What are the basics of the Christian faith? What does it mean to be a Christian? How do we know we can trust the Bible? Why did Jesus have to die? How is a person saved? Do you know how to answer those questions? And could you explain the basics of the Christian faith to someone else?

And from our reading in Proverbs:

Is there an angry person in your life? How do you respond to them? Do you make excuses? Do you give in to their selfish demands? How should you respond to people whose lives are characterized by anger? Find out in today’s post.

Today’s Readings:

1 Chronicles 11 & 12
Psalm 77.16-20
Proverbs 19.17-19
Acts 7.1-21

Could You Explain the Basics of the Christian Faith?

Acts 7.1-21:

Willing to Tell Others

In yesterday’s reading, we met Stephen, one of seven men chosen to oversee the administration of funds to widows because he was “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6.3). But he was not just an administrator. He was an evangelist and was busy spreading the gospel (Acts 6.7). He was so successful that the unbelieving Jewish leaders had him falsely accused of blasphemy and arrested.

Jesus had warned His followers:

16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matt. 10.16-20).

Stephen and the other disciples knew the risk. But they trusted God to give them the courage, the boldness, and the wisdom to speak.

Still Costly

We are living in a society today where more and more restrictions are being placed on believers in our schools, in the workplace, and in the civic arena. It seems many in our culture want to give freedom of expression to everyone except believers in Jesus Christ. While we need to be respectful of our civil laws, teach our children to respect authority in their schools and elsewhere and be the best possible employees, we must sometimes risk censure to speak the truth to a lost world. When we do, we must do it out of a desire to please God and a love for the lost and not self-righteousness or an argumentative attitude (2 Tim.2.23-26).

Though we may not be killed for doing so, there will be times when it will be costly. We should pray that God will help us be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” as Jesus said in Matthew 10. For instance, we can take a co-worker to lunch instead of sharing the gospel at work. We, also, need to be informed of our freedoms under the law and take advantage of them. Many people keep quiet because they are uninformed about the freedoms they do have. But in the end, we must be willing to share the gospel with others and help new believers grow in their Christian faith. It’s not optional.

Part of the Great Commission

Matthew 28.19-20 says:

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Notice this passage, what we call “the Great Commission,” says we are to make disciples and baptize. So, it includes evangelism. But discipleship is not complete when someone receives the gospel and surrenders his or her life to Christ. That new believer is a spiritual baby who needs care.

Right-thinking people would never leave a newborn baby on his own. We would never say, “There are the bottles and some diapers. Start feeding yourself and grow up.” Yet, that’s often what we do spiritually speaking.

But in order to help feed and nurture a newborn Christian, we must know the basics of the Christian faith.

The Basics of the Christian Faith

Instead, many of us simply hold back because we’re not well-grounded ourselves. Sometimes we don’t even share the gospel because we’re not sure how. If that’s you, I explain the key points of the gospel here.

But, as I said, sharing the gospel isn’t the end. Part of the great commission is “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” We’re to help other believers, especially new believers, live an obedient Christian life. That means knowing the basics of the Christian faith and understanding how those truths apply to our own lives.

It doesn’t mean you must have a degree in theology, but we should all know the basic tenets of our faith!

How do we know we can trust the Bible?

Why did Jesus have to die?

How is a person saved?

What is “justification by faith”?

What does the Bible really say about homosexuality and abortion and how are we to treat people caught up in life-dominating sins?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, ask your church leadership if there is a discipleship class or another believer who can help you grow in your understanding.

You can, also, do a self-study with books like Fundamentals of the Faith: 13 Lessons to Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ by John MacArthur or The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin L. DeYoung.

You don’t have to look far to see that evil is having a heyday in our nation and the world. But the only way to fight evil and darkness is with the light of truth and the love of Christ. It’s our commission.

Today’s Other Readings:

1 Chronicles 11 & 12:

Betrayal & Forgiveness

1 Chronicles parallels 2 Kings and repeats much of the same narrative story, but since it’s told from the viewpoint of the return from Babylon, it emphasizes certain points. So as I said yesterday, don’t be confused by the repetition.

Notice in 1 Chronicles 11.41 in the list of David’s mighty men—those who served him so well—the name Uriah the Hittite. He was the husband of Bathsheba. David’s sin of adultery and murder would have been bad enough no matter who Uriah had been, but it was aggravated by the fact that Uriah was a loyal associate.

Yet, though there were consequences, some of which affected David for the rest of his life, God forgave him and Bathsheba. Because of His faithfulness and grace, their son Solomon would be the next king in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 77.16-20:

The Power of God

In the second portion of Psalm 77, the psalmist continues to extol the works of God. In these verses, he paints a vivid picture of the power of God:

16 The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters …

What a mighty God we serve!

Proverbs 19.17-19:

The Consequences of Anger

Verse 19 says:

A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

Many people blame their anger on others or on their circumstances, but anger is a heart issue. Too often when we are associated with an angry person, we make excuses for them or seek to get them out of the consequences of their anger. When we do, we just slow down the work of God in their lives. They are acting foolishly and a fool only understands consequences.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool’s back (Prov. 26.3).

So instead of trying to help them get out of the consequences of their anger, we need to lovingly rebuke them and warn them of the danger that lies ahead if they don’t repent.

Galatians 6.1-2 says:

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

And 2 Timothy 4.2 says:

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

This can be risky humanly speaking. And we certainly need to be wise and not place ourselves in physical danger. But we can’t simply seek peace at all costs and ignore a life-dominating sin as anger can become.

What about You? Questions to Ponder or Journal:

What about you? Can you explain the basics of the faith? Could you reason with someone from the Scriptures? If not, how are you working to change that? There are books you can read, and studies you can do. Ask someone to disciple you. Get in motion. The church’s job is to equip you, but you must take advantage of the opportunities.

Let’s be “ready to give an account for the hope that lies within us” (1 Pet. 3.15), amen?

What stood out to you in today’s reading? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about the importance of godly friends, being transparent about your own sin (within reason) with your children, and how to find true peace and contentment.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our new sister site Joyful Marriage Ministries. While you’re there, click the “events” tab for information on our upcoming events and ministries, like our Marriage ICU© for couples who are experiencing problems that require one-on-one help.

If this post spoke to you, I would so appreciate it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.

And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle through Amazon.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

I recently read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.