What do Christians believe?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament establishes the foundation of Christian belief by revealing that there is one true God who created and rules over all things. Genesis begins by declaring, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). God is revealed as the eternal Creator (Psalm 90:2), perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4), merciful, and faithful (Exodus 34:6–7). Israel was commanded to worship Him alone: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
• The Old Testament also teaches that humanity was created in God’s image and designed for relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26–27). However, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God (Genesis 3:1–19), bringing separation from God and death (Genesis 3:22–24). Throughout Scripture, humanity’s sinfulness is repeatedly affirmed: “There is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3).
• Yet the Old Testament reveals that God did not abandon humanity. He chose Israel and established covenants to fulfill His plan of salvation. He gave them the sacrificial system so people could approach Him (Exodus 19:5–6; Leviticus 17:11). These sacrifices pointed forward to the need for a greater solution to sin because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (cf. Hebrews 10:4).
• The Old Testament pointed forward to God’s promised Messiah, who would rescue His people. God promised that a descendant of Abraham would bless all nations (Genesis 12:3), that a king from David’s line would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12–16), and that a suffering servant would bear the sins of many (Isaiah 53:4–6). The prophets looked forward to a new covenant in which God would forgive sin and transform hearts (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:26–27).
• The Old Testament teaches that God’s words are breathed out by Him and faithfully preserved for His people (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Psalm 19:7–11; Isaiah 40:8) to know Him and follow Him.

from the new testament

• The promises from the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God who entered the world as a man (John 1:1, 14). Fully God and fully man, Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the substitute for sinners and rose bodily from the dead. His death accomplished forgiveness and reconciliation with God: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).
• Through His resurrection, Jesus defeated sin and death, proving that He is Lord and guaranteeing the future resurrection of believers (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22).
  
• Because of Christ’s work, salvation is received by grace through faith, not by human effort or good works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus are forgiven, justified before God, adopted into His family, and given eternal life (Romans 5:1; John 3:16; John 1:12).
• Christians also believe in the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and gives them new life (John 14:16–17; Titus 3:5). The Spirit helps believers grow in holiness, produces spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22–23), and empowers them to live as followers of Jesus (Acts 1:8).
  
• The New Testament teaches that the church is the people of God, called to worship Christ, make disciples, love one another, and proclaim the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:42–47).
• Christians believe that Jesus will return, judge the world, defeat evil, and establish His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:1–4).
• The New Testament affirms that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” and equips believers for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Jesus and the apostles treated Scripture as the authoritative Word of God (Matthew 4:4; John 10:35; 2 Peter 1:20–21), and Christians believe the Bible reveals God’s character, His plan of redemption, and the truth necessary for salvation through Christ.

implications for today

At its core, Christianity is not simply a list of moral teachings or religious practices. It is not even merely agreeing with a set of truths; it is surrendering to the lordship of Christ and growing in relationship with God. And when we trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins, we can live for Him because He has given us all we need—His Word and the indwelling of His Spirit—to do so.  Christianity is a message of redemption that calls people to turn from sin, trust in Christ, and be transformed by the Holy Spirit into the people God created them to be.

Christians believe the following core doctrines:

There is one true God who created and sustains all things. God is holy, loving, just, and worthy of all worship (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 6:3).
Humanity was created in God’s image but is separated from Him because of sin. Every person needs forgiveness and reconciliation with God (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23).
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully God and fully man, and the promised Savior (John 1:1, 49; Luke 22:70; Mark 3:11; Philippians 2:5–11).  
Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross as the payment for sin, and rose bodily from the dead (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God made salvation possible.
Those who repent and place their faith in Christ are saved by grace alone (Isaiah 53:5; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 3:16). 
One day Jesus will return, defeat evil, and restore all things (Revelation 21:1—5). 
The Bible is the inspired Word of God by which all this is known. Through God's Word, He reveals His character, His plan of redemption, and the truth necessary for salvation (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21). These beliefs sum up the simple truth that Jesus saves. That's what Christianity boils down to. And though these are the core truths that Christians hold onto, Christianity is not just about knowing the right answers—it is about knowing the right Person. And when you know Christ, everything changes.