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Question: "What makes Christianity unique?"
gotquestions.org ^ | unknown | unknown

Posted on 07/08/2017 10:26:52 AM PDT by ealgeone

Answer: Is Christianity really unique, or is it just one of many roads on the path to Truth? Is Christianity truly unique among the many religions around the world? If it is, what makes it so? Unique among all religions, Christianity makes several claims that others do not. First, all other religions exhort man to reach up to God and grasp hold of Him through their own efforts. Christianity is the only religion where God reaches down to man. Second, other religions are systems of do’s and don’ts to appease God; whereas Christianity is a relationship with God. Third, Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth. Finally, Christianity is based upon truly the most amazing event in all of human history—the resurrection.

As to the first issue, other forms of religion subscribe to a system of works—those we should do and those we should avoid—which will make us “good enough” to please God and merit His favor. Christianity, on the other hand, is based on the biblical principle that we can never be good enough to be in the presence of a perfect, holy God. The Mosaic Law was given to mankind to prove to us that we can’t keep it. Galatians 3 describes the purpose of the Law. It is a “tutor” or “schoolmaster” to lead us to Christ because “…by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). The impossibility of keeping the Law is revealed in what Jesus called the “first and greatest commandment” in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This would mean loving God with every fiber of our being 24/7, with never a thought for ourselves, an impossible task for anyone. But rather than condemning us as law-breakers and leaving it at that, God provided a substitute—Jesus Christ—who obeyed the Law perfectly for us. By faith in Him and accepting His work on our behalf, we are justified and made righteous. Here is the crucial difference between Christianity and all other religions.

As to the second point, Christianity is not a religious system, but a relationship with God, one that He initiated and maintains. Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but sin separates all men from Him (Romans 3:23, 5:12). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross to restore the relationship that was broken by sin. After His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). The intimacy of this relationship is revealed in two poignant pictures. Now no longer seen as law-breakers, we have been adopted into God’s own family as His children (Ephesians 1:5). Even more intimately, believers are the very “body of Christ” of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23), having been purchased by His blood (Hebrews 9:12). No other religion makes assertions that even begin to approximate this incredible truth.

Another thing that makes Christianity unique is its source of information. All religions have some sort of basis of information that outlines its beliefs and practices, but none have one source of information that makes the claims Christianity does about the Bible—it is the written Word of God, and it is infallible and inerrant and all that is necessary for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16). Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired—literally “God-breathed”—Word of God and that its teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Though there are other religions that use prophecy, none are 100% accurate, as are those in the Bible, and none of them point to someone like Jesus who made incredible claims and performed incredible deeds.

Perhaps the most defining principle of Christianity that makes it truly unique in every way and provides its fundamental basis is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Within Christianity, the resurrection is vitally important, for without it, Christianity does not exist, and our faith is useless (1 Corinthians 15:14). It was Jesus' resurrection that changed the lives of the disciples. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples ran and hid. But when they saw the risen Lord, they knew that all Jesus had said and done proved that He was indeed God in flesh. No other religious leader has died in full view of trained executioners, had a guarded tomb, and then rose three days later to appear to many people. The resurrection is proof of who Jesus is and that He did accomplish what He set out to do: provide the only means of redemption for mankind. Buddha did not rise from the dead. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. Confucius did not rise from the dead. Krishna did not rise from the dead. Only Jesus has physically risen from the dead, walked on water, claimed to be God, and raised others from the dead. He has conquered death. Only in Christianity do we have the person of Christ who claimed to be God, performed many miracles to prove His claim of divinity, died and rose from the dead, and claimed that He alone is “the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.


TOPICS: Theology
KEYWORDS: bible; christianity; jesus; unique
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1 posted on 07/08/2017 10:26:52 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone
The concept of sin and redemption only through the grace of God, and not by works of man, no other religion gets this right.
2 posted on 07/08/2017 10:30:49 AM PDT by seastay
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To: ealgeone
Third, Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth.

This is not Biblical

3 posted on 07/08/2017 10:30:52 AM PDT by frogjerk (We are conservatives. Not libertarians, not "fiscal conservatives", not moderates)
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To: ealgeone

also — it may be unique that Christianity involves God becoming man and being humbled as a man and suffering as a man. It is a strange notion that mankind would not normally construct.


