Springwater Ministries

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘?
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The core beliefs of Christianity are summarized in 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-4. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, was resurrected, and thereby offers salvation to all who will receive Him in faith. Unique among all other faiths, Christianity is more about a relationship than religious practices. Instead of adhering to a list of “do’s and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Beyond these core beliefs, there are many other items that are, or at least should be, indicative of what Christianity is and what Christians believe.

Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, “God-breathed” Word of God and that its teaching is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (2 TIMOTHY 3:16; 2 PETER 1:20-21). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from God (ROMANS 3:23; 5:12). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (HEBREWS 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (HEBREWS 9:11-14; 10:10; ROMANS 5:8; 6:23).

Christianity teaches that in order to be saved and be granted entrance into heaven after death, one must place one’s faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If we believe that Christ died in our place and paid the price of our own sins, and rose again, then we are saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. We cannot be “good enough” to please God on our own, because we are all sinners (ISAIAH 53:6; 64:6-7). There is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (JOHN 19:30), meaning that the work of redemption was completed.

According to Christianity, salvation is freedom from the old sin nature and freedom to pursue a right relationship with God. Where we were once slaves to sin, we are now slaves to Christ (ROMANS 6:15-22). As long as believers live on this earth in their sinful bodies, they will engage in a constant struggle with sin. However, Christians can have victory in the struggle with sin by studying and applying God’s Word in their lives and being controlled by the Holy Spirit—that is, submitting to the Spirit’s leading in everyday circumstances.

So, while many religious systems require that a person do or not do certain things, Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for our own sins and rose again. Our sin debt is paid and we can have fellowship with God. We can have victory over our sin nature and walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity.

~ WORD ~

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦/𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗠𝗦
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The phrase “heavenly places” or “heavenly realms” is used several times in the book of Ephesians (𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭:𝟯, 𝟮𝟬; 𝟮:𝟲; 𝟯:𝟭𝟬; 𝟲:𝟭𝟮). This phrase is translated from the Greek word epouranios, meaning “the sphere of spiritual activities.” “Heavenly realms” can refer to both angelic and demonic activity. 𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭:𝟮𝟬 says that God “raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” But 𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟲:𝟭𝟮 speaks of evil forces in the same realm: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

As flesh-and-blood humans, we have very little understanding of the spirit world. We cannot see, hear, or touch it. However, the Bible assumes it, and we can glean insight into a world we cannot see by studying what God tells us about it. First of all, God is spirit (𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟰:𝟮𝟰). He exists outside the bounds of time, space, and matter. His home is called heaven (𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝟳:𝟱𝟱; 𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟲𝟯:𝟭𝟱), but this is a distinct place, not to be confused with “the heavens,” referring to the atmosphere (𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟭:𝟭; 𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟭𝟰𝟴:𝟰), or the “heavenly realms,” which encompass all spirit beings. In God’s heaven, He sits on a throne (𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟯:𝟮𝟮; 𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟰:𝟭𝟲), surrounded by adoring angels (𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟳:𝟭𝟭; 𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟵𝟵:𝟭) who exist to serve God and minister to His saints (𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟭:𝟭𝟰; 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟰:𝟭𝟭; 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟭𝟵:𝟭). Angels also have the ability to appear as men when sent to deliver messages from God (𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟭𝟴:𝟮, 𝟭𝟲–𝟭𝟳; 𝟭𝟵:𝟭–𝟮; 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟬:𝟱–𝟲).

However, the dark side of the heavenly realms belongs to Satan and his evil spirits. Satan is not the counterpart to God. God has no challenger. Satan is a created being who has only the power God allows him to have for only as long as God allows it (𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝟭𝟰:𝟭𝟮; 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟮𝟮:𝟯𝟭; 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟮). Yet, for reasons known only to God, Satan and his minions are allowed to wreak havoc upon the earth and the servants of God—if unchecked by spiritual warfare and the holy angels. 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟬 gives us the best glimpse into what happens in this world we cannot see. An angel was dispatched by God to deliver a message to Daniel as he prayed, but the messenger was detained for three weeks by “the prince of Persia,” a demon (𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝟭𝟯). The angel later told Daniel that he had to have help from Michael the archangel in order to prevail and continue on the assignment God had given him.

This glimpse into the heavenly realms helps us understand a few things. First, we learn that there is fierce warfare taking place at all times. Satan and his demons are actively working to thwart the plans of God and destroy whatever they can (see 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟬). If a mighty angel on a mission from God could be detained by demonic forces, then demons must have great power. Second, God does not leave His children defenseless against this evil army. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟭𝟬:𝟰 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟲:𝟭𝟭–𝟭𝟳 tells us exactly what armor we need to stand firm against the temptations and schemes of the devil. In ourselves, we are no match for Satan’s devices. We need spiritual armor to fight spiritual battles. The third truth we can learn from the Daniel passage is that prayer gets God’s attention and that His answer is on the way. There are forces unknown to us that may interfere with God’s desire to aid us, and we must continue to persevere in prayer until the answer comes (see 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟴:𝟭; 𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟲:𝟭𝟴).

The heavenly realms are as real as the earthly realms. We will spend most of our lives living in the heavenly realms (𝟮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱:𝟭; 𝟭 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝟱:𝟭𝟭). In contrast, our earthly existence is only a “vapor that appears for a little while and is gone” (𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝟰:𝟭𝟰). Physical battles may seem intense, but the results are temporary. However, spiritual battles have eternal consequences. When we live our earthly lives in recognition of the unseen battles that rage all around us, we will be more careful about what we say and do (𝗘𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱:𝟭𝟱–𝟭𝟲; 𝟮 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟮:𝟭𝟭). We will be faithful to utilize our weapons of prayer and the armor of God, knowing that the real battles are fought and won in the heavenly realms.

