New to the Bible? Start here.
The Story From Creation to the Cross
If the Bible feels confusing, begin with the big picture. This page walks through the story in order: God, Creation, the rebellion of Satan, the fall of people, sin, God's rescue plan, Jesus Christ, the Cross, the Rising From the Dead, and being saved.
1. Who Is God? A Simple Explanation of the Trinity
Christians believe in one God - not three gods. The Bible reveals the one true God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians commonly call this the Trinity (one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
You do not have to fully understand the Trinity before you can know God or trust Jesus. Even Christians who have followed Jesus for many years recognize that God is greater than our ability to completely explain Him.
There is one God.
The Father is God.
Jesus, the Son, is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father. Yet there is only one God.
Jesus existed before He was born in Bethlehem
The Bible calls Jesus “the Word” and says He was with God in the beginning and was God. It also says that all things were made through Him. Later, that Word became flesh and lived among us.
The Holy Spirit was present at Creation
A clear picture of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
At Jesus' baptism, Jesus the Son is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice speaks from Heaven. They are distinct, yet Scripture teaches one God.
So when you later read that God sent His Son, that Jesus prayed to His Father, or that the Holy Spirit works in believers, you are not reading about three different gods. You are learning about the one true God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. God Created the Heavens and the Earth
God is the Creator. Genesis describes God creating light, the sky, land, seas, plants, the sun and moon, animals, and people. When Creation was complete, Scripture says God saw everything He had made and it was “very good.”
Human beings are especially precious in God's Creation because the Bible says we were made in His image. That does not mean God has a human body or that we physically look like Him. It means He made us in a special way that reflects something of who He is.
We can love, think, create, communicate, make meaningful choices, recognize right and wrong, care for others, and have a relationship with our Creator. Every person has value because every person bears God's image - whatever their age, ability, background, or circumstances.
3. What Happened With Satan?
The Bible tells us there is a real spiritual enemy called Satan, or the devil. You may also see him called the serpent, the tempter, or the accuser. His purpose is to pull people away from God, not because people are worthless, but because people matter deeply to God.
The Bible says Satan was created by God but rebelled against Him. He wanted his own way instead of God's way. The Bible gives us glimpses of this rebellion rather than one long, detailed story, so there are some things we should be careful not to claim with certainty.
Why does Satan hate people?
The Bible does not give one verse that simply says, “Satan hates humans because they are made in God's image.” But when we put the Bible's story together, many Christians understand this to be an important part of the reason.
You were made in the image of the God Satan rebelled against. Human beings are loved by God, created to know Him, and invited into a relationship with Him. Satan opposes God, so he also works against the people who bear God's image and whom God loves.
This does not mean you should be afraid of Satan. He is not God's equal. He is not another god. He is a created being, and the Bible teaches that his final defeat is certain. The purpose of understanding him is not to make you frightened. It is to help you understand why the Bible speaks about being tempted, lies, spiritual attacks, and our need to stay close to God.
Many Christians also look to Ezekiel 28:12-17 and Isaiah 14:12-15 for a picture of Satan's beauty, pride, and rebellion. Ezekiel 28 was spoken to the king of Tyre, so Christians differ on how directly it describes Satan. Still, the language speaks of Eden, an anointed cherub, great beauty, and a created being in whom sin was later found.
In the KJV, Ezekiel 28:13 names nine kinds of precious stones. Some Bible teachers compare them with the twelve foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:19-20 and see a picture of a creature trying to copy God's glory but falling short. The Bible does not directly make that stone-count comparison, and Revelation's twelve stones describe the New Jerusalem, not God Himself. So we should treat that as a helpful picture, not as a direct Bible statement.
The clearest point is found in Isaiah: “I will be like the most High.” Satan wanted a place that belonged to God. But he was created by God. He could never become God or equal Him.
4. The Serpent, Adam and Eve, and the Fall
Genesis 3 tells us that the serpent tempted Eve to doubt God's word and disobey Him. Adam also disobeyed. Sin entered the human story, and death followed.
This is why the world we know contains death, pain, being tempted, broken relationships, injustice, and separation from God. God's good Creation was not the problem. Rebellion and sin brought brokenness.
5. What Is Sin, and Why Does It Matter?
Sin is not merely a list of spectacular crimes. Sin is falling short of God's perfect standard and going against His will. It includes things we may think of as “small,” such as lying, stealing, jealousy, lust, hatred, selfishness, or deliberately choosing what we know is wrong.
You do not have to break every one of the Ten Commandments to need forgiveness. Even one sin shows that we have fallen short. James says that whoever keeps the whole law yet offends in one point is guilty of breaking the law.
Sin separates us from a holy God. Isaiah says, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” We cannot erase that problem by pretending we never sinned or by hoping our good deeds will cancel everything out.
6. The Wages of Sin and God's Rescue Plan
A wage is something earned. Scripture says sin earns death, while life with God forever is God's gift through Jesus Christ. Revelation 20 calls the lake of fire “the second death.” The Bible presents final judgment as serious and real.
But God did not leave people without hope. From the beginning, Scripture points forward to God's rescue. Christians understand Genesis 3:15 as the first promise pointing toward the One who would ultimately defeat the serpent. The Old Testament continues to prepare the way for the Messiah.
God's answer to our sin was not simply, “Try harder.” His answer was to provide a Savior.
7. God Sent Jesus
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, entered the world He created. He truly became human while remaining divine. He lived the life we could not live - without sin.
Jesus taught, healed, showed compassion, confronted hypocrisy, welcomed sinners who came to Him, and revealed the Father. But He came for more than an example. He came to save.
8. Why the Cross?
Because we could not pay our sin debt and still enter life with God forever with God, Jesus willingly took our place. He did not die because He had sinned. He died for us.
The Cross is where God's justice and God's mercy meet. Jesus took upon Himself what we could not remove from ourselves.
9. Jesus Rose From the Dead
The story did not end with Jesus in the tomb. The New Testament declares that He rose again. Christianity stands on the death and rising from the dead of Jesus Christ.
Jesus conquered death. The One asking you to trust Him is alive.
10. What Does This Mean for You?
You cannot go back and live a sinless life. You do not have to. Jesus has already done what you could never do for yourself. Being Saved is received as God's gift through faith in Him.
God Gives You a Choice
God loves you, but He does not force you to love Him, trust Him, or follow Him. Throughout the Bible, God calls people to come to Him and allows them to choose how they will respond.
Jesus invites you. He does not force you. You can ask questions, read the Bible for yourself, and decide what you believe. No one should feel pressured to say a prayer they do not mean.
Notice that Jesus says, “Come unto me.” It is an invitation. If you choose to come to Jesus, come honestly. You do not need perfect understanding or perfect faith. You can simply say, “Jesus, I want to know You. Help me believe. Help me understand.”
You do not have to become perfect first. You do not have to know the whole Bible. You can come to Jesus honestly, confess your sin, believe that He died and rose again, and trust Him as your Savior and Lord.
11. The Story Continues
Following Jesus is the beginning, not the end. Christians learn to pray, read Scripture, grow in faith, resist being tempted, and put on the whole Armor of God. The Bible also teaches that Satan's final defeat is certain and that Jesus Christ will reign.
What happens after I become a Christian? →
Learn about Satan and the Armor of God →
Read about Heaven and forever →