Christianity is a religion and way of life centered on Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God, that He died and rose from the dead, and that anyone can receive forgiveness and new life by trusting and following Him.
Ever tried jumping into a TV show in season six? Everyone’s talking about plot points you missed, you don’t know anyone’s name, and you don’t know what the show’s even about. That’s what walking into church or just talking to a Christian can feel like.
There’s lore about people coming back from the dead, seas splitting, and someone made of bread. There’s language like the Trinity, salvation, Communion, and something called Corinthians.
Then there are all the different groups—each claiming to be the best kind of Christianity.
So maybe it’s not season six. Maybe it’s season 600, with a cast of thousands and a plot that’s been running for thousands of years. I can’t untangle every branch of that story in one article, but I can give you the map I wish people handed newcomers more often. For me, the clearest place to begin isn’t with an institution or a list of rules. It’s with Jesus.
Who Is Jesus Christ?
Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish teacher who lived in the first century, when the Roman Empire controlled the Levant. Almost all historians agree that Jesus was a real person and that He was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
Christians make a much bigger claim about Jesus. They believe Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, and God who came to live among us as a human being.
What Does ‘Christ’ Mean?
Christ is a title meaning “Anointed One.” It isn’t Jesus’ last name.
Where Is Jesus in the Bible?
The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are called the Gospels. The word gospel means “good news.” These books tell the story of Jesus’ life from four different perspectives.
What Did Jesus Teach?
Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, the new world He was creating through a transformed way of life, centered on love. Some of His teaching is what you might expect: theological discussion about rule-following and the afterlife. But most of His teaching was about how beliefs translated into our words and actions. He showed it by:
- Confronting religious hypocrisy.
- Challenging greed and exploitation.
- Healing people.
- Welcoming outsiders.
- Forgiving sins. (We’ll explain what sin means in a bit.)
When someone asked Jesus which commandment mattered most, He gave two: Love God with your whole self and love your neighbor as yourself.
What Do Christians Believe About Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?
Jesus was eventually arrested and executed on a cross. Christians believe He willingly gave His life for the sins of the world. They also believe that He rose from the dead three days later.
The resurrection is central to Christianity. It is the reason Christians believe Jesus is alive and death has been defeated.
What Else Do Christians Believe About Jesus?
Christians across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions share several other core beliefs about Jesus:
- He is fully human and fully divine. This is called the incarnation, meaning God took on human flesh. Jesus experienced hunger, grief, temptation, and pain, yet Christians believe He never sinned.
- He was born to Mary. Christians believe Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit, an event known as the virgin birth.
- His miracles revealed who He was. Jesus healed people, cast out evil spirits, calmed storms, and raised the dead. Christians see these as signs of His authority and previews of God’s kingdom.
- He will return. After His resurrection, Christians believe Jesus ascended to heaven and continues to reign. They believe He will return to judge evil, raise the dead, and fully restore creation.
For more on Jesus, check out this explainer of His life and teachings.
How Did Christianity Start and Spread?
Jesus was Jewish, and so were His first followers. After His death, they began telling others that He had risen. The message spread from Jerusalem through the Roman Empire as His followers formed new Christian communities. Paul, once an enemy of the movement, became one of the people most responsible for its early growth.
Christianity was sometimes persecuted before the Roman Empire legalized it in the 300s. Over time, it developed into Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions and spread around the world. That history includes both extraordinary service and terrible abuses of power.
So what story were all these Christians actually sharing?
What Do Christians Believe About God?
Christians believe there is one God who created and sustains everything. They also believe this one God has always existed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This belief is called the Trinity.
I’ve been a Christian for years, and the Trinity is still a little confusing. It’s not three gods. It’s one God, but also Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All God. Still one. If you’re confused, congratulations, you’re in good company. No easy metaphor actually works.
For Christians, every question about what God is like leads back to Jesus.
Christians believe Jesus gives us the clearest picture of what God is like. In Jesus, they see a God who cares for people in crisis, tells the truth to people in power, offers mercy, opposes injustice, and gives Himself for others.
What Are Sin, Grace, and Salvation?
These words get thrown around a lot in Christianity, usually without anyone stopping to explain them. I don’t want to assume they mean anything to you yet, so here’s the plain-language version:
- Sin is anything in us or done by us that resists God’s good purposes. It separates us from God and harms people made in His image.
- Grace is God’s undeserved kindness. Christians believe no one can earn God’s love by following enough rules or doing enough good things. God offers forgiveness as a gift because of Jesus.
