Exploring Easter: What Do Christians Believe and Why Does It Matter?

Each year at Easter, we remember one of the most significant moments in history.

Jesus’ death. His resurrection. And what that means for us today.

But Easter isn’t just a moment we reflect on once a year.

It’s the foundation of everything Christians believe.

Because if Jesus didn’t die and rise again, there would be no salvation. No restored relationship with God. And no victory over sin.

So, what exactly do Christians believe?

In this blog, I want to walk you through some of the core beliefs that shape the Christian faith. This isn’t a theology lesson but a way to help you understand what’s behind the Easter story – and how it applies to your life.

What is the Godhead (or, the Trinity)?

God is One, yet three Persons – Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.

We’re introduced to the Godhead (also known as the Trinity) in the New Testament, particularly at the time of Jesus’ baptism. Jesus is affirmed by the Father, but is also accompanied by the Spirit in the form of a dove.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17 NIV

It’s a beautiful picture of unity between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – working together and cooperating to see God’s will fulfilled.

As believers, we’re called to equally honour and have an intimate relationship with all three Persons of the Godhead. We pray to the Father, (Ephesians 5:20) with Jesus as our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) and empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11) to live lives that glorify God.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is God in the flesh. In the book of John, we learn that the Word was God (John 1:1) and soon after we read:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NIV

Jesus was sent to the earth as the Son of God – indicating his divine nature. The Word of God points to this many times, including:

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.

John 3:16 NIV 

And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17 ESV

Jesus even said in John 10:30: “I and the Father are one.” Therefore, He is more than a prophet or teacher that people in the world claim Him to be – Jesus is God. He is Lord. He is King. And just as we worship God the Father, we’re to also worship Jesus as the Son.

While Jesus is fully God, He is also fully human. The Word of God tells us that Jesus was born of woman, and that He humbled Himself to take on the human form.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

Galatians 4:4 NIV

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.”

Philippians 2:7a NLT

Jesus experienced the same limitations we do as humans, including hunger (in the wilderness, see Matthew 4:2), grief (in loss, see John 11:35), and pain and suffering (leading to the cross, see Hebrews 5:7-10).

Because Jesus went through the same things we do on this earth, we can trust that He is a mediator who empathises with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and can help us in times of need. But even in weakness, He remained sinless (1 Peter 2:22).

That’s why Jesus is the only One who could take the full punishment for our sin – and why He’s the example Christians follow.

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is many things to a believer – Helper, Advocate, Counsellor, Intercessor, Comforter and more:

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

John 14:26 AMPC

God gives every believer the gift of the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation. That means every person who follows Jesus carries the Spirit of God.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-15 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

1 Corinthians 6:19a NIV

Not only do we possess God’s Spirit, but we’re also to live our lives led by Him. Only then can we walk in the fullness God has called us to. Only by His Spirit can we see the miracles of God in operation in and through our lives.

It’s by the power of the Holy Spirit that we’re able to understand the Word, hear God’s voice and know His will. Without Him, the kingdom of God would remain a mystery, never to be discovered. That’s why God’s truth seems like foolishness to unbelievers – they aren’t filled with the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13 NIV

It’s by the power of the Holy Spirit that we witness people in our world come to experience Jesus. As we walk in the Spirit, we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit and embody Jesus’ character (Galatians 5:22-25).

Why does the Bible matter?

The Bible is the Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God.

It’s written by humble, anointed servants of God, under the direction of His Spirit. The Bible is a collection of history recounting, poetry, prose and prophecy. And it’s not just any other book associated with a religion. It is:

• Alive and active
• Powerful
• Truth

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

The Bible is the standard by which every Christian should live. Not a nice-to-have, but a must-have guide that we can apply to every area of our lives.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

James 1:22 NIV

By reading the Word each day, we receive wisdom, encouragement, conviction, correction, spiritual keys, revelation and intimacy with God.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

Romans 15:4 NIV

It’s also through the Word of God that we exercise our spiritual authority to walk in victory over the enemy (Satan – more on him later). Ephesians 6 says the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit – the only defensive weapon in the spiritual armour the Apostle Paul instructs believers to wear.

That means when we stand on the authority of the Bible and declare it with our mouths, we can win the battles we face against our enemy.

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

What happened at Easter – and what does it mean?

We were created to love God and to be loved by God.

But sin (doing anything against God’s will) has separated us from God. It all started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when they doubted God’s Word and were deceived by the serpent (Genesis chapter 3). Ever since, sin became an ongoing issue for humans.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23 NIV

The first thing God did to cover up Adam and Eve’s shame after they fell into sin was make them clothes out of animal skin (Genesis 3:21). That means the blood of animals was shed to cover up their sin.

