First Steps in Faith

1 — Who is God?

The Bible reveals one God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We do not need to fully comprehend the profound mystery of the Trinity to know Him. Scripture shows us a Creator who is entirely holy, just, and overflowing with love.

The entire journey through Scripture ultimately concerns God seeking, teaching, correcting, rescuing, and restoring mankind.

2 — Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is at the very centre of the Christian faith. The Gospels record His miraculous birth, His profound teaching, His boundless love, and His miracles. But His life was leading toward a specific moment: His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

Christians believe that in Jesus, God came near to mankind, and that through Him forgiveness and reconciliation with God are offered to the world.

3 — What is the Gospel?

The word "Gospel" means "Good News". God created mankind for a relationship with Him, but sin—our turning away and rebellion—separates us from God. We cannot make ourselves perfect or earn our own salvation by performing enough good deeds.

Jesus Christ gave His life for us, paying the penalty for our sin, and rose from the dead. Forgiveness and salvation are offered by God entirely through grace, and they are received through faith.

Following Christ is not about pretending to be perfect. It is about turning toward God, trusting Christ, receiving His grace, and allowing Him to change our lives from the inside out.

4 — How do I pray?

Prayer does not require special vocabulary or perfect words. You can simply speak honestly to God. You can give thanks, admit your mistakes, ask for forgiveness, ask for help, pray for others, and even tell God about your doubts and questions.

Jesus taught His followers a beautiful prayer, known as The Lord's Prayer:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

If you are praying for the first time, you could use a simple prayer like this:

This is not a required formula, simply a starting point.

5 — The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments outline God's moral law. They show us His holy character, the reality of good and evil, and what it means to love.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Christians do not earn salvation by perfectly keeping these commandments—because no one but Jesus ever has.

Jesus summarized the heart of the Law:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... And love your neighbor as yourself."

6 — How do I start reading the Bible?

You do not necessarily have to begin on page one and attempt to read straight through. We recommend a simple starting route:

Read slowly. Think about what you read. Write down your questions and compare Scripture with Scripture.

You are allowed to have questions. Questions can be the beginning of a journey.

7 — What Now?

Here are a few simple next steps:

• Read Scripture regularly, even if only a small passage.
• Pray honestly.
• Ask God for wisdom and understanding.
• Try to put Jesus' teachings into practice.
• Seek trustworthy Christians with whom you can talk, and eventually consider becoming part of a healthy, Bible-centred Christian community.