FARSI
ENGLISH
(408) 732-7070

What is Christianity?

What is Christianity?

20 Steps: Review the Verses that leads us to Receive Christ as our True God

(1 John 4:8 & 16)

What is Christianity?

 

20 Steps: Review the Verses that leads us to Receive Christ as our True God

(1 John 4:8 & 16)

Man in the Presence of God (First Position of Man before God)

  1. The one powerful God and Creator created man in His own image

   (Gen. 1:26-27, Gen 5:1 and James 3:9)

 

  • Genesis 1:26-27

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

 

  • Genesis 5:1-2

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind”[a] when they were created

 

  • James 3:9

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

 

  1. (Initial situation): Man was in the presence of God and free, yet obedient to him. (Gen. 1:28, Gen. 2:16)

  • Genesis 1:28

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

 

  • Genesis 2:16

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

  1. (True paradise): Through the unconditional love of God, man was enjoying complete peace and true joy. (Gen.2:9-16)

 

  • Genesis 2:9-16

9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. …………. 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of

  1. Hitting and missing the mark: Peace, joy and love are desires (goals) that are available to everyone in God. (Refer to step 6)

 
 

Separation from God

Second Position of Man Away from God

  1. (2nd situation): The “self sufficiency” of man was the reason for the distance that came about between man and God. (Adam misused his freedom) (Gen.3)

·       Genesis 3:1-7
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

 

 

  1. (Explanation of original sin): This “distance” is comparable with the idea of “missing the mark,” making a mistake, sin, and becoming spiritually lost.

                              

  1. Chastisement on the basis of God’s righteousness: Because God keeps his promises, he did what he said he would do. (Gen. 2:17, Num.23:19)

·       Genesis 2:17
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

 

  • Numbers 23:19

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill?

 

  1. Deep intense valley and fruits (results) of sin.

                        (Rom. 3:10, 3: 23, & 6:23; Psa 14.3, Eccles. 7:20)

  • Romans 3:10, 23

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

 

  • Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

God Came for Us  (God Himself came to save us)

 

 

 

  1. The Law of God is compared with a mirror. Through it the prophets showed man their distance from God and how man had missed God’s mark.

        (James 1:23-25 & 2:10, Isa 64:6, Rom. 3:20 and 7:7)

  • James 1:23-24

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

 

  • Isaiah 64:6

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

 

  • Romans 3:20

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

 

10. The prophecies about the first coming of God Himself (YHWH  – Lord) in order to bring us back to our original condition. (Isa. 43:11, ; 25:9, 40:3, 9-10-11,  7:14 , 9:6)

 

·       Isaiah 43:11
          11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.

 


·       Isaiah 25:9  
9 And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

 

  • Isaiah 40:3

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord[a];

make straight in the desert a highway for our God

 

  • Isaiah 40:9-11

9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God shall come [a]with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His [b]work before Him. 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs with His arm,  And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

 

  • Isaiah 7:14

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

 

  • Isaiah 9:6

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

 

  1. The Incarnation (putting on Flesh) of God Himself

                        (John 1:1, 1:14; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim 3:16; Col. 1:15, 16)

 

  • John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

  • John 1:14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 9:5

New King James Version

5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

16 And without controversy great is the [a]mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

  1. (The purchase of each one of us with His own blood); The sacrifice of this physical body (like a sacrificial lamb) for sin.

(Jn 1:29, Jn 10:17; Is. 53:4, 10, 12; Rom 4:25, 5:8, 10:4, 1 Pet 1:18, 19; 2 Cor. 5:21, Lev. 17:11; Act 20:28)

  • John 1:29

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

  • John 10:17

 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

  • Isaiah 53:4-12

4 Surely He has borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows; Yet we [c]esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted….. Yet it pleased the Lord to [k]bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief…….. And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,  And made intercession for the transgressors.

