What Is Christianity? Explained in 2 Minutes

Christianity is faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who trusts Him. More than two billion people around the world call themselves Christians, making it the largest religion on earth.

The name goes back to the very first churches:

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

— Acts 11:26 (KJV)

Here's what Christians believe, in five points.

1. There is one God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Christians believe in one God who exists as three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity. Jesus told His followers to baptise "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).

The Holy Spirit is God present with believers today. Jesus promised:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

— John 14:26 (KJV)

2. Something has gone wrong with us

The Bible says every person has turned away from God, in big ways and small:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

— Romans 3:23 (KJV)

Sin isn't only breaking rules. It's a broken relationship with the God who made us, and on our own we can't fix it.

3. Jesus came to put it right

Christians believe Jesus was fully God and fully human. He lived without sin, died on a cross in our place and rose again three days later. Paul calls this the message of "first importance":

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV)

The resurrection is the heart of the faith. If Jesus didn't rise, Christianity falls apart. Christians believe He did.

4. Salvation is a gift, not a wage

You can't earn your way to God. Forgiveness is something He gives freely to everyone who trusts Jesus:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

— Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

— Romans 10:9 (KJV)

5. Following Jesus changes how you live

Christians don't do good to get saved. They do it because they have been. Jesus summed up the whole of God's law in two commands:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

— Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV)

In practice that means prayer, reading the Bible, gathering with other believers in a church, being baptised, sharing the Lord's Supper, and loving other people, including your enemies. Christians also look forward to Jesus' return, when He will put the whole world right.

The different kinds of Christians

The three largest branches are the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches. They differ on important things, such as how the church is led and how to understand the sacraments, but they share the core beliefs above, set out in the ancient creeds.

In one sentence

Jesus summed it up Himself:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

— John 14:6 (KJV)

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