The Collins dictionary defines religion as, “belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief such as praying or worshiping in a building such as a church or temple.” Today, there are so many religions in the world and each one believes that they are the true religion, the true faith, the true belief system and the true doctrine.
All forms of religion base their doctrine and belief system on doing certain things/actions in order for them to receive/get something, be accepted or be loved by their god or gods. On the other hand, christianity is not a religion. It is based on a loving God giving His very best- His Son-Jesus Christ, so that whosoever would believe in Him, would receive eternal life (John 3:16). Eternal life is not limited to forgiveness of sins but includes having an abundant life that begins here on earth (John 3:36).
All other religions promote a form of godliness but the substance is not of the One true God- Yahweh. Any god that is not Yahweh- The I AM (Exodus 3:14), is really of man’s making. Christians are the only people whose God is real and alive (Romans 8:34). John 6:57 says, “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (New King James Version), this was Jesus speaking and Jesus is God- He is Yahweh, therefore God is alive and living amongst us.
In actual sense, christianity is based on the person of Jesus Christ and not a set of actionable things you are required to do in order to appease or please God. Therefore, being a christian is being Christ-like and is thus a way of life. Meaning that if anyone accepts Jesus Christ as Lord (born again), then God comes and dwells in them forever (Colossians 2:9; John 14:17-18; John 14:23); because the only way to approach God is through Jesus Christ and no other way (John 14:6). This then means that christianity is a person, the person of Jesus Christ. So what then does christianity being a way of life mean? It simply means that when Jesus comes to live in you once you’re born again, He begins to live through you by guiding you in all you do, so that your life becomes meaningful and fruitful (John 15:4-5). But of great note is that He will not force you to follow His guidance, instead you get to decide whether you will each day trust Him to guide you in all you do. If you choose not to, then you reap the consequences of your choices, which by the way, are all of your own making.
Being a christian is not do’s and don’ts, it’s the person of Jesus Christ living in and through a person: This is what sets christianity apart from every other form of religion on the face of the earth. Jesus Christ is where the life of a true christian begins and flows from. Christians also called believers are Christ-like because their life flows from Jesus Christ Himself.
Any religion that is not based on Jesus Christ as LORD and does not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is not of God and is Anti-Christ (1 John 4:2-3). It is false and is meant to misguide people into living lives of slavery and bondage under the influence of satan. Jesus Christ came, lowered Himself to become a man, so that He could give His life in exchange for ours (the world), so as to enable us to receive and have an abundant life (Romans 5:8). Jesus is God (John 10:30) and was in existence before time began (John 1:1-5); He gave us His abundant life (John 10:10) in exchange for our hopeless life.
Do not let the world deceive you that all religions in essence actually worship the One true God. This is a lie from the pits of hell. If you don’t believe that Jesus Christ is God and is the Son of God who came in the flesh and died for you and I, so that we can receive eternal life (abundant life), then you are in the wrong camp and are deceived.
Jesus loves you and wants you to experience His love and goodness in every area of your life. This begins by hearing the truth which is the good news about Jesus Christ (gospel).
If you are reading this article and would like to know more about Our loving God and His heart for you, read these articles- God’s Heart and The Greatest Love Story.
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