- Salvation is the rescue and new life God gives. It includes forgiveness, a restored relationship with God, freedom from the power of sin, and the hope of resurrection into eternal life with God after death.
The Bible says salvation comes by grace through faith. Faith means more than agreeing that God exists. It means placing your trust in Jesus. Christians often use the word repentance here, which means recognizing you’re headed in the wrong direction, turning around, and moving back toward God.
Christians still mess up—sometimes spectacularly. I know that from observing Christians, and I know it from observing myself. Following Jesus isn’t a one-and-done moment when everything becomes easy; it’s a lifelong process of receiving grace, turning around, and letting Him keep rearranging your life. Most of the time, it’s two steps forward, one step back.
What Do Christians Believe About the Bible?
Christians believe the Bible is sacred Scripture, a collection of ancient writings inspired by God. Written by many human authors, it tells the story of God and humanity and teaches people how to follow Him.
The Old Testament follows creation and the people of ancient Israel. The New Testament introduces Jesus and the early church.
If you’re new to the Bible, here are some helpful places to start reading.
What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?
A Christian is someone who trusts and follows Jesus. Becoming a Christian involves receiving God’s forgiveness, choosing to turn from sin, and placing your life in Jesus’ hands.
That choice is only the beginning. Christians spend the rest of their lives learning to trust Jesus and live like Him. They grow through practices such as reading the Bible, praying, gathering with other believers, serving people, and learning to obey what Jesus taught.
Following Jesus also changes how Christians treat people. It can mean forgiving someone who hurt you, telling the truth, becoming more generous, caring for people others ignore, and seeking justice when someone is being harmed. No Christian does all of this perfectly. The goal is continued growth toward the character of Jesus.
What Do Christians Do in Church?
A typical church service may include music, prayer, a reading from the Bible, and a sermon, which is a talk explaining Scripture and how it connects to life. Some churches feel formal and follow a set order. Others are more casual. You may see people stand, sit, kneel, raise their hands, or remain still during worship.
Here’s a guide on going to church for the first time.
Most churches also practice baptism and Communion.
- Baptism uses water to mark a person’s entrance into Christian faith and community.
- Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, uses bread and wine or juice to remember the death of Jesus and the final meal He shared with His disciples. Christian traditions understand and practice both in different ways.
At its best, church gives us something do-it-yourself faith can’t: people who notice when we’re not ourselves, sit with us when life hurts, and give us chances to serve someone besides ourselves. A healthy church should be a place where you can worship God, ask honest questions, form real friendships, receive help, and help others.
If you visit one, you’re allowed to pay attention to whether its leaders are trustworthy, questions are welcomed, and vulnerable people are protected. Let Jesus’ example be your guide.
Why Are There So Many Kinds of Christianity?
Christianity is often grouped into three large traditions: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Protestant Christianity also includes many denominations and movements, such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican, Pentecostal, and nondenominational churches.
These traditions share many central beliefs about Jesus while differing on questions such as church authority, leadership, worship, and the meaning of baptism and Communion. Some differences come from serious theological disagreements. Others developed through history, culture, geography, or styles of worship.
How Can I Explore Christianity?
You don’t have to pretend you believe everything before you begin. Start with one honest step.
- Explore the stories of Jesus in our The Life of Jesus, Story by Story hub.
- Read the Gospel of Mark and ask, “What is Jesus actually like?”
- Attend a church service or watch one online to see what happens.
- Try praying, “God, if You’re there, help me know what’s true.”
- Write down your questions and explore them one at a time.
If you reach a point where you want to follow Jesus, you can tell Him in your own words. You can find an example prayer to become a Christian here.
Christianity is large enough to spend a lifetime exploring. I’m still learning, too. You don’t need to understand all of it today or manufacture certainty you don’t have. Start with Jesus, keep asking questions, and take the next step you’re ready to take.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christianity
Is Christianity mainly about being a good person?
Christians are called to do good, but Christianity begins with grace. Christians believe everyone needs forgiveness and that a restored relationship with God is a gift received through Jesus. Good actions grow from that relationship; they don’t purchase it.
Do all Christians believe the same things?
No. Christians disagree about many theological, ethical, and practical questions. The major Christian traditions share a historic core centered on one God, Jesus’ divinity and humanity, His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal life.
What do Christians believe happens after death?
Christians believe death isn’t the end, every person will face God’s judgment, and eternal life with God is possible through Jesus. They believe in heaven and hell, although they differ on some details, especially how hell should be understood. Their final hope is resurrection and life with God in a renewed creation.