The God of heaven and earth has used certain men down through the centuries to give us His Word, the Bible. Every word of it is true and accurate, and it is the final authority for faith and life.
Our God is a triune God, eternally existing in three persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are one God, are equal in all areas, yet have distinct functions. God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and, while giving man a free choice, God is in control at all times.
The Son, Jesus Christ, left His glorious position in heaven and came as the Christ-child born in Bethlehem to the virgin Mary. The purpose of His coming to earth in the flesh was to conquer sin, death, and Satan, so that He might offer forgiveness of sins to all mankind. He did this by living a perfect life, dying an innocent death, and rising from the dead. Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father, willing to save all from the eternal punishment of hell that we deserve for our sins. He will return someday to rule and reign as King in Jerusalem for a thousand years.
The Bible says that the only way to inherit eternal life is through placing our faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Saving faith is believing that His life, death, and resurrection has been accepted by God the Father as the only sacrifice worthy of offering forgiveness. And that when we trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and deliverance from the punishment of our sin, we inherit eternal life. Paul tells the believers, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Once a person has trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are eternally secure. They are kept by God's power and are secure in Christ forever. As born-again believers, we should be seeking to grow in knowledge and in grace. This is done by studying and being obedient to God's Word, seeking to separate ourselves from sin that so easily snares us, and getting involved by serving in the local church ministry.
One day Jesus Christ will return and rapture the believers to meet Him in the sky. It is then that we will stand in judgment for how we lived as a Christian. Although nobody will lose their salvation, some will gain many rewards and some will lose all. While we as believers are not on the earth, God will bring His wrath described as the Tribulation, which is detailed in the book of Revelation. When His wrath is finished, Jesus Christ will return and defeat the armies of earth at the Battle of Armageddon. He will then set up His kingdom for a thousand years in Israel and fulfill the remaining prophecies mentioned in the Bible. After a thousand years have taken place, God will release Satan, who has been bound since he was defeated at Christ's second return, and will defeat him for the last time by casting Satan into the lake of fire forever. God then will judge all those who never placed their faith in Jesus Christ and cast them into an eternal punishment in hell.
God will then live with the believers for all eternity. The Bible speaks of the fact that from this time on there will be no more crying and no more pain. A beautiful place with nothing but joy and contentment. It will be how it should have been the whole time had it not been for man's sin in the garden of Eden.