  • 1 Peter 1:18-19

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with [a]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

NEW LIFE (Return to our First Position to be with God)

  1. Man’s return to his original standing with God.

                        (Eph. 2:13)

  • Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

  1. God’s seal of ownership: God’s covenant with us like the covenant of marriage

                        (Eph. 1:13 & 2 Cor. 1:22; Eze. 11:19; 36:25-27)

·       Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,


·       2 Corinthians 1:22
          who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

  • Ezekiel 11:19

19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within [a]them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh

  • Ezekiel 36:25-27

25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

  1. New birth is a gift of life in the Kingdom of God.

(John 3:3, 5; 2 Cor. 5:17 & Gal. 2:20)

·       John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
·       2 Corinthians 5:17
·       Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.


·       Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

  1. The Fruit of the Spirit: Blessings of God.

(Gal. 5:22-23)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

  1. Water baptism and our covenant with God and our announcement is like a wedding celebration.

 (Gal. 2:20, Act 2:38, Matt 3:13-17 & John 3:5


  • Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit


  • Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a]He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”


  • John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.


  1. Praying in our hearts that Gods will would be done in the lives of our dear friend-that the blood of Jesus would wash them and that they would find salvation. Prayer is always needed –

  • 1 Thess. 5:17

pray without ceasing,


  1. How one can share in this beautiful Grace.

   (Eph. 2:8, 9 & Titus 3:5, Jer. 29:11-13)


  • Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,


  • Titus 3:5

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,


  • Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.


  1. Invitation to Faith   (1 Cor. 12:3 & Rom. 10:9, 10)

  • 1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus [a]accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.


  • Romans 10:9-10

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation


TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

 

  1. Relationship vs. Religion

  1. One God (Deut. 6:4) vs. Trinity

  1. True love of God 

  1. Heaven and Hell (Gen. 2 & Rev. 22:3-5)

  1. Creation (Image of God) 

  1. Sin (Big and Small)

  1. The Law

  1. Good works vs. Bad Works (Sins): We could not get to heaven by Good works. The good works are our duties. God created us to do good work.

  1. Trinity (God, Jesus, Mary!) The Truth is One God in 3 Person (Forms). Illustration: H2O in 3 Forms (Simple and sufficient explanation but not as an accurate true understanding of the Trinity)

  1. Jesus!

  1. Son of God

  1. 100% God 100% Man: Needs to be clear in order to understand the prayer of Christ to Father on the Cross and other things like that. 

  1. Christ = Massih

  1. Emmanuel: God with us, Jesus was called Emmanuel.

  1. The Holy Spirit: Explain that He is God in form of Spirit who could live in you.

  1. Salvation (Freedom and salvation from what?!)

  1. Lukewarm witnesses (Lifestyle and No rules)! 

  1. Visa to Heaven but with a credit card to charge all wrongdoings!

  1. Faith

  2. True meaning of Repentance for a Muslim is negative, in Christianity is to “Change your mind” and it is a positive word  and it is not negative at all.

HOW TO EVANGELIZE

DONT’S

DO’S

Do not Judge or condemn them to hell(John 3:17

Show your love and God’s love to them.(John 3:16)

Do not let them think Christians are superior creations of God.(Eph. 2:8)

Be humble (Fruit of the Spirit) and show the love of Christ to them.

Do not try to imply that you know everything about Islam(1 Cor. 8:1)

Know how to share the Gospel (20 steps) with love, gentleness and reverence.(1 Peter 3:15)

Do not start by telling them they are sinners.

Start with the love of God.(1 John 4:8)

Do not just start talking. (James 3:5 – 6)

Listen to them first, learn from them, yet compare and test all their points with the word of God.(1 Thess. 5:21)

Do not hit on their weak points or condemn their sin.

Learn from our Lord Jesus how he talked to the Samaritan woman (John 4) Let the Holy Spirit convict them to their sin

Do not go out without your armor (Eph. 6)

Know the background of a Muslim who comes from a very dark dominion.  Be a prayer warrior.

Do not compromise with the word of God in your contact with them.  But do not offend them.

Keep your relation with them on the basis of praying for them and having empathy.

Do not assume they know your Biblical vocabulary.

Explain important doctrines in a very simple language.  Their understanding of each important step of “20 Steps” is totally different from yours.

