Binary, 3

 ~ Religion or Relationship ~ 

 

Scripture  ~  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). 

 

The Uniqueness of Christianity  ~  Christianity rises or falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

 

Jesus is the only “spiritual leader” who rose from the dead (and the only One who claims to have risen from the dead).  It is interesting that today there is more proof of Christ’s resurrection available to an inquiring open mind than for any other ancient historical event.  In fact, Christ was once seen by over 500 post crucifixion. 

 

Christianity is the only faith that serves a living Savior!  What is so significant about this historical fact is that you can have a personal relationship with the living Messiah.

 

Personal Relationship With God  ~  The uniqueness of Christianity allows individual human beings to have intimacy (through fellowship) with all three members of the Triune God—and also with fellow believers. 

 

Fellowship with the Father: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father…” (1 John 1:3).

 

Fellowship of the Son:  “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).  “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

 

Fellowship of the Spirit:  “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy” (Philippians 2:1).  “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

 

Reality  ~  It is a choice between Religion or Relationship. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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