Yes, Jesus is God incarnate

• “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God... By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. Anyone who denies this does not have the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the antichrist.” 1 John 4:1-3
• "And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘And let all God's angels worship him.’ Of the angels he says, ‘He makes his angels winds and his servants flames of fire,’ but of the Son he says, “God, your throne is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore, O God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.” Hebrews 1:6-9.
• “Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” Gospel of John 20:28
• “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is God and is in the bosom of the Father, has made him known.” Gospel of John 1:18
• Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11
• “They traveled through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, since they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” (Acts 16:7) The Holy Spirit is therefore identical with the Spirit of Jesus. But the Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of the Father and the Son: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” (Gospel of John 14:23)
• “So watch yourselves and the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as bishops to shepherd the church of God, which he acquired with his own blood.” Acts 20:28

Yes, Jesus physically rose from the dead.

• But while they were talking about it, he (Jesus) himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!” But they were startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you so frightened, and why do such thoughts come into your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But since they still could not believe for joy and were amazed, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” And they set before him a piece of broiled fish. And he took it and ate before them.“ Gospel of Luke 24:36-43
• ”But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11
• “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
• “Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
• There are dozens of verses in the New Testament (NT) about the physical resurrection of Jesus. Paul devotes an entire chapter to the subject in 1 Corinthians 15. The physical resurrection is so central to the NT that, according to Paul, without it the Christian faith makes no sense: “But if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:14

Yes, only Jesus' vicarious atoning sacrifice can reconcile people with God.

• “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
• “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
• “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Gospel of John 1:11-13
• “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12
• “For it pleased God to have all fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
• “But we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
• “And God made you alive with him, who were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and forgave us all our sins. He canceled the debt that stood against us with its legal demands. He took it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
• “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6
• “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:43
• “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
• “How much more will the blood of Christ, who offered himself as a sacrifice without blemish through the eternal Spirit to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14

Yes, God's love is the highest meaning of life.

• See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God—and that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1
• "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.“ Matthew 22:37-40
• ”The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.“ Romans 5:5
• ”As my Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love! If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.“ Gospel of John 15:9-11
• ”But this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3
• “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
• “We have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we write this so that our joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:3-4

Yes, following God's commandments as set forth in the Bible is the only foundation for a successful, happy life.

Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 God wants to give all people a happy and successful life. The Bible shows how such a life can be attained.

 

The lostness of mankind

A ‘person without God’ cannot be truly happy. Without God, their way of life cannot succeed. The Bible speaks very clearly about the lostness of mankind and their need for salvation:

• "There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; with their tongues they deceive, the poison of vipers is under their lips; their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways, and they do not know the way of peace. There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:11-18
• “For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells no good thing.” Romans 7:18
• “If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11
• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Gospel of John 3:1

 

Salvation to eternal life & obedience

The answers to question 3 explain how lost people can be saved. Salvation then opens up completely new dimensions of eternal life for God's children. It is not without reason that the Apostle John speaks in chapter 1:12-13 of a power that is given to the children of God when they receive the Holy Spirit into their hearts (cf. rebirth through the Spirit, John 3:5-7). But even receiving the Holy Spirit as a gift of grace is bound up with “obedience”:

• “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who are obedient to him” Acts 5:32.

Obedience is a requirement that is not very popular with people. However, obedience to the Creator and His instructions is existentially important. Without this submission, life cannot succeed:

• " “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
• “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be successful in your ways and you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8.
• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Gospel of John 3:36
• “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.” Gospel of John 15:10
• “Then you will be happy if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances that the LORD commanded the Israelites through Moses. Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged!” 1 Chronicles 22:13
• “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Gospel of Luke 6:46
• “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Gospel of Matthew 16:25
• “... from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. For all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

 

A life filled with God

All church ministers have a duty to live and teach the invitation, the demands, the blessings, and the power of the Christian faith in its entirety. In this way, they can open the gates of heaven to seekers, so that they too can learn how to live in God's world. The apostles Paul and Peter describe this successful life in wonderful words:

• "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, and I ask him to strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and you may be rooted and grounded in love. Then you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19
• “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9

 

Happiness & Success?

The promise that we can lead a happy and successful life by following Jesus must not be misunderstood. Happiness and success are defined quite differently in God's world than we humans would like. Of course, God has immeasurable love, overflowing joy, deep peace, great enjoyment of life, etc. in store for all people, especially for followers of Jesus. But we humans have the choice to remain grateful and courageous even when life's circumstances are anything but rosy.

• "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted! ... Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven!“ Gospel of Matthew 5:4, 10-12
• ”Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God! Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled! Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh! Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and revile you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man!" Luke 6:20-22
• “Behold, we count those blessed who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and of the outcome the Lord gave him.” Letter of James 5:11
• “But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are you! Do not fear their threats, nor be troubled, ” 1 Peter 3:14
• “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, blessed are you! For the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:14
• “May my body and my heart waste away, but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever... But my happiness is to be near God; with God the LORD I have my refuge.” Psalm 73:26-28
• "Blessed is the man who endures temptation! For after he has been tested, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

It is precisely in supposed failure, in crises, pain, setbacks, contempt and persecution, grief and fear, experiences of violence, etc., that God's life wants to reveal itself as victorious and successful.

 

And what about people without the Bible?

God's commandments are written in the hearts of all people. The Creator has placed eternity in their hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This is why Paul can say in his letter to the Romans: "What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Therefore they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Rom. 1:19-22.

In Romans chapter 2, Paul attests to the possibility for non-Christians who acknowledge God, whose hearts are therefore not darkened, to lead a life of guilt awareness, confession, and forgiveness based on an alert conscience in accordance with God's inherent commandments: “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else excusing them...” Romans 2:14-15.

Obeying God's commandments is therefore possible to a certain extent even for people who do not yet know Jesus and the Bible.

Yes, only God's Holy Spirit can set Jesus' followers free to live a life that pleases God.

• “If the Son sets you free, you will be truly free.” Gospel of John 8:36
• “God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5
• “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
• “For the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:21
• “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
• “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
• “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Yes, salvation comes from the Jews?

• “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation comes from the Jews.” Gospel of John 4:22
• “For it is evident that our Lord came from Judah.” Hebrews 7:14
• Jesus and all the apostles were Jews. In the New Testament, Jesus' followers are referred to as children of Abraham (Romans 4:11-18; Galatians 3:7).
• The Old Testament and the New Testament form a whole. In the New Testament, there are hundreds of passages that refer to the Old Testament. The phrases “It is written” and “that it might be fulfilled” are very common. The following passage is very meaningful. It describes how Jesus meets two disciples after His resurrection and teaches them in the face of their unbelief: “And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.’” Luke 24:25-27
• Although Paul explained the fundamental interweaving of God's history with Israel and the followers of the Messiah Jesus in chapters 9-11 of the Epistle to the Romans, Christian theologians later established a radical, deadly, pseudo-Christian anti-Semitism. This has led to great guilt in Western culture (persecution of Jews, pogroms, Holocaust). The confession of the Jewish and Christian (= messianic) revelation of God in the Bible (OT/NT) is constitutive for a comprehensively healing faith.

Yes, people have the choice to reject God's salvation and deny themselves eternal life.

• “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
• “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:31-32
• “For it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, but to give rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire. Then God will repay those who do not know him and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8
• "And the dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and they were judged, each one according to his deeds. And Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death: the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“ Revelation 20:12-15
• ”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Gospel of Matthew 10:28
• “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!’” Gospel of Matthew 25:41
• “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
• “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Gospel of Mark 16:16