4 posted on 07/08/2017 10:38:05 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: ealgeone

I believe that Christianity is unique in that it emphasizes forgiveness. God’s forgiveness for our sins against him, and in-kind his expectations that we forgive others for their sins against us.

In truth this mentality challenges us to overlook differences in people and not pit ourselves against them due to their differences.

I do not believe that this is a wholesale demand for acceptance of deviance, but a belief in the intricate value of the human soul, and a belief in the godly potential that lies within each of us .... whether it is in-fact realized or not.

This view of the Christian Faith is according to, and has been taught to me through the teachings of a Latter-Day Prophet, Joseph Smith as well as other modern prophets of the restoration of God’s Gospel to the earth.


5 posted on 07/08/2017 10:41:48 AM PDT by teppe
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To: teppe
This view of the Christian Faith is according to, and has been taught to me through the teachings of a Latter-Day Prophet, Joseph Smith as well as other modern prophets of the restoration of God’s Gospel to the earth.

If you're Mormon you're not Christian.

6 posted on 07/08/2017 10:46:05 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone
Only Christianity has a Deity who reaches down and saves sinners through free grace.

In all other religions men are trying to reach good through some system of good works.

7 posted on 07/08/2017 10:46:47 AM PDT by Gamecock ("We always choose according to our greatest inclination at the moment." R.C. Sproul)
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To: frogjerk
>>Third, Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth.<<

This is not Biblical.

It's not? What other source of Truth is there?

8 posted on 07/08/2017 10:46:47 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone

uh.... SINLESS Jesus DYING for OUR SINS!! NO GREATER LOVE!!


9 posted on 07/08/2017 10:48:41 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: ealgeone

First question is actually, “Is Christianity unique?”


10 posted on 07/08/2017 10:53:25 AM PDT by Rapscallion (Democrats are suffering Soros psychosis.)
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To: ealgeone

Christianity is the only path to salvation.

It is the truth.

That is what makes it unique.


11 posted on 07/08/2017 10:56:05 AM PDT by sipow
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To: ealgeone

Let me know where in the Bible it states what you are claiming


12 posted on 07/08/2017 10:56:16 AM PDT by frogjerk (We are conservatives. Not libertarians, not "fiscal conservatives", not moderates)
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To: ealgeone

The Way. http://october-5-2017.com#theWayOfSalvation


13 posted on 07/08/2017 10:58:17 AM PDT by TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed (Yahuah Yahusha)
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To: frogjerk

Show us where it isn’t the source of truth.


14 posted on 07/08/2017 11:01:28 AM PDT by ealgeone
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To: ealgeone

I heard it said once that all the religions of the world say, “Do.” True Christianity says,”Done.”


15 posted on 07/08/2017 11:10:14 AM PDT by MarDav
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To: frogjerk; ealgeone
Luke_16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Luke_24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

John_1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John_1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

16 posted on 07/08/2017 11:22:26 AM PDT by protest1
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To: ealgeone

Generally a good article.

The largest weakness I observe is that it approaches the topic of Christianity from the perspective of it being a comparative religion. Such is an antichristian perspective.

It attempts to elevate any and all systems of religion independent of what He has provided, to an equal status to what He provides us by His Word. It attempts to substitute our discernment in the argument for His Provision.

Not only are we unable to approach the Father except by Christ, our Lord Christ Jesus builds His Church only upon those whom the Father has elected and provided to the Son.
Three persons, one God.


17 posted on 07/08/2017 11:28:47 AM PDT by Cvengr ( Adversity in life & death is inevitable; Stress is optional through faith in Christ.)
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To: frogjerk

Apparently, this verse doesn’t count. In St Paul’s words,”So, then, brethren stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess. 2:15)


18 posted on 07/08/2017 11:30:27 AM PDT by nobamanomore
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To: protest1
John_1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, the author of the Scriptures.

19 posted on 07/08/2017 11:34:42 AM PDT by thecodont
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To: ealgeone

Christianity provides a philosophical (moral/ethical) basis for life to prosper. Islam is its opposite, everything else is a distraction from truth.


20 posted on 07/08/2017 12:11:21 PM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
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