What Is Christianity?

[ezrider]

God wants the Walk, the Open Fellowship of man we find in the Creation Story. God did not come to create a new religion called Christianity, He came to walk along side us and we perverted it into religion. Christianity, as a religion is every bit as good as being an Islamic for gaining entry into Hell. The desired Christianity God desires is a moment by moment walk with Him through life.

:amen

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Good morning Rollo,
Very important subject! When we read the Creation story we see God Walking with Adam in the cool of the Evening and I chapter 3 of Genesis we see that Fellowship broken. In Matthew 18:11 we find Jesus teaching that He came for what had been lost, so what was lost?

Again, in Genesis 3 God kicks Adam out of the Garden and breaks fellowship with him and thus, with his wife, Eve. Fellowship was lost. When we take time to study the sayings of Jesus closely we see, even in the healings, that Jesus sought after fellowship. He even said in Luke 5:32 that He had not come for the righteous and had we asked any of the Scribes, Pharisees or the Sadducees they would have explained to us why they were righteous... they were Religious!

We see God/Jesus (John 1:1-3) break fellowship with Adam and Eve, the very thing they were created for and then, four thousand years later, we find Him seeking after us to return to Him, leaving us to ask ourselves, what could God, possibly want with me? I chased young and younger women. I got into so many fights it was not strange for me to be shot at. I lead thousands of people into sexual sin.

I cheated, Iied, I stole and I wish that were all I did, what does God want with me. God wants the Walk, the Open Fellowship of man we find in the Creation Story. God did not come to create a new religion called Christianity, He came to walk along side us and we perverted it into religion. Christianity, as a religion is every bit as good as being an Islamic for gaining entry into Hell. The desired Christianity God desires is a moment by moment walk with Him through life.

I like that Bill.
I like that.

 

[Brother Mike]

(Post removed. Does not conform to A&T Guidelines. Obadiah)

 

[Kenny_ms]

I was trying to give a good an account of what Christianity was to me, but dumped it because I honestly can't make sense of some of the rules here so, for me, the less said the better.

Anyway I wrote what I did in as few words as possible and as if I was explaining it to a non believer. My guess is I could have done a much better job but it brought up the point, how does one explain this the best/most uncomplicated way possible, and in as few words as possible to a non believer, in the case that becomes necessary?

Something they can understand and remember... take home with them and think about.

 

[th1b.taylor]

I like that Bill.
I like that.

For understanding, only I'd like to speak off the cuff about my previous post and if it goes to far, please remove it.

I married into a family of Christian nuts the same year I was saved, eleven months latter. My wife is the daughter of a very "Walk the Walk Deacon" and is the sister of three more Deacons of the same type, they are what I call Fundamental Christians. I saw that and her children are of the same mold and I saw the fun and the joy they had and I began that walk.

I had always sought after happiness but every time I thought I had found it, God, who called me in November of 1966, turned Satan loose on me and he would kick me, right behind my knees, both at the same time, and down I would go and I would follow Satan back onto the stage.

When the Spirit indwelt me, I saw all this joy and I married into it and the family began teaching me how to walk with God. Since 1/1/'90 I have walked with God, to the best of my ability and now I know, walking with God is a real hoot. I have had more fun and more joy than I ever dreamed of.

To those of you that have the religion, please, research the passages I used and then pray for the blessing I am sharing with God, He will grant it!

Edited: Oh, thanks Rollo, fell free to claim it and to preach it, I did and I still do. God bless brother.

 

[childeye]

I was trying to give a good an account of what Christianity was to me, but dumped it because I honestly can't make sense of some of the rules here so, for me, the less said the better.

Anyway I wrote what I did in as few words as possible and as if I was explaining it to a non believer. My guess is I could have done a much better job but it brought up the point, how does one explain this the best/most uncomplicated way possible, and in as few words as possible to a non believer, in the case that becomes necessary?

Something they can understand and remember... take home with them and think about.

This is the bold short of it. Believing that the Jesus of the Gospel is the Christ, is Christianity. The term Christ or Messiah means the True Image of God sent by God, and therefore not imagined or created by men. The term God pertains to that absolute Truth that is also the Spiritual impetus known as empathy. 2 Corinthians 4:4. 1 John 4:8.

