This Bible Correspondence Course is designed to teach "the fundamentals of the Christian faith."
 The first important question, therefore, is: "Exactly what is the Christian faith?"
 The discussion of this, the first lesson, will be devoted to answer this question.

1. What is the Christian Faith?
 Saint Paul declares: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of th law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." - Galatians 2, 16.

 The Christian religion means true faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  True religion is the devotion to God's Word and is communion with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

2. How many faiths or religions are there?
 We commonly speak of four religion: Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan and pagan.  However, while this distinction is made in ordinary speech, fundamentally all relgions are reduced to two classes:
 a) religions of the law, which endeavor to reconcile God through good works; b) the religion of the Gospel, that is, the belief that God works on his part, alone through Christ's suffereing and death; and that salvation is God's free gift, received by the sinner through faith in Jesus.

 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Saint Mark 16, 16.

3. How do we get Christian religion?
 "We speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought.  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." -1 Corinthians 2, 6-7.

 The Christian religion is, in the strictest sense of the term, the "wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1, 24).  It is "God-made," and its only source is God's book, the inspired Scripture.

4. If the Christian religion comes from the Bible, why are there many divisions in the Christian churches?
 "I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoikd them!" - Romans 16, 17.

 According to Holy Scripture, the divisions within the Christian Church arise from false prophets and apostles who are unfaithful to the pure Word of God; who in the name of the Christian religion teach their own thoughts and deny the fundamental truth of the Gospel, that man is justified by grace, through, faith, without the deeds of the law.

5. Which are the "fundamental" doctrines of the Christian faith?
 Because of its paramount importance, the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ's atonement has been called the most fundamental of all doctrines.  This truth of Scripture however, presupposes and includes other doctrines.
 a) The Bible teaching regarding sin and its consequences.
 b) The Bible teaching regarding the person of Christ.
 c) The Bible teaching regarding Christ's atonement.
 d) The Bible teaching regarding itself as the Word of God.
 e) The Bible teaching regarding the Resurrection.

6. What is the purpose and final goal of the Christian religion?
 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doin this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." - 1 Timothey 4, 16.
 
 The final purpose of the Christian religion is the eternal salvation of man.

 "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2, 10.

 The secondary purpose of the Christian religion urges man to be zealous in good works, not because they are the means by which salvation is obtained, but because they are the effects and fruit of faith.

7. By what means does the Christian religion accomplish its blessed purpose?
 "The holy Scriptures . . . are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3, 15.

 "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." - Romans 10, 17.
 
 The means by which the Christian religion accomplishes its blessed purpose of saving sinners unto eternal l,ife is the Gospel of Christ.  The Word of God alone must rule.  It alone is the imperishable foundation of Christ's holy Church.
 

Test Paper - Lesson One

1. Fill in the Missing words from 1 Corinthians 2,2: " I determined

2. How would you in your own words define the Christian religion?

3. Fundamentally all religions can be classified as a                                         or as b

4. Cross out the false statements.  We get the Christian religion from:
 a. God's revelation of Himself in nature.
 b. The marvels of modern scientific research.
 c. God's Book, the inspired Scriptures.
 d. The decisions of church denominations.

5. Is the following statement true or false: God is pleased with the divisions existing in present-day Christianity; as a matter of fact, the strength of Protestantism lies in its very diversity.

6. What is the fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith?

7. What is the final purpose of the Christian religion?

8. Please check the correct statement: God requires good works.
    a. Because they help to merit salvation.
     b. Because they make for order and good government in the world.
     c. Because they are the effects and fruit of faith.
    d. Because they glorify and worship God.

9. By what means does the Christian religion accomplish its purpose?

10. Fill in the missing words from 2 Timothy 3, 15: "The Holy Scriptures. . . are able to make thee                                                                                                                                     ."

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standards: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.