March-April 1998
What Makes Christianity Different?
by Muriel Larson
| All religions, except Christianity, make man's salvation dependent on man. But no man could ever become good enough for fellowship in eternity with the holy God who made him. |
Why should Christians send forth missionaries to convert people to Christ? Have you ever thought it a foolish waste of time, effort and money? Just about every tribe and nation in the world has some kind of god. Is it not enough if people are sincere and try to live according to the rules of their culture?
Representatives of leading religions in the world are meeting to see if they can find common ground for unity. Before long they hope to have a great world church composed of all religions.
From a strictly human standpoint, there may perhaps be some good in the various major religions of the world, the founders of which have, for the most part, stressed the need for living good lives. But there is quite a variance as to what is considered good.
In the Bible, by inspiration of God, the Apostle Paul gave a concise definition of Christianity: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Christ's beloved disciple John also defined the Christian gospel in John 3:16: "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."
Answers Sin Problem
True Christianity is different from other religions in that it is the only faith that answers the sin problem.
Few people would deny that sin is the cause of the major problems in the world. Mankind is beset with wars, crimes, disease, alcoholism, hunger, injustice and guilt -- all because of sin.
Men have tried to get rid of sin and all that goes with it, but they haven't succeeded. A former hippie, who had talked of the need for people to love one another and live in peace, admitted that his mind had been filled with hatred toward others. He could not change himself; how could he change the world?
Many strive to live good lives, but because of the sinful natures with which individuals are born, not one person can succeed in being perfect. Somewhere along the line people do transgress, no matter how hard they try not to. The Bible says, "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10).
However, this book which Christians know to be the word of God says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Men could never succeed in becoming good enough for fellowship with the holy God who made them. Therefore God became a man in order to care for the sin problem and to reconcile to Himself those who would accept His sacrifice on the cross for their sins.
The Bible says that God made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, "so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
That same chapter also says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Salvation by Faith
True Christianity is the only religion that teaches that salvation is by faith rather than by works.
All other religions make man's salvation dependent on man. But man's efforts to be good and to do good are feeble at best. One need only look at his own life to find that this is true. Everyone has failed many times.
Who can bridge the gulf between the holy God and sinful man? Only God can do it, and He did. Even the rich young man who told Jesus that he had kept all Ten Commandments had failed to keep the first one: "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). His god was money.
Has anyone kept what Jesus Christ said were the first two great commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself"? (Matthew 22:37, 39). If each person is honest, he will have to confess he has failed miserably.
The Bible says that people are not saved by works of righteousness which they have done but because of God's mercy, by spiritual rebirth and renewing of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6).
Romans 4:25 says that Jesus Christ was "delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification," which means to be freed from blame or guilt.
The Apostle Paul testified that more than 500 people saw Jesus Christ after His resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). Christ was then caught up into heaven, where He now intercedes for His people (Hebrews 7:25).
Changes Lives
Acceptance of Jesus Christ has changed many a self-centered sinner into a saint. It changed the harlot Mary Magdalene into a woman of God. It changed Saul, a killer and persecutor, into a great missionary -- the Apostle Paul. It changed the extortioner Zacchaeus into a generous and honest man.
It has changed drunkards and drug addicts into sober, productive citizens. It has changed self-centered people into selfless servants of God and others. It has changed cannibals and other pagans into godly Christians.
Christianity has sent self-sacrificing missionaries all over the world to help heal the sick in body and soul. It has established hospitals, orphanages and schools.
But the main reason it is important to reach all people with the gospel of Jesus Christ is that believing on the Son is the only way whereby they can be saved from the wrath of God and can obtain eternal life (John 3:36).
The Apostle Peter said concerning Jesus Christ, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
If Jesus Christ is not your Savior, trust in Him now.
Muriel Larson is a writer, teacher and certified Christian counselor living in Greenville, South Carolina.