 

[JLB]

Our relationship with God, restored, through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18


JLB

 

[childeye]

Our relationship with God, restored, through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18


JLB

True, and if I may elaborate. The blood of Christ means through the death of his flesh body, shed for our sins, which shows His unwavering Love, which causes men, who believe that this is the True Character of God, to Love God and be reconciled. John 15:13, Romans 5:7-8, 1 John 4:19.

 

[gr8grace3]

True, and if I may elaborate. The blood of Christ means through the death of his flesh body, shed for our sins, which shows His unwavering Love, which causes men, who believe that this is the True Character of God, to Love God and be reconciled. John 15:13, Romans 5:7-8, 1 John 4:19.

It wasn't Christs physical death and blood that paid for our sins. Many of men have died(physically) for their loved ones or friends.

The blood of Christ depicts His total work on the cross. In the OT the blood was literal and the judgement was symbolic. In the NT, the Blood was symbolic and the judgement was literal.

Christ died spiritually for our sins. My God,My God,why have you forsaken me? And He was still physically alive when He said,"It is finished." This is true love. If His physical death paid for our sins, we would never die physically.

Isaiah 53:10~~English Standard Version
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Our "life" is in our soul. Not in our blood, like the animal sacrifices.

 

[Free]

It wasn't Christs physical death and blood that paid for our sins. Many of men have died(physically) for their loved ones or friends.

The blood of Christ depicts His total work on the cross. In the OT the blood was literal and the judgement was symbolic. In the NT, the Blood was symbolic and the judgement was literal.

Christ died spiritually for our sins. My God,My God,why have you forsaken me? And He was still physically alive when He said,"It is finished." This is true love. If His physical death paid for our sins, we would never die physically.

Isaiah 53:10~~English Standard Version
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Our "life" is in our soul. Not in our blood, like the animal sacrifices.

That's not what the Bible says. It most certainly was Jesus's physical death and his actual blood that paid for our sins. That is a clear and basic teaching of Scripture.

 

[Obadiah]

I was trying to give a good an account of what Christianity was to me, but dumped it because I honestly can't make sense of some of the rules here so, for me, the less said the better.

Don't hesitate to contact us through a Private Message (or "Start a Conversation" as it's called on this site) for explanations of rules whenever you need them. I mean to say that to everyone on this forum too, not just you, Kenny_ms . I won't defend or argue about the rules but I will be glad to explain any of them and several times I've even helped people write their posts in ways that say what they want and still are within the rules. I'd sure much rather do that than have to be deleting posts and handing out warnings all the time!

 

[JLB]

That's not what the Bible says. It most certainly was Jesus's physical death and his actual blood that paid for our sins. That is a clear and basic teaching of Scripture.

 

[stovebolts]

I did a quick word search in my Bible program for the word Christian and it came back in two places.
The first passage is found in Acts 26 and the second passage is found in 1 Peter 4.

As opposed to defining Christianity as X, perhaps it's a package deal... sort of a journey..... asking... seeking... knocking... happy... sad.... rejoicing... suffering... engaging... disengaging... hoping... loosing hope... having faith, loosing faith... growing faith... and the list goes on and on and on.

 

[JLB]

I did a quick word search in my Bible program for the word Christian and it came back in two places.
The first passage is found in Acts 26 and the second passage is found in 1 Peter 4.

As opposed to defining Christianity as X, perhaps it's a package deal... sort of a journey..... asking... seeking... knocking... happy... sad.... rejoicing... suffering... engaging... disengaging... hoping... loosing hope... having faith, loosing faith... growing faith... and the list goes on and on and on.

No. Sorry, it has to be the meaning I gave or nothing at all. 2

NOT!


Where you been hiding?



JLB

 

[gr8grace3]

That's not what the Bible says. It most certainly was Jesus's physical death and his actual blood that paid for our sins. That is a clear and basic teaching of Scripture.

Have you ever really looked into it? The clear teaching in the bible is the fact that Christ was forsaken(separated) by His Father when He had the sins of the world laid upon Him. The Father cannot look upon sin. We are in a spiritual battle, and In spiritual death before we believe.

If it was His physical death and blood that paid for our sins, The Father would have just killed Him on the alter, like the animals in the OT.
Psalm 22:1~~New American Standard Bible
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God(Note: not "Father"), why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

Matt 27:46~~New American Standard Bible
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Matt 27:45~~New American Standard Bible
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

From noon to three there was darkness on all the land. This is when Jesus had the sins of the world laid upon Him and the Father Judged those sins........It was Jesus Christs substitutionary spiritual death that paid for our sins. He was separated From the Father.

