This book is a conversation — the kind you might have over breakfast with a friend who wants to wrestle with the things that matter most in the Christian life. We open the Scriptures together, ask hard questions, and look for answers that make sense — not because they’re clever, but because they are rooted in God’s story from the very beginning.

That story begins in a garden. God planted humanity in Eden — not as servants to be kept at a distance, but as sons and daughters, made in His image, to walk with Him in love and trust. But sin broke that fellowship. We chose our own way, and the garden was lost. The rest of the Bible tells of God’s relentless plan to bring us home — not just to a place, but to a relationship. That plan ends in another garden: the New Jerusalem, where every tear is wiped away and nothing unclean will enter.

Along the way, we’ll explore the core Christian concepts every believer must wrestle with: salvation, the Holy Spirit, baptism, faith and works, generosity, and God’s sovereignty. Each section begins with the biblical foundation, then looks honestly at the tensions — the misunderstandings, the half-truths, the places where tradition can obscure clarity. We will compare perspectives without pride or one-upmanship, always returning to the question: What does the Bible actually say?

We’ll see how salvation is more than a transaction — it’s a restoration of what was lost in Eden. How the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal “it” but God Himself dwelling in us, sustaining us between the gardens. How baptism is not just a ritual, but a declaration of allegiance and a spiritual act of war. How faith and works are not enemies but partners in Kingdom life. How tithing is not a grudging obligation but an act of joyful surrender, acknowledging that all we have belongs to God. And how the tension between predestination and free will can lead us to deeper trust rather than division.

This is not an expert’s lecture. It is two travelers walking the same road, talking about the landmarks, the dangers, and the destination. You may not agree with every conclusion — and that’s alright. The goal is not to win arguments, but to love the truth, walk in it, and be ready to explain why you believe it.

The first garden was lost. The second garden is coming. Let’s live now as if we are already on our way home.