Zion Christian Centre

What we believe

What do Christians believe?

The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.

You have probably heard the story of God's love referred to as the 'Gospel.' The word Gospel simply means 'Good News.' The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever.

But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God's part and yours in this process:

God's Love Is Revealed in the Bible

'This is how much God loved the world; He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why; so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.' John 3:16 (The Message)

God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death.

We Are Sinful

'We've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us.' ”Romans 3:23 (The Message)

You may have heard someone say, 'I'm only human nobody's perfect.' This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that's why we feel estranged from God because God is holy and good, and we are not.

Sin Has a Penalty

'Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death.' Romans 6:23 (The Message)

Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.

Christ Has Paid Our Penalty!

'But God put His love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were no use whatever to Him' Romans 5:8 (The Message)

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.

Salvation Is a Free Gift

It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving' Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)

The word grace means 'undeserved favour.' It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God's gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!

Christ Is at Your Heart's Door

'Look at me! I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you Revelation 3:20 (The Message)

Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.

You Must Receive Him

'But whoever did want Him, who believed He was who He claimed and would do what He said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.' John 1:12 (The Message)

When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.