~ WORD ~

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗧 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 (𝟮 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟲)?
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𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟲 says, “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” With these words, Paul summarizes the key difference between the Old and New Testaments: the first covenant was based on obedience to the written law (the “letter”), but the second covenant is based on the blood of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

There are two parts to this answer, as we look at both the letter and the Spirit.

First, what does Paul mean by “the letter kills”? Simply that the Old Testament Law, which is good and perfect (𝗣𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗠 𝟭𝟵:𝟳), reveals all people as law-breakers (𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟭𝟬). The law “kills” in that the penalty for breaking God’s law is eternal death in hell (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟲:𝟮𝟯; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝟮𝟭:𝟴). As God told Moses the lawgiver, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book” (𝗘𝗫𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗦 𝟯𝟮:𝟯𝟯). Even if you sin only once in your whole life, it’s the same as breaking all of God’s laws (𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝟮:𝟭𝟬), just as breaking only one link in a chain breaks the whole chain.

The written law—“the letter”—was chiseled in stone by the finger of God and is the unchanging standard by which all are judged. The law cannot give us righteousness or eternal life in heaven (𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟮:𝟭𝟲). It can only condemn us as sinners, and the sentence is death. Heaven is where perfection is required (𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗪 𝟱:𝟮𝟬, 𝟰𝟴; 𝟭𝟵:𝟭𝟲–𝟮𝟭), and “the law made nothing perfect” (𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝟳:𝟭𝟵).

Second, what does Paul mean by “the Spirit gives life”? Simply that the Holy Spirit rescues us from our hopeless situation. God saves us from death and grants us eternal life when we are born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟯:𝟲), and, later, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are Spirit and they are life” (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟲:𝟲𝟯).

The Holy Spirit was active in the Incarnation of our Savior (𝗟𝗨𝗞𝗘 𝟭:𝟯𝟱). It was through the Holy Spirit that Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice to God for our sins (𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝟵:𝟭𝟰). The Spirit is the cause of the new birth (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟯:𝟯–𝟴). It is the Spirit who lives in believers (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟭𝟰:𝟭𝟳), seals them (𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟭:𝟭𝟯), and sanctifies them (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟭𝟱:𝟭𝟲).

Jesus came to give us an abundant life, or life “to the full” (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟬). The Holy Spirit living in believers is how Jesus fulfills that promise. The abundant Christian life is marked by the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟱:𝟮𝟮–𝟮𝟯). The Old Testament Law could not produce any of that fruit; only the Holy Spirit can, as He lives in us.

The Spirit gives life in that He enables us to reach God’s ultimate goal for us, to be transformed into the glorious image of God’s own Son (𝟮 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟭𝟴; also see 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟴:𝟮𝟴–𝟯𝟬). Until the day that we see Christ, the Spirit intercedes with God on our behalf, ensuring our continued forgiveness and preserving the promise of God (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟴:𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟳).

“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (𝟮 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟲). Elsewhere, Paul teaches the same truth: “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟳:𝟲).

~ WORD ~

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘?
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The core beliefs of Christianity are summarized in 𝟭 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟭𝟱:𝟭-𝟰. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, was resurrected, and thereby offers salvation to all who will receive Him in faith. Unique among all other faiths, Christianity is more about a relationship than religious practices. Instead of adhering to a list of “do’s and don’ts,” the goal of a Christian is to cultivate a close walk with God. That relationship is made possible because of the work of Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Beyond these core beliefs, there are many other items that are, or at least should be, indicative of what Christianity is and what Christians believe.

Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, “God-breathed” Word of God and that its teaching is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice (𝟮 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝟯:𝟭𝟲; 𝟮 𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟭:𝟮𝟬-𝟮𝟭). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from God (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟯:𝟮𝟯; 𝟱:𝟭𝟮). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟮:𝟲-𝟭𝟭), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝟳:𝟮𝟱). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (𝗛𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝟵:𝟭𝟭-𝟭𝟰; 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟬; 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟱:𝟴; 𝟲:𝟮𝟯).

Christianity teaches that in order to be saved and be granted entrance into heaven after death, one must place one’s faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If we believe that Christ died in our place and paid the price of our own sins, and rose again, then we are saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. We cannot be “good enough” to please God on our own, because we are all sinners (𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗔𝗛 𝟱𝟯:𝟲; 𝟲𝟰:𝟲-𝟳). There is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡 𝟭𝟵:𝟯𝟬), meaning that the work of redemption was completed.

According to Christianity, salvation is freedom from the old sin nature and freedom to pursue a right relationship with God. Where we were once slaves to sin, we are now slaves to Christ (𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟲:𝟭𝟱-𝟮𝟮). As long as believers live on this earth in their sinful bodies, they will engage in a constant struggle with sin. However, Christians can have victory in the struggle with sin by studying and applying God’s Word in their lives and being controlled by the Holy Spirit—that is, submitting to the Spirit’s leading in everyday circumstances.

So, while many religious systems require that a person do or not do certain things, Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for our own sins and rose again. Our sin debt is paid and we can have fellowship with God. We can have victory over our sin nature and walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity.

~ WORD ~