A church is an association
of people with a common set of religious beliefs, respectively
their place of worship. It derives from an old greek word
and is generally used to refer to Christian meanings, though
the term is sometimes popularly applied to other religions
and / or buildings.
Christianity is a religion centered on the life and teachings
of Jesus Christ. The focus of a Christian's life is a firm
belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the "Messiah"
or "Christ".
Christians believe that, as the Messiah, Jesus was anointed
by God as ruler and savior of humanity, and hold that Jesus'
coming was the fulfillment of messianic prophecies of the
Old Testament. The Christian concept of the Messiah differs
significantly from the contemporary Jewish concept. The
core Christian belief is that, through the death and resurrection
of Jesus, sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby
are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life.
Christians believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, shed
on the cross, provides the sole basis for the forgiveness
of sin. Therefore, salvation occurs only when a person places
his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Christ
as the sufficient payment for his or her sin.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior,
then you are ready to be baptized. Just like a bride and
groom show others their love for one another by wearing
wedding bands, your baptism is your opportunity to show
others that you have accepted Christ and are now walking
with Him.
Christian views of Jesus consist of the teachings and beliefs
held by Christian groups about Jesus, including his divinity,
humanity, and earthly life. As indicated by the name "Christianity,"
the focus of a Christian's life is a firm belief in Jesus
as the Son of God and the Messiah or Christ.
The history of Christianity concerns the history of the
Christian religion and the Church, from Jesus and his seventy
Disciples and twelve Apostles to contemporary times. Christianity
is the monotheistic religion which considers itself based
on the revelation of Jesus Christ. In many Christian denominations
"The Church" is understood theologically as the
institution founded by Jesus for the salvation of humankind.
This understanding is sometimes called High Church. In contrast,
Low Church denominations generally emphasize the personal
relationship between a believer and Jesus Christ.