DON’T’S

DO’S

Do not refer to the (Quran) to establish your point.

Refer to the Old Testament to support the New Testament message.

Do not mix your culture with the word of God (Their culture vs. yours)

Be simple and clear on the word of God.

Do not get into an argument.

Be patient.

Do not directly answer their question if they have not heard the “20 steps” yet.

Identify the question in your “20 steps” and always start one or two steps before answering their question.

Do not force them to believe whatever you say.

Let them see and test it against the Bible.  (Let them read the verses themselves)

Do not explain the Trinity before you share with them the “20 steps”

If you still have to explain, use illustrations such as an example of water as (H2O)

Do not get offended if they call you names.

You know you will always face persecution.

Do not get frustrated if they insist that Jesus is a prophet.

Learn from our Lord Jesus in (John 4)

Do not show off that you are righteous and they are sinners. Remember that we are “called righteous”

In the steps of explaining sin, share with them your struggle sin; walk with them through this path.  (Do not leave them alone).

Do not think that you are “saving them:

Let them know that God is the only who can save them.

Don’t ever think you are left alone in this Commission.

The Holy Spirit is your helper and Christ Himself is standing by you.  (Matt. 28:20)

“What is Christianity” Clss

Summary

20 Steps to Salvation  

                                                                                               

First position: Man in God’s presence.

  1. Who is God? (1John 4:8 John 1:1-3)

  2. Why did God create man? (Gen. 1:26-28 Psalms 8:4-9)

  3. What was man’s situation and status in the presence of God? Gen. 2:9-15 1:31)

  4. Why did God create man free? (Gen. 2:16-17    30:19)

Questions:

  1. Where is heaven?

  2. Why did God create man?

  3. When God created man did He want him to live in misery?

  4. Is man in that first position with God now?

  5. Why is man living in so much pain and misery?

Second position:  Man apart from God.

  • Man’s pride and self-sufficiency was the cause of his separation from God. (Gen. 3:6)

  • What was the consequence of man’s separation from God?

      (Num. 23:19  Gen. 2:17  Gen. 3:7-13,23)

  • What is the meaning of sin?

          (Matt.15:17-20  Matt. 5:21-22 and 27-28  1John 1:10  Romans 3:23)

  • Man’s effort to reach God through works and religion.

         (Isaiah 64:6  James 4:17  James 1:23-25 & 2:10  Romans 3:23 & 6:23) 

 

Questions:

  1. Do you see the root of man’s problems today?

  2. Do you agree that all of us are sinners compared to God?

  3. Do you agree that you and I deserve to be separated from God eternally?

  4. Do you agree that good works and religion are not means to get us back in to God’s presence?

Third Position: God’s plan for man.

  1. What did God do for man’s salvation? (Gen.3:15 Isaiah 12:2)

  2. God used prophets and Scripture to proclaim his coming for our salvation. (Isaiah 45:5,17 Isaiah 25:9  Isaiah 40:3  Isaiah 40:9-11)

  3. God became flesh. (Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 9:6 Malachi 3:1 John 1:1,14)

  4. God took flesh and sacrificed Himself on the cross to pay for our sins.(Psalms 22 Isaiah 53 John 1:29 Romans 5:8)

 

Questions:

  1. Can you feel God’s fatherly love?

  2. Is it clear now why God had to take flesh and come to earth?

  3. Is the meaning of Son of Man clear to you now?

Fourth Position:  Man returns into God’s presence.

  1. What is the result of what God did on the cross in our lives today? Eph. 1:13.

  2. What are the results of our faith? (Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22 New life 2Cor. 5:17, having a personal relationship with our heavenly father John 1:12 and Rev.3:20)

  3. What does believing mean? God’s grace Eph. 2:8-9.  How to be Saved Rom 10:9-13.

  4. Invitation to pray the sinner’s prayer. (1 Cor 12:3, Romans 10:9,10

 

Questions:

  1. What did you just do?

  2. Do you believe that now you are a child of God?

 

Download PDF
Scroll to Top