Can someone give a good reason to be a Christian without using the phrases 'Jesus died for your sins' or ' the gospel is the truth' or anything to that effect?

Answer 1

No, you can't be legally alive if you are not breathing or your heart is not beating. Like wise the absolute truth of the gosple is established by the death of Christ on the cross for our salvation. Anyother way is not the truth. If you do not believe that you are actually created for a purpose, to aspire to a higher standard as your Lord desires, why are you here? Why does one fight for civil rights? Why does one want no war, hatred,abuse, and anything else people claim to have a cause for all in the name of peace? What for? Who set the standard? Did the big bang set the standard? If we came from matter, where did matter come from? A creator made you for a purpose. Christianity is the only religion in the whole world where the leader of it rose from the dead, and requires nothing of you, but belief and repentance.History shows that Jesus was real, why do some say I believe he was a great teacher, but that is all. How could someone think that he was a reputable teacher if he also claimed to be God? He was either completely insane saying these things, or he is God.By the way, all of the things happening in the Middle East are foretold in that book that happens to be the truth, and true Christians are not taken by surprise to see these things. Also, the global warming panic is foretold. God says the earth will wear out. Of course man and his greed have helped it along, but it is not meant to last. God has a new earth for his kids. saraj Matthew Blessed are the merciful" 5:7 "Blessed are the peacemakers" 5:9 "Love your enemies." (Mark 16:16) 5:44 Don't brag about the good things that you do. 6:1-3 "Consider the lilies of the field...." A nice analogy, good advice (unless you live in cold climates), and a great movie. 6:28 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." 7:1 Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather than criticizing others. 7:3-4 "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 7:12 Forgive those who repeatedly offend you. 18:21-22 Jesus quotes Lev.19:18: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible. 22:39 "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." 25:35 "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." 26:52 Mark "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 12:31 Luke Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely. 3:14 Love you enemies; do good to those who hate you. 6:27 The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. 6:31-34 "Love your enemies." (Mk.16:16) 6:35 "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." 6:36 Don't judge or condemn others. Forgive those who have offended you. 6:37 Love thy neighbor as thyself. 10:27 The story of the good Samaritan gets my vote for the best bible story. We should all "go and do likewise." 10:30-37 "The truth shall make you free." 8:32 "Love one another." 13:34 "This is my commandment, That ye love one another." If this is what it takes to be a Christian, then count me in. Pilate asked Jesus a very good question: "What is truth?" 18:38 Acts It's better to give than to receive. 20:35 Romans Let your love be genuine. Do good; avoid evil. 12:9 Be kind to others. 12:10 Show empathy toward others. 12:15 Associate with the lowly. Don't pretend to be wiser than you are. 12:16 Don't return evil for evil. 12:17 Try to "live peaceably with all men." 12:18 Be kind to your enemies. Overcome evil with good. 12:19-21 Love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 13:8 "If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 13:9-10 Be honest; avoid drunkenness. 13:13 "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." 14:5 Don't judge other people or cause them to fall. 14:13 "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." 14:19 1 Corinthians Husbands and wives should be kind to each other. 7:3 Love is a good thing. 8:1 Some nice thoughts about love (or charity). 13:4-6 "Put away childish things." 13:11

"Be not children in understanding." 14:20 Do all things with love. 16:14 Galatians "By love serve one another." 5:13 "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 5:14 "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, ... meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 5:22 Don't be conceited or envious of others. 5:26 Forgive others. Someday you might make a mistake, too. 6:1 Bear one another's burdens. 6:2 Ephesians Don't lie. Speak the truth to your neighbor. 4:25 "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." 4:26 Don't steal, but rather work so that you will have something to give to those who are in need. 4:28 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying." 4:29 Be kind and forgiving to one another. 4:31-32 "So ought men to love their wives." 5:28 Love your wife as yourself. 5:33 Philippians Don't fight, be humble, and look after the needs of others. 2:3-4 "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 4:8 Colossians Avoid anger, wrath, and malice. 3:8 Don't lie. 3:9 Be merciful, kind, humble, and forgiving toward one another. 3:12-13 "Husbands, love your wives." 3:19 "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." 3:21 "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." 4:6 1 Thessalonians "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." 5:14 Don't return evil for evil, but be good to yourselves and all others. 5:15 "Prove all things; hold fast to what is good." 5:21 1 Timothy

"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." 6:7 2 Timothy Be gentle and patient with all others. 2:24 Titus Disregard "Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." 1:14 Do good works; be gentle toward others; avoid fighting or speaking unkindly about others. 3:1-2

"Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." 10:24 Let brotherly love continue. 13:1 Be hospitable to strangers. 13:2 James "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." 1:19 "Pure religion ... is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." 1:27 "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 2:8 Help others that are in need; don't just wish them well. This is good advice. "Speak not evil of one another." 4:11 Don't judge other people. 4:12 "Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (All we are is dust in the wind.) 4:14 Workers should be treated fairly. 5:4 1 Peter "For all flesh is as grass." Life is ephemeral. Enjoy it while you can. 1:24 Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy. Don't speak badly about others. 2:1 Be compassionate and courteous. Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another. Speak kindly of others. Do good and avoid evil. 3:8-11 Peter says that Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. 3:15 Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 4:9 Don't murder, steal, do evil things, or interfere needlessly in the lives of others. 4:15 1 John Those who love others are "in the light"; those who hate are "in darkness". 2:9-11 "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 3:18 "Love one another." 4:7-8, 4:16 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." 4:18 2 John "Love one another." (See verses 7-10) 5 3 John Do good; avoid evil. 1:11 God loved the sinful humans even to send His perfect Son down to earth. This Son (Jesus Christ) lived a perfect life, yet he was killed a criminal's death. Jesus was murdered so that we could have eternal life. If you become a Christian, you will spend eternity in Heaven. If you think about it, eternity is long time. Forever is a long time. While we're still alive, Christianity is basically about two things. Back when Jesus was still on earth, someone asked him what is the most important commandment. He told them that to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength was the most important. When he said to love God with your hear, soul, and strength, he's saying that you should give God all you have. Then, Jesus told the person the second most important command. It is to love your neighbor as yourself. In a nutshell, Christianity is about loving God and people. If everyone followed these, the world would truly be a better place. That is a reason for being a Christian.