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Pastor Chris White says to all of you: HELLO MY FRIENDS. May the Lord bless you today.
HOLA MIS AMIGOS. Que el Señor los bendiga.
Religion is the practice
of faith; that is, religion is the external or ceremonial observance of a set
of beliefs. Technically, there is a difference between faith (the internal
attitude) and religion (the external works), but for the sake of this article,
we will define “Christian religion” broadly as “the faithful observance of the
teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles.”
James 1:27 says
that religion that is “pure and faultless” before God is “to look after orphans
and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the
world.” In other words, care for the needy and personal virtue are externals
which are present when one has a true love for God. And, since James specifies
that he is speaking of “pure and faultless” religion, there must exist an
“unclean and imperfect” type of religion as well—a religion not based on love
for God.
Here are five reasons why the Christian religion is better than non-Christian
religions (why observing the teachings of Jesus Christ is better than not
observing them):
Christian religion – Jesus Christ is the Way to God.
The Christian religion is better than other religions because that which leads
to God is better than that which leads away from God. We have sinfully wandered
away from God (Isaiah 53:6), and
we need a Guide to lead us back. Jesus is that Way (John 14:6), the
One to seek the lost (Luke 19:10).
Jesus claims not to be one of many ways, but the one-and-only Way to God. He
is, in fact, God Himself in human flesh (John 20:28), so
to find Jesus is to find God. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,” He
said (John 14:9). The
Christian religion is unique in that it offers a close, intimate relationship
with the personal God of the universe.
Christian religion – Jesus Christ is the Truth.
The Christian religion is better than other religions because things that are
true are better than things that are false. Jesus is “the Truth” (John 14:6). He
is the embodiment of truth, the revelation of God to humanity (Colossians 2:9), and
the conveyor of God’s words (John 17:8). The
Christian religion is grounded in truth, being based on a historical Person
whose acts were verified by eyewitnesses and recorded by four different
biographers. Parodies of Christianity often spring up through the work of
“false prophets” (1 John 4:1), but
only Jesus is true. In following Christ, Christians have the utmost regard for
truth, as opposed to hollow externals and the hypocrisy of false appearances.
The Christian religion is unique in that it forces us to face the truth about
ourselves and speak the truth with others.
Christian religion – Jesus Christ is the Life.
The Christian religion is better than other religions because life is better
than death and heaven is better than hell. Jesus is “the Life” (John 14:6); He
is the source of life, and without Him one cannot truly live (John 1:4; 3:36; 5:24; 10:10).
Jesus provides what we need: the Bread that satisfies forever (John 6:35), the
Water that gives eternal life (John 4:14; 7:37-38), and
the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25).
These are more than empty claims; Jesus proved His ability to give life by
raising from the dead Lazarus (John 11),
Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5), and
the boy from Nain (Luke 7).
Then, after His own death on the cross, Jesus rose again the
third day, having conquered death forever (Matthew 28). The
Christian religion is unique in that it is based on the actual, physical
resurrection of its Founder.
Christian religion – Jesus Christ transforms mankind.
The Christian religion is better than other religions because righteousness is
better than wickedness. Other religions may impose conformity to a certain code
of behavior, but they have no power to change the heart. Christianity teaches
that the believer is “dead to sin” and now lives “in newness of life” (Romans 6:2, 4). The authenticating mark of a Christian is
his transformation from practicing sin to having a zeal for good works (Titus 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17). The
Christian’s zeal for doing good has resulted in the founding of countless
orphanages, hospitals, clinics, schools, homeless shelters, and emergency
relief agencies—all in the name of Christ. The Christian religion is unique in
that it does not force change from without but revolutionizes lives from
within.
Christian religion – Jesus Christ is loving.
The Christian religion is better than other religions because love is better
than the absence of love. God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Love
is the greatest of His gifts to us (1 Corinthians 13:13)—not
the fickle, so-called love of the world, but the selfless, unconditional love
which always seeks to benefit the one loved. God showed His love for us in
sending His one-and-only Son (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).
Jesus showed His love for us in providing for our salvation by dying on the
cross (John 15:13).
Jesus gave His followers a new command: “Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Love, not duty or debt, is what motivates the believer and impels him to
greater humility and greater service for the kingdom of heaven. Christianity is
unique in that it is not a system of rules but a celebration of unselfish love.
“Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
Man, in his creativity, has invented innumerable religions in his attempt to
reach God. God, in His love, has given us the truth: the one religion,
Christianity, in which God attempts to reach man.
Thank you to Got Questions Ministries
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