International Christian Church Rome

As a disciple of Jesus, we believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, the Son of God who died for our sin as it is written in John 3:16 (NKJV) — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

According to ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬, Christ is supreme in everything. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

According to the bible, love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NKJV).

There’s no perfect love in this world, but the love from God. Romans 5:8 (NIV) – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV) – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT) – Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:17–19 (NLT) – And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

Faith and prayers are the lifeblood of believers. The bible says without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:16). Jesus himself said in Mark 11:24 — “whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Faith is the is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Jesus came for all of us sinners. No matter how “good” or “moral” we are, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV). Therefore, we should humble ourselves before Jesus, and sincerely invite him as our Lord and Savior. We ask His forgiveness and believe He died for our sins and we are made as a new creation, as we accept the Holy Spirit and start a new life in Christ. If you don’t know how to start receiving Jesus in your life, pray this salvation prayer.

Baptism is a significant step in a believer’s life, hence it’s important to understand its role in salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” This passage emphasizes that salvation is not earned through any human work, including baptism. Instead, it’s a gift from God received by faith in Jesus.

Baptism, while a powerful and important symbol in Christianity, is an outward expression of an inward transformation. It signifies a believer’s identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This is beautifully captured in Romans 6:4 (NKJV), “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

So, while water baptism is a significant step of obedience for a Christian, it is not the means by which we are saved. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Baptism is a wonderful way to publicly declare your faith and commitment to follow Jesus, but it does not earn your salvation.

Facing suffering as a Christian involves a combination of faith, prayer, community, and seeking God’s guidance. It’s a journey that will lead to personal growth and a deeper relationship with Jesus. Remember that you don’t have to go through it alone, and seeking help and support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Many characters in the Bible suffer, like Job, Joseph, and Daniel. However, through their sufferings, they are sanctified and the glory of God was manifested.

“For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭AMP

“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭AMP