Your Spiritual Questions Answered
Whether you’re newly beginning a life devoted to Christ or are continuing along a more established path of faith, it’s understandable to question your faith now and then or ask how you can become a better Christian. At the Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN), we’ve compiled a series of common questions and answered them with unbiased, Bible-based answers to give you guidance from the Word of God as it is written in Scripture!
What Is The Gospel?
Gospel means “good news” and the gospel is the good news of Jesus. The Gospel begins with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and includes our faithful response to those facts. We’ve made a list of several of our programs that will help to explain this important concept to you.
How to Understand the Bible
In the Bible, it says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” meaning it is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16). The Scripture also states, “if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book,” indicating the sacredness of the Scripture (Revelation 22:19).
View and understand the Bible as God’s Word. The Bible is holy, which is why those who modify it are denied entrance to His Kingdom. Learn more about how to understand the Bible through our series, Expositions.
How to Become a Christian
In the Book of Mark, it says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). The Bible also teaches you to, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Your faith, baptism, and atonement for your sins are paramount to becoming a Christian and achieving salvation. You can find out more about how to become a Christian in our Bible-based program, Fundamentals of Christianity.
How to Become a Better Christian
All Christians strive to become better. The Bible teaches that “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
The Book of Ephesians reiterates this idea of following God’s example, stating, “be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Follow the Bible’s teachings — live a Bible-based life — to become a better Christian through God and His Son’s own example. Programs, such as In Search of the Lord’s Way and “What Does the Bible Teach?” can help you achieve this growth.
What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?
As a Christian, you, “may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,” (Colossians 1:10). A Christian is defined by more than just his knowledge because “a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
Your actions are as valuable as your faith to God because your decisions, such as your dedication to worshipping God as He has commanded, indicate your faith and commitment to the Bible’s teachings. Discover more about what it means to be a Christian through Bible-based shows like, Thy Word is Truth and Searching the Scriptures.
Where Do Christians Worship?
Christians worship anywhere and everywhere for, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).
Watch non-denominational church services, such as On the Lord’s Day to learn more about true Christian worship among a congregation of God’s people.
How Do I Know if I’m a Child of God?
John writes to Christians in the first century A.D., “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). The standard by which a person can judge if he is a child of God is not a vague emotional feeling, but the Scripture’s standard of righteousness.
Jesus taught how to become a child of God. A person becomes a child of God when they obey the commands to Scripture to be born again. This new birth occurs when a person dies to their old life of sin and is born again to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 teaches, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.” When a person is baptized (buried) in water, he rises again a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17), a child of God.
Galatians further teaches that a person becomes a child of God by putting on Christ in faith and baptism, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
If we remember these things, we can clearly see that if we have been made a child of God through faith and baptism, and then live a life practicing righteousness, then we can know we are a child of God.
Programs, like The Truth in Love, Fountain of Life and The Gospel of Christ can help you recognize that you are a child a God and understand why.
How to Put Your Faith in God?
The Bible tells us that, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). As explained in the Book of John, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).
Placing your trust and faith in God can be challenging if you’re only beginning to embrace Christianity, as letting go of old, sinful habits that have had a long-standing grip on your life is certainly no easy feat. Series like Focus on Faith and GBN Q&A can assist you in your journey to put your faith in God.
How to Learn More About the Bible
The Bible offers an immense amount of knowledge through its pages because, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Read the Bible to teach yourself.
Bible-based programs can also help you learn more about the Bible. Shows, such as Hearing God Speak, Expositions, and Book, Chapter and Verse can offer you in-depth insight into the Scripture and encourage you to open your Bible and read it to teach and correct others about the truth.
How to Learn More About Jesus
We can find out more about our Savior by reading the Scripture. In the Book of Romans, it says, “our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6). The book of Corinthians adds, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
We learn through these passages about our connection to Jesus and receive a greater understanding of His gift to us, through his death. Jesus is our Savior, and His sacrifice allowed us the opportunity to receive forgiveness for our sins and live a life rich in love. Series like Banner of Truth, Fountain of Life, and In Search of the Lord’s Way can help you learn more about Jesus.
How to Learn More About God
The Bible provides numerous details about God, such as his selflessness and unconditional love. In the Book of John, it is written, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). It’s also stated that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Understand God’s love for you and the world. Remember his sacrifice when faced with temptation and remain committed to the Bible’s teachings. Find out more about God through programs like A Burning Fire and Counterpoint.
Where Can I Learn About the Bible?
Online resources, such as our video archive, on demand content and YouTube channel provide information about the Bible and its teachings. Programs like Banner of Truth and Biblical Viewpoints may also help you find out more about the Bible.
The Bible itself is a valuable resource for learning more about its teachings — “For the word of God is living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). Read and study the Scriptures to discover more of the Bible’s teachings and follow them throughout your everyday life. Understanding God’s desires promotes growth as a Christian and as a child of God.
What Does It Mean to Be a Child of God?
We are born again as children of God through immersion in water for the remission of our sins (John 3:5; Acts 2:38). John also teaches us how to live as children of God, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). As a child of God, you should “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven” (Matthew 5:12).
The reward of Heaven is also mentioned by Jesus, who says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
As a child of God, you have the divine privilege to enter Heaven by believing in the truth and following the Word of God as He has commanded. If you’d like to learn more about what it means to be a child of God, our Counterpoint, GBN Special Presentation, and Living by Faith series may be helpful.