according to his deeds. God is in control of the universe, and though we cannot understand fully why He permits all the evil that has come into His world, we know that at last He will cast Satan into hell, and will establish His holy and eternal kingdom.

My earnest request of you, my dear friend, is that you will study the Bible carefully and pray that God will guide you in understanding its teaching, and will believe in the Savior Jesus Christ and become a child of God. And then I hope you will serve God and men as long as you live on earth, and will then go to be forever with Christ in God's House above. Amen.]