What Is Christianity?

Christianity is not a philosophy, a way of life, or a moral code.  Christianity is about a person: Jesus of Nazareth. The message of Christianity is that Jesus is the Messiah promised throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Christ ianity is the message that Jesus is the Christ

The Jewish Scriptures, or Old Testament, tells us that the only true God of the universe is a gracious but jealous Creator who desires to save the people of the world (his graciousness) from his anger at their continual rebellion against him (his jealousy). In the beginning the first two human beings, a man and a woman, were created at peace with God, living in loving submission to each other, and entrusted by God with the care of all creation. Rather than accept that role, humanity chose knowledge of good and evil.

God promised a Christ or Messiah who would redeem humanity from the guilt of their disobedience. His Christ would rule the universe “with justice and with righteousness.” (Isaiah 9:7). The nations would be his heritage, and the ends of the earth his possession (Psalm 2:8). He would usher in a new heaven and a new earth that God would make for those who worship him. The eyes of the blind would be opened, the lame would walk, and the deaf would hear (Isaiah 35:5-6). This Christ would be intimately related to God, one who would stand in God’s presence “as a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13). Yet this Christ would be “crushed for our iniquities,” and by his wounds we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus himself claimed to be the Christ. When the majority (though not all) of the Jewish authorities accused Jesus of claiming the title, he didn’t correct them. If he had, it’s unlikely he would have been crucified, a historic fact denied by no one but hardened historical revisionists (See Josephus’ Antiquities, and Sanhedrin 43A). More than just claiming to be the Christ, he did the works the Christ was supposed to do. The lame walked. The blind could see. The deaf could hear. The good news of reconciliation between humanity and God was preached. Even the dead returned to life! More than that, Jesus claimed that God was his Father – a Jewish phrase that would have meant claiming equality with God! Jesus also claimed he had to die, for only by the death of God’s own Christ could God and man be reconciled.

Jesus died on a Roman executioner’s cross in 1st century Palestine. But his death was not the end – his disciples claimed that they saw him alive - resurrected - 3 days after his very dead body had been laid in the grave. They recorded encounters with their risen Lord and Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, who explained the meaning of his death from the writings of the Jewish Scriptures.

The risen Lord Jesus Christ continues to bring this reconciliation to us and work his new creation. His death and resurrection were not mere historical events: the results of those acts are delivered to us in real, physical ways. Through the washing of water done in accord with his promise, people are brought to faith in Jesus and made part ofhis Church, his newly created humanity. Jesus feeds that new humanity with his own body and blood, given to us through the bread and wine of a Supper he instituted the night before his death. His teachings are preached and cherished by his Church, which themselves form his people into the new creation he desires for all of us.

So What is Christianity?

Christians await Christ’s return to complete his work of new creation. In the meantime, they gather around those places where Jesus, the Son of God, is present and working the beginnings of God’s new creation, in his Church. Christians gather regularly to hear his teachings and participate in the acts where Christ promised to be present – with the Word in the water used for baptism, and offering his body and blood in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. In this way Christians keep the faith in Jesus’ last promise to his disciples: “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). Christ calls to you as well, to be part of his newly created people!