Christianity Origin & purpose.
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Christianity – true Christianity is a life of love for GOD and for others. GOD is a GOD of love, Jesus lived a life of love; and we are to live a life of love.
You may immediately be thinking of contradictions to this, however everything in this world that is not based on love, and loving people, is not from GOD, it is the result of sin and sinfulness which Satan deceptively initiated by lying to Eve, and causing Adam and Eve’s major mistake in the Garden of Eden.
Humanity has remained the victim of this. Jesus is the only person to have not been a victim. That is why He, as GOD on Earth, was perfectly qualified to create the opportunity for human beings to choose to escape the sinful life and be eligible to return to GOD’s kingdom.
Christianity is GOD given freedom to choose a Christian learning journey through this world, enabling one to be resurrected to eternal magnificence.
I often think: “If only people could see beyond their pre-conceived ideas of ‘religiosity;’ and to be able to see the true reality and purpose of Christianity, and it’s future magnificence; their view of life and their future would be transformed.
Anyone who rejects GOD and Jesus is cutting themself off from the greatest opportunity they will ever have. If they believe there is nothing after this life, and in the end they are proven to be right, and Christians to be wrong – all will arrive at a similar end. HOWEVER if they are wrong and Christians are right, the final outcome is infinitely opposite. One is eternally dead, and the other becomes qualified – eligible – enabled – to be resurrected by Jesus to enter eternal life of unimaginable perfection and joy.
People should not think of Christianity as just a worldly belief system. Its purpose is to teach, lead, and prepare people for the magnificent eternal life which GOD promised through Jesus. All faithful believers and followers will be resurrected from death, in perfect new bodies, by Jesus, on His return.
Genesis 17:17-21 ‘Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at her age of ninety?” And Abraham said to GOD, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing.”
Then GOD said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish MY covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But MY covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
The promised son who GOD promised to Abraham and Sarah, was born after GOD renamed them both. They named him Isaac, and he became the descendant of Abraham in the lineage into which Jesus would be born, creating the beginning of Christianity.
Faithful, born again Christians will inherit the blessings of Abraham’s seed.
Followers of Jesus - ‘Followers of The Way,’ - were first called ‘Christians’ in Antioch.
The purpose of Christianity, which began approximately 2,000 years after the Abrahamic lineage began, is to assemble people all over the world into the one belief and relationship with Jesus and GOD, in keeping with, and understanding of, the Bible; and looking forward to the resurrection, followed by an eternal life of unlimited perfection in our Creator’s kingdom.
Christianity is the state of being a follower of Christ Jesus and GOD. It is a ‘state-of-being’ for those who have chosen to be followers and lovers of Jesus and GOD, and have accepted what GOD offered and did through Jesus, and to be set apart from this world. People who are members of the Kingdom of GOD and no longer attached to this world. We are living here and are therefore in the world, but we are no longer of this world, we have become members (citizens) of GOD’s eternal Kingdom. We are travelling through this world on our way to eternal life in GOD’s Kingdom.
Justification is the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of GOD. Justified = righteous.
Sanctification is GOD's act of forgiving your sins and counting you righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, sanctification is the continual work of the Holy Spirit in the believer, in order for you to become conformed to the image of GOD’s Son Jesus Christ.
Christianity is about The Bible = GOD’s Word, relationship with Christ Jesus and GOD, having the quality of love, and inheriting eternal life.
Christianity is NOT about control, limitation, manipulation, suppression, accusation, coercion, man-made tradition, rituals, legalism, or religiosity.
Christians are often accused of causing wars, some of which have been referred as ‘Christian wars.’ However on investigation one will find that the originator of such wars is a particular religious system which has a Christian façade - as a screen – a veneer – a ‘shop-front’ – and operates in a spectacular and convincing very large way.
Such wars can also be started and promoted by ill-informed religious fanatics, even by people who say they are Christians, but are not.
True GOD-loving genuine Christians will not cause or create wars. Satan loves making it appear otherwise.
Christianity is about learning GOD’s principles for living a life of purity, and being in meaningful relationship with Jesus and GOD. The reason for Jesus teaching, healing, restoring life, and sacrificing His own life, and three days later to rise to life again, was to open the door for all faithful believers and followers to qualify to be resurrected by Him, to enter GOD’s kingdom, and eternal life in absolutely magnificent perfection.
Christians – saints – GOD’s children, are heaven bound; we are in this world but not of it. There is relative satisfaction and joy in many things on Earth, but it is all nothingness compared to the pure joy that awaits us in heaven.
So Christianity is not about suppression, it is about elevation to the ultimate life. Christians naturally want to tell others about this magnificent eternal dimension which GOD has made available.
Some people call it a crutch, or even a type of brain washing, in a mocking type of way. In reality it is a type of crutch, the most wonderful crutch possible, and we all need far more than a crutch to enable us to graduate from this present very compromised life and world as we know it. Christianity is far more than a type of brain washing, it cleanses us in heart, mind, and soul, enabling followers (adherents) to live a far superior quality of life. compared to this world’s present compromised and very temporary existence. Whatever people choose to call it changes nothing about it.
Every human being who has ever lived, all who are alive now, and those who will live in the future; need Christianity, if they are to inherit what it offers; which includes every human being from the weakest and poorest, to the strongest and wealthiest. People who reject this, need to understand the whole picture; because every single person has been born into a state of sin. Otherwise they would already be immortal and living in a perfect world beyond their imagination. Don’t reject it without knowing what you are rejecting.
Christianity is the only religion that presents the way for restoration to eternal life in GOD’s kingdom. The Creator, the GOD of Love, originally created human beings to live forever, but Adam and Eve’s disobedience allowed sin to enter by Satan’s deception, leading to Satan’s dominion which broke down the perfection of every aspect of creation.
