2006-05-01

Christianity Is Not a Religion but a Relationship

Religion is generally a set of beliefs and rules whereby one can follow and attain holiness and be qualified to go to heaven after one death.

However, Christianity is about relationship - relationship with Jesus.
Relationship with Jesus is obtained by believing in Jesus and accepting Him as Saviour and Lord.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Believing in Jesus is:
  1. He died on the cross to pay for our sins.
  2. He was resurrected to give us new life--- God's kind of life, ZOE life, of which eternal life is an attribute.
  3. Jesus is Man and God. As man, taking man's place, to die on the cross, to fulfill the laws, that we man may be saved.
  4. Jesus as God in defeating the devil and death caused by sin and being resurrected (by the power of the Holy Spirit), and making a show of them.
Updated 1 Aug 2023:

With religions, the founder is not as important as the teachings. 
With Christianity, if we take away Jesus, the teaching is empty.

1 Cor 15:1-2 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.... 

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.