Christianity: The Unique Religion
Quoting George Will's op ed newspaper column of 24 Dec. 1998,
"Truth survives Christmas in America", "A sardonic British
skeptic of the late 19th century suggested that three words should be carved in
stone over all church doors: 'Important if true.' " Did you know that the Bible never records Jesus telling a sinner that, "You
are going to hell!"? It is said that "religion" reflects
man's attempt to link up to God, while Jesus (and the derived
Christianity...preceded by Judaism) is God's divine revelational effort to link up with
man (other religions not based on actual divine revelation). "Jesus",
meaning "Jehovah's deliverer". Here are unique features
of the key figure and the religion:
Key
Figure, Jesus of Nazareth:
 |
incarnation:
the only religion claiming that God became a man, Jesus. Jesus came as a
king to
establish a kingdom in peoples' hearts...His message asks for a person's
heart. |
|
savior:
the only key figure claiming to be divine, to have all authority,
& a savior...He both paid the sin
debt for all humans and brings The Way to salvation & a
true, moral life...&
the only person ever recognized by a significant segment of mankind as a
savior! |
|
sin:
the only key figure claiming to be sinless, able to help a follower turn
from sin, & authorized by God to forgive sin |
|
he lives:
the only key figure who left no bones because he was resurrected & lives...His
resurrection validating His claim to being God as man |
|
grace-based:
the only key figure who did for you what you didn't deserve & couldn't
do for yourself (atone for your sin before God) |
|
judgment: the
only key figure who, in the place of God the Father, renders a final & eternal judgment
of each human |
|
incarnation:
has the only key figure of any religion claiming to be both God and a man |
|
savior:
the only religion claiming a savior as The Way to both a saved, true moral
life on earth & eternal salvation |
|
sin: the
only religion claiming a sinless key figure |
|
he lives:
the only religion claiming a resurrected, living key figure (savior). The
resurrection
of Jesus from the dead is the event that dramatically sets Christianity
apart from all other religions...Christianity being actually more about a living
relationship (you & Jesus) than about being a "religion". |
|
grace-based:
the only religion about what God did for you through Jesus rather than what you must do
for God. |
|
judgment:
Jesus is the Son of Man & can relate to each one that He is judging;
and, as the Son of God, He can relate to God's concept of justice. Jesus is
the perfect mediator. |
Warning!!
John 18: 37, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me
[Jesus]." 1 John 4:2-3, "Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has
come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is
coming and even now is already in the world." Beware of those who speak of
the "Cosmic Christ" or those speaking for such as the "Jesus
Seminar"...they are
not talking about Jesus of Nazareth, God as the Son of God!
[***Go
much deeper here: take a quick peek***]
(posted 7 September 2002;
last updated 29 September 2005)
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