A Christian is someone who has Christ living in them, and who, in turn, is living in Christ, and fully identifies with Him and what He has done for humanity. This identity in Christ determines their behaviour.
1 Corinthians 3:23 ‘---- and you are of Christ, and Christ is of GOD.’
2 Corinthians 13:5 ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test.’
1 John 4:7-21 ‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from GOD. Everyone who loves has been born of GOD and knows GOD. Whoever does not love does not know GOD, because GOD is love. This is how GOD showed HIS love among us: HE sent HIS One and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved GOD, but that HE loved us and sent HIS Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since AGOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen GOD; but if we love one another, GOD lives in us and HIS love is made completer in us.
This is how we know that we live in HIM and HE in us: HE has given us of HIS Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the FATHER has sent HIS Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of GOD, GOD lives in them and they in GOD. And so we know and rely on the love GOD has for us. GOD is love. Whoever lives in love lives in GOD, and GOD in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement. In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because HE first loved us. Whoever claims to love GOD yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love GOD, Whom they have not seen. And HE has given us this command: Anyone who loves GOD must also love their brother and sister.’
It is the beginning of a completely new way of life with ultimate eternal magnificence. Being a Christian is a life of ongoing learning, developing, and relationship with GOD.
The word ‘Church’ in Greek is ‘Ecclesia,’ which means a gathering or assembly of church people - members, a collective congregation.
Christianity is the doorway to an absolutely magnificent eternal life of perfection in heaven and the new heavens and on the new Earth.
The name Christianity arose in a remote province and appealed to the poorer classes. It was deliberately separate, but gradually had wider impact.
Passover is not only a great celebration of freedom and deliverance for the Jewish people; it is also the foundation of the Christian faith.
1 Peter 1:3 ‘Praise be to the GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ. In HIS – GOD’s - great mercy, HE has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Messiah - Adoneinu Yeshua HaMashiach – from the dead.’
Notzrim in Hebrew, means followers of Yeshua (Jesus) the Nazarene, which In Hebrew = Yeshua HaNotzri.)
Apostles & Disciples
Apostles means: ‘The anointed ones.’ - ‘The sent-forth ones.’ - ‘Special messengers.’
Mark 3:13-18 ‘Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter,) James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means “Sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.’
These were known as the apostles.
Mark 8:27-38 ‘Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea
Philippi. On the way He asked them, “Who do people say I am.?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.”“But what about you.?” He asked. “Who do you say I am.?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, He rebuked Peter. “Get behind Me Satan.” He said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of GOD, but merely human concerns.”
Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul.?
Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul.? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His FATHER’s glory with the holy angels.”
Disciples are committed believers and followers of Jesus.
Luke 9:62--10:1-12 ‘Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow (plough) and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of GOD.”
After this the Lord appointed seventy two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of GOD has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of GOD has come near. I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” These were known as the disciples.
(Acts 10:9–48) GOD gave Peter a vision three times which was to indicate that it was acceptable for him, as an observant Jew, to enter the home of a Gentile to share the Good News.
Vs 34-35 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that GOD does not show favouritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears HIM and does what is right.’
(Acts 11:20–29) Some of the Jews in Cyprus and Cyrene began to share their faith with Hellenists in Antioch who also came into faith in Jesus. (Hellenists were Jews who were following a Greek lifestyle, and probably included Greek speaking non-Jews.)
When the Believers in Jerusalem learned of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to confirm it. He became convinced of the sincerity of their faith, and encouraged them “all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.”
Vs 25-26 ‘Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul), and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
It is possible that the Hellenists mentioned in the Book of Acts were a mixture of Jews and non-Jews. Many of the Jews had probably taken non-Jewish Hellenistic wives. This was a trend of those who were essentially pagans, being introduced to what had formally been a solely Jewish sect of the Jewish faith. As prophesied by Amos – they all became ‘one.’
The origin of the term ‘Christians’ came from the Greek word Christianos (Χριστιανός) (or Christos - Χριστός) meaning ‘follower of Christ’ or ‘like Christ’ or in a proverbial sense: ‘All that is noble, and good, and Christ-like.’
Matthew 23:8-12 Jesus said: ‘But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on Earth ‘father,’ for you have one FATHER, and HE is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructor, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But my kingdom is from another place.”
Philippians 3:18-21 - 4:1 ‘For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their ‘god’ is in their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on Earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.’
1 John 2:15-17 ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the FATHER is not in them. For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful person, the lust of their eyes and the boasting of what they have and do, comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the person who does the will of GOD lives forever.’
Christianity and entry into heaven and GOD’s kingdom is exclusive; but it only excludes people who are not serious, conscientious, and obedient to GOD’s requirements.
If a person is serious about knowing GOD and His Truth, and being a member of GOD’s perfect kingdom, it will evoke in them a passionate pursuit of all that is necessary to achieve it.
Ephesians 4:1-6 ‘As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit --- just as you were called to one hope when you were called --- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one GOD and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.’
Christianity involves a very real change for humanity, in that a Christian lives with a magnificent expectation of a future, new, eternal life. GOD’s promises replace the hollowness of not knowing where this life lead to.
A Christian’s thoughts do not have to linger on their present situation, they are enabled to always be looking forward to far greater things anchored in GOD’s promises.
A Christian life can go forward on the road of faith, hope, and trust, in GOD’s grace and favour.
The arrogant global powers control a free people by forcing their selfishness and greed in destroying the foundations of:
(1) Christianity.
(2) The value of the human person.
(3) The family, children, and education.
(4) Private property, and national sovereignty.
(5) Freedom of choice and conversation.