A False Christianity

You’ve no doubt heard that all religions lead to heaven and worship the same god. If this is true, then Christianity is a lie. Christianity is the only religion where salvation comes through grace alone, by faith in Christ. All other religions require some sort of works to receive salvation. This means Christianity is the opposite of all other religions. Two opposing belief systems can be wrong, or one can be right. However, both cannot be right.

Believers around the world celebrated Christianity’s holiest day yesterday. Most call it Easter; others prefer to call it Resurrection Sunday. Regardless its name, a Risen Savior is the center of the celebration. Many denominations are now rejecting a crucified and risen Christ. This too is a false Christianity. The Bible declares as much:

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

All other religions and belief systems are centered on either a dead founder or an inanimate object. If you go to the grave of Mohammed, his remains will be found there. Joseph Smith’s remains are lying in his grave in Nauvoo, Illinois. Jesus Christ’s tomb is empty. If Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, then the Bible is a lie:

“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9)

Defeating death, or at least delaying its inevitability, has been and is the goal of most humans. However, physical death cannot be overcome as far as we are concerned. We are all going to die. Death has dominion over each of us. But “death no longer has dominion over Him,” that is Jesus has defeated death. This seemingly unexplainable fact is why supposed Christian theologians either avoid or reject the resurrection.

It is inexplicable how any person who calls him or herself a Christian can reject the resurrection. Christ being raised from the dead is the only real distinguishing fact of Christianity. If the resurrection had not happened, then it would be true that all religions are the same. If the resurrection did not happen, then those preachers who call themselves Christians should be silenced forever. If the resurrection did not happen, then Christians have nothing in which to place their faith:

“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

The Book of Romans is considered to be the Apostle Paul’s Gospel. The central theme of Paul’s Gospel is the righteousness of God and its availability through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul’s whole ministry was centered upon the fact of the resurrection. So if the resurrection did not happen, then most of the New Testament should never have been written. If the resurrection did not happen, then we should reject every epistle ever written by Paul:

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:1-4)

If the resurrection did not happen, then Easter is nothing more than a reason to get all dressed up and attend church. If the resurrection did not happen, then Easter is nothing more that a reason to color eggs, hide them for children to find, and fill their baskets with candies and goodies. Sadly, to many that is all Easter is.

However, for Christians the resurrection is the sole reason we believe. If the resurrection did not happen, then we don’t even deserve to be lumped into other religions. We should be nothing more than a sad and deluded group of people:

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

If Christ was not raised from the dead, then this life is all we have. When we die, we no longer exist. This is it, and this being it alone is reason for despair. If the resurrection did not happen, then there is no reason to seek the righteousness of God. It is all foolishness.

Nevertheless. Jesus has risen! He has risen indeed!

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2016 David Jeffers

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