Christianity is an interesting topic for many people and many of them want to know the definition behind it. There are many false views circulating today when it comes to defining Christianity; however, it is important to understand a proper definition of Christianity and what it means.
If a person fails to have a proper definition of Christianity, they will not have a proper view of the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Defining Christianity
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Christianity as "the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as Sacred Scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies."
This is a pretty accurate definition of Christianity as it is a faith system derived from the teachings of Jesus, which is based on the Bible and professed by many different denominations of believers.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary's definition is more of a textbook definition, yet it is still very helpful when it comes to defining Christianity.
In the simplest of terms, Christianity can be defined as having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Many people view Christianity as a religion, but it is actually a faith and a relationship with Jesus.
Religions are based on rules and regulations established by man, yet Christianity centers around a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is why followers of Christianity refer to themselves as Christians. They refer to themselves as Christians because they follow Jesus Christ and obey His teachings.
Key Doctrines
The main part of Christianity is accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord. You can do this by placing faith in Him. This means you believe that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
If you believe this, you are given forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life. It is important to note here that salvation isn't achieved by anything you do.
Rather, salvation is by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). You don't have to work at salvation, nor do you have to be unsure about salvation.
In religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, salvation is always achieved by something you do or by being deemed good enough.
Moreover, salvation is not seen as going to heaven for many of these religions, as some of them believe in becoming one with the universe and ceasing to have consciousness.
Christianity is unique among all religions and cults because it is the truth. In no other religion, do we not see their god coming down from heaven to die for their sins. Only in Christianity do we see God Himself coming down from Heaven to die for our sins.
False Views and False Definitions of Christianity
Unfortunately, there are many false views and false definitions of Christianity. Many people believe that Christianity is based on rules and regulations when it's not. While there are legalistic churches and legalistic Christians, nowhere does Jesus teach legalism.
Legalism is unbiblical and can cause many to turn away from the faith. Many legalistic churches have permanently damaged those who were trying to come to know Christ by imposing rules on them — rules Jesus never commanded.
There is also the false view and false definition of Christianity in the sense that many cults are a part of Christianity. Cults such as the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses are two examples of cults that try to claim they are Christians.
These select two cults are known as cults for a reason. They both teach false views of Jesus, the Bible, and salvation. They impose incorrect teaching on the people and have a distorted view of the truth of God. These cults were created by men and have led many astray.
Despite these cults trying to claim to be Christians, they are not. They can be tricky and sneaky at times, but we can recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Speaking of which, there are many other cults, such as Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and the Quiverfull Movement, that try to attach themselves to Christianity. Neither the IBLP nor the Quiverfull Movement is biblical. Yet again, these cults are teachings created by man, not by God.
Lastly, the Prosperity gospel is another movement that tries to attach itself to Christianity. The most well-known pastor of this movement is Joel Osteen.
The Prosperity gospel is focused on God wanting the best life for you, the most money possible, and the best health throughout your life.
This is an appealing pitch for many, yet it is not biblical. None of these cults or movements are a true definition of Christianity. It is important to mention what Christianity is not in order to fully know what Christianity is.
True Christianity
As mentioned, Christianity is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and following Him throughout your entire life. Salvation is only given by Jesus Christ and growth in our Christian walk is only possible by the Holy Spirit.
Christianity needs to also be defined in the sense that it is a monotheistic faith system, not a polytheistic faith system. Christianity teaches there is one God, yet there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, also known as the Trinity.
These three persons are the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. When a Christian prays or talks with God, they are talking to all three parts of the Godhead.
Christianity is unique in this sense even though it can be difficult to understand at times. The sacred book of Christianity is the Bible, which contains everything we need to know about life, death, and living to serve God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Many people overlook the Bible and even fail to see it as a privilege to own; however, it contains the true words of God. Through prayer and Bible reading, we can hear back from God and deepen our relationship with Him.
Christianity is also unique in the sense that it allows you to have a personal relationship with God. The moment you place faith in Jesus, you are given a personal relationship with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Through this personal relationship, you have the opportunity to get to know God better, grow more in His image, and ask for His help in your daily life. You can also praise and worship Him for His goodness, love, and kindness.
Lastly, it is important to mention Christianity's definition of life after death. Christianity does not define life to end once a person dies. Our bodies die, but our soul lives on. In fact, our soul lives on forever. The only question is where our soul will be, which is ultimately up to us.
If we place faith in Jesus by believing that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, then we go to Heaven when we die. However, if we fail to place faith in Jesus and reject Him, we will go to hell when we die.
Therefore, the choice is ultimately up to us. God doesn't send anyone to hell — people send themselves when they don't place faith in His Son.
Concerning eschatology, Christians have different views, with some believing in dispensationalism and others believing in covenant theology.
While these two different sides have different views, they both believe the final destinations for believers will be in the New Heaven and New Earth, which God will create in the future.
All believers will remain in the New Heaven and New Earth forever, and never will there be any more tears, illness, or death (Revelation 21:4). However, unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire along with the devil, the antichrist, and the false prophet (Revelation 20:10).
What Does This Mean?
Thus, Christianity is a faith system that prioritizes placing faith in Jesus, a personal relationship with Jesus, following Jesus, and helping others to know about Jesus. The Bible is our one and only book given to us by God, and it contains everything we need.
It tells us what happened in the past and what will happen in the future. Many people may never believe in Christianity; however, there will come a day when all people will see the Lord and know Christianity is true.
If you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you can accept Him today by believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. God loves you, and He wants you to be a part of His eternal family (John 3:16-17).
For further reading:
What Is Evangelical Christianity?
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