Who is God?

There is one God who has revealed himself in three persons. The three persons are Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. Each is fully the same one God. Just as we humans are body, soul, and spirit, and yet are one, so too is God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and yet is One. None of body, soul, and spirit is any less us, and so too, none of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is any less God when considered alone. And just as we are not complete unless we take into account every aspect of our make-up (body, soul, and spirit), so, too, God is not complete unless we take into account every aspect of his being: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26,11:6-7,19:24, John 1:1, John 4:24, 1 John 5:20, John 8:58)

Is God Perfect?

Yes, God is perfect. He has never made a mistake, and he never will. He is all knowing.Though God is perfect, and he created this world to be a beautiful place, mankind has gone his and her own separate way, which causes all creation to groan. God will restore it all one day to the way it was supposed be. In the meantime, we are commanded to pray that God's will be done on the earth, as it is in heaven. We are to pray for change now, but ultimately, perfection will fully come later, to those who love God and seek to do his will. (Deuteronomy 32:4, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 18:30, Isaiah 53:6, Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:9-13, Romans 8:22)

To Whom is God Accountable?

God is accountable to no one and is sovereign over all. Because he is perfect and has never made a mistake, he actually does not need to be accountable to anyone. There is no higher authority than him, and he alone deserves all glory, praise, and honor for everything that is good, right, proper and noble. His decisions are perfect, and his wisdom is perfect. He is to be trusted and respected in all things. (Hebrews 6:13)

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.” (James 1:17)

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!” (Revelation 4:11)

Who Created God?

No one created God. He has always existed and he always will. We may not be able to fully understand this, but then again, we were created by him and perhaps it is his intention not to fully give us this understanding as to how God could have always existed. That is where faith comes in! Just as it is perfectly clear that a simple thing such as a watch has a maker, so, too, is it abundantly clear that human beings have a creator. God is the creator of all things, and all things that he created were perfectly good, noble, and proper at the time that they were created — that is, before evil came into the world.

Where Did Evil Come From?

God did not create evil. Nor was it his intention for it to happen. The presence of evil came about as the direct result of the free will that God gave mankind. First, angels fell, who became demons (Revelation 12:4). These demons now tempt people, even as Eve was tempted in the garden of Eden. Being all knowing, God knew that the fall of mankind would happen, and planned to send Jesus Christ into the world in order to take on the sins of the world so that mankind might be reunited with their creator, and so that they could experience the gift of eternal life (Genesis 3:15). He who has the Son of God has the life, and he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life, the Bible teaches (Colossians 1:16, John 3:19-20, 1 John 5:10-13)

What is God's purpose for Mankind?

Mankind, or "man" for short (consisting of both male and female) was created by God in his image. Ultimately, the chief end of mankind is to worship God and enjoy him forever. Mankind has the ability to have fellowship, communion, and intimacy with God. Mankind is unique over all other created things in that nothing else created by God was created in his image. For this reason, we understand that God has a very special purpose for mankind. And this purpose, worshiping God and enjoying him forever, is deeply satisfying, when we are properly "synched up" with him. (Genesis 1:27)

In the same way that God has revealed Himself in three different persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), so, too, is mankind composed of three facets, body, soul, and spirit. While his body allows him/her to relate physically with others, and his/her soul enables him/her to relate both emotionally and relationally, the part of mankind that has fellowship, or relates on a spiritual level to God is his/her spirit. Evidently, because of the presence of so many religions in the world, we can see clearly that mankind "yearns" or "longs" for this fellowship with his/her creator. However, he/she is unable to do it on his/her own. We need God's help.

Why Did Man Decide To "Do His Own Thing?"

A fallen angel (called a "demon", or an "evil spirit," or simply, a "fallen angel") lured mankind to disobey God just like they had done when they rebelled against God in heaven. This was how rebellion against God, or "sin" entered into the world. In this case, the fallen angel's name was Satan. The Bible explains that there are many fallen angels roaming the world today, that try to continue to lure men and women into committing acts against God, so as to lead them away from God's purposes. (Genesis 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:1)

Is Man Accountable for His Actions?