Throughout the Old Testament in the Bible, we read that this practice continues – to make up for their sin against God, the law required the Israelites to sacrifice certain types of animals in certain ways as an offering to God. A common condition across the different categories of animal sacrifices was that it required an unblemished animal.

Again and again, we read that the Israelites kept messing up and sin continued to create distance between God and man.

This is where salvation comes in. God couldn’t stand the fact that sin separated Him from His greatest creation of all time. So, He sent His Son Jesus to earth to live the human experience, suffer death on a cross and rise to life so that we could be restored to the Father again.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16-17 NIV

Jesus had to be the one to be sacrificed for us all because He was perfect and sinless.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

Because Jesus went to the cross and paid the price for our sin – past, present and future – when we accept and honour that sacrificial act, we are forgiven by God. We no longer need to offer animal sacrifices or follow a strict law to be right with God.

We can come to Him as we are. Praise God!

What is water baptism?

Water baptism comes after salvation.

It’s a personal decision – not something forced, but chosen by conviction.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 

Acts 8:36-38

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 2:41

Water baptism involves full immersion in water and represents something deeper. It is:

• A public declaration of faith
• A symbol of dying to your old life
• A reflection of Jesus’ death and resurrection

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:4 NIV

Jesus Himself was baptised before beginning His ministry on earth.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17 NIV

Not long after, Jesus was led into the wilderness, tested by the devil, and then called His disciples to walk the ministry journey with Him. Jesus’ example shows us the spiritual significance of water baptism – if He saw the need for it, how much more should we?!

He also commanded His disciples to baptise new followers of Christ.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19 NIV

Baptism isn’t just a moment, but a marker of personal transformation.

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

What about healing – how does it connect to Easter?

During His time on earth, Jesus healed the sick, delivered the oppressed and restored lives.

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Matthew 8:16-17 NIV

These weren’t random acts. They pointed to who He is – and what He came to do.

Jesus didn’t just come to forgive sin. He came to restore.

We also see His disciples doing the same throughout the book of Acts, following His instruction to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons (Matthew 10:8).

Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

Acts 5:16 NIV

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is still at work today through Christians. We’re to operate in our kingship anointing and destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus said He’s given us authority over all the power of the devil (Luke 10:19) – that includes sickness. If we have the Holy Spirit living in us – the Spirit of God – and Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, these signs should follow every believer.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15 NIV

Healing is part of the bigger picture of redemption. A glimpse of the fullness of life Jesus paid for on the cross.

Who is Satan?

Satan (a.k.a. the devil) is the adversary – he opposes God and His people, and stands against the Kingdom of God advancing on earth. His presence on earth is the reason we’re in a spiritual war and need to be aware of his schemes in our lives.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 NIV

We see in the Bible, straight from the mouth of Jesus, that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). There is no truth to anything he says – he shows his true colours as early as the Fall (Genesis 3). He is evil to the core and the source of all evil in the world.

And His strategies are consistent:

• Lies
• Deception
• Accusation
• Destruction

But Satan’s power is limited. Because Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)! And as Christians, through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we have all authority over the devil by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Luke 10:19 NIV

It’s only through our agreement with the devil’s lies that he has power over children of God. That’s why he works so hard to deceive people. The good news is that we can overcome the devil’s by rejecting them, standing on God’s truth and speaking the Word of God!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 NIV

What happens next? Is Jesus coming back?

Easter isn’t the end of the story. Everything we do on earth today is in preparation for Jesus’ return to earth in all His glory – the Bride awaits the return of the Bridegroom. The New Testament points to this coming event many times, including:

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 14:3 NIV

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:27-28

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:27-28 NIV

Eternity is real. Jesus will return to end the world as we know it, raise the dead and judge the living and the dead. He’ll also come to do what many believers are waiting for with eager anticipation – to experience the fullness of glory and be united with the Lord to dwell with Him for eternity.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 3:36 NIV

So, those who have died in Christ will be raised to life to be with Him and those who are alive will be raptured to heaven and enjoy the new heaven and earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

While we wait for this day, I believe we’re not to obsess over it, but to live conscious of it. And focus on the work of spreading the gospel (Matthew 24:14,44) while destroying Satan’s kingdom. And when Jesus comes, this will also be the final triumph against the devil – when all enemies will be under the feet of Jesus.

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:24-26 NIV

On that day, every person will stand before God and give an account.

This isn’t meant to create fear, but awareness. It reminds us that this life isn’t all there is. And it calls us to live with purpose, intention and reverence to God.

Why does all this matter?

It’s easy to see Easter as a moment we celebrate each year.

But it’s more than that – it’s an invitation. An invitation to know God, understand His Word and live in the freedom and healing Jesus paid for.

This isn’t just theology. This is real life!