When He said ,"It is finished." He was still alive and had a lot of blood left in Him.

John 19:30~~New American Standard Bible
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:34~~New American Standard Bible
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

His Spiritual death paid for sins. His Physical death brings our bodily resurrection.

 

[JLB]

Have you ever really looked into it? The clear teaching in the bible is the fact that Christ was forsaken(separated) by His Father when He had the sins of the world laid upon Him. The Father cannot look upon sin. We are in a spiritual battle, and In spiritual death before we believe.

If it was His physical death and blood that paid for our sins, The Father would have just killed Him on the alter, like the animals in the OT.
Psalm 22:1~~New American Standard Bible
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God(Note: not "Father"), why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

Matt 27:46~~New American Standard Bible
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Matt 27:45~~New American Standard Bible
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

From noon to three there was darkness on all the land. This is when Jesus had the sins of the world laid upon Him and the Father Judged those sins........It was Jesus Christs substitutionary spiritual death that paid for our sins. He was separated From the Father.

When He said ,"It is finished." He was still alive and had a lot of blood left in Him.

John 19:30~~New American Standard Bible
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:34~~New American Standard Bible
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

His Spiritual death paid for sins. His Physical death brings our bodily resurrection.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 1:5


washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It wasn't Christs physical death and blood that paid for our sins.

Christ's blood is indeed a ransom paid to redeem us from the slavery of our sins...

"5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2: NASB)

"...Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed..." (Titus 2:13-14 NASB)

"18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB)

In the OT the blood was literal and the judgement was symbolic. In the NT, the Blood was symbolic and the judgement was literal.

I used to think in these kinds of abstract spiritual way about the work of Christ until it sunk in that Hebrews talks about a literal Jesus taking his blood into the real tabernacle in heaven of which the Mosaic tabernacle is only a copy of:

"...we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN." (Hebrews 8:1-5 NASB capitals in original)

"He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. " (Hebrews 9:11-12 NASB)


.

 

[Free]

I did a quick word search in my Bible program for the word Christian and it came back in two places.
The first passage is found in Acts 26 and the second passage is found in 1 Peter 4.

As opposed to defining Christianity as X, perhaps it's a package deal... sort of a journey..... asking... seeking... knocking... happy... sad.... rejoicing... suffering... engaging... disengaging... hoping... loosing hope... having faith, loosing faith... growing faith... and the list goes on and on and on.

Don't forget Acts 11:26--three places in the NT total.

 

[Free]

Have you ever really looked into it? The clear teaching in the bible is the fact that Christ was forsaken(separated) by His Father when He had the sins of the world laid upon Him. The Father cannot look upon sin. We are in a spiritual battle, and In spiritual death before we believe.

If it was His physical death and blood that paid for our sins, The Father would have just killed Him on the alter, like the animals in the OT.
Psalm 22:1~~New American Standard Bible
For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God(Note: not "Father"), why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

Matt 27:46~~New American Standard Bible
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Matt 27:45~~New American Standard Bible
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

From noon to three there was darkness on all the land. This is when Jesus had the sins of the world laid upon Him and the Father Judged those sins........It was Jesus Christs substitutionary spiritual death that paid for our sins. He was separated From the Father.

When He said ,"It is finished." He was still alive and had a lot of blood left in Him.

John 19:30~~New American Standard Bible
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:34~~New American Standard Bible
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

His Spiritual death paid for sins. His Physical death brings our bodily resurrection.

Of course I have "looked into it." You have no biblical basis for this statement: "If it was His physical death and blood that paid for our sins, The Father would have just killed Him on the alter, like the animals in the OT." The Bible is very clear that Jesus's physical death paid for our sins--that was what was required in the OT, and that requirement did not change.

The Bible is also very clear that it is through his resurrection that we also will be resurrected: it was his conquering of death that makes this possible, not his death itself. Read 1 Cor 15:3-26 and Rom 6:1-11.

And what do you mean by "His spiritual death?" It sounds like you think his spirit literally died.

 

[th1b.taylor]

gr8grace,
Free is right on this one and like Free, I'm curious about the address' of the scriptures you use to come to your conclusion.