Even though mankind was first "lured" into sin by the devil himself, he is nevertheless still accountable for his decisions. God will hold every person accountable for their actions (whether they were lured or not by a fallen angel). Just as Adam and Eve were punished for their disobedience against God — even though Satan was the one who tempted them — so, too, we will all be held accountable for those choices we have made during our lifetime. None of us will be exempt. (Matthew 12:36-37, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, James 1:13-14)

Is There a Judgment?

Yes, there are actually two judgments that we will each have to face, whether young or old, poor or rich, saved or unsaved.

What is the First Judgment?

The first judgment is whether or not we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. As the Bible explains, the reward for having come to a trusting relationship with Jesus is eternal life. The consequence of disbelieving, however, and turning one's back on Jesus, is eternal separation from God (that is our choice: God does not want us to be separated from him — see 2 Peter 3:9). The Bible warns that the consequences of turning our backs on God's free offer of salvation will be eternal separation from God, which is where the devil and his angels will also end up. God beckons us, be reconciled to God! (John 3:36, John 5:24, 1 John 5:10-13, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10,14,15)

Is there a second chance?

There is no middle ground in terms of believing. There is no "in between" state, no "purgatory," no second chance, and no reincarnation once you die. The Bible does not give us a "second chance" option, but simply says, "it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment" (see Hebrews 9:27). Be not deceived! The Bible warns us that we should make our decision to trust in Christ as our personal Lord and Savior while we still can. A time is coming when it will be too late! (Psalm 32:6, Luke 13:3, Matthew 25:1-13)

What is Special About The First Judgment?

It is important to note that this judgment is based on faith alone and not on any works that we might ever do. You cannot work your way to heaven — there is no one good enough to earn that, except Jesus. And that is why Jesus came. He came to pay our debt on the cross with his own life. In return for what he did, we should gladly be willing to surrender our lives to him, knowing that he is a good God who can be trusted. Jesus laid down his life by his own accord. He did it for you and me. He was not forced to do this, or trapped in any way. It was all willful on his part, demonstrating his love for us. (Romans 5:8, John 10:18)

Jesus took the punishment for sins that we were supposed to take. We take on a right standing with God by trusting in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. God "imputes" or "reckons" that to us, declaring us righteous on account of what Jesus did. After that, it's time to get busy for the Lord, serving him, because he really is a good God. We can serve him in a variety of ways, and the Bible teaches us that he has given each of his children at least one gift, which we can use to serve him. It is a gift that will bring us joy as we exercise it. (By "children," this refers to those who have come to faith and trust in him.) (John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 4:7, 1 Peter 4:10)

The Bible says that we are all sinners,

"for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

"There is no one who does good" (Psalm 53:1).

As such, we do not deserve heaven or eternal life. And what is eternal life? Eventually, we will come to live on this earth for all eternity — this earth will be recreated one day, just like God intended it to be. It will be glorious.

None of us can claim that he/she is good enough to merit eternal life. All have been declared as unrighteous in God's sight. Salvation comes by faith in Christ and by him alone,

"for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)

What is the Second Judgment?

The second judgment is a judgment based on works. This does not merit us heaven, but it will merit us receiving rewards. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15) For those who are unsaved, however, who have rejected Christ's free offer of salvation, there can never be any work that is good enough to merit entrance into heaven. Those who have rejected Christ will not be able to enter heaven (and later return to the earth in glorified bodies for eternity), but will have to live eternally in that place where Jesus said there would be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (see Luke 13:28). This obviously is very frightening, and God is not an evil God. As stated earlier, he does not want anyone to go there (see 2 Peter 3:9). And that is precisely why God sent Jesus to pay for the penalty for our sins — because he knew that there was no other way to redeem us from the curse of law which has declared us all to be sinners and unworthy to merit eternal life in God's sight, except through the shed blood of Christ. "

According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness). (Hebrews 9:22)

Just like there are variations of rewards in heaven, there will also be variations of judgments in hell. This is not a place you even want to think about, so trust in Christ! Hell an eternal separation from God. You can never escape. On the other hand, eternal life, heaven, and ultimately living on a recreated earth in glorified bodies for all eternity will bring with it eternal joy. There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more suffering! (Luke 10:8-12, Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 20:13, Revelation 21:4)

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:1-8)

For more information on verse 8, quoted above, please click here.