What is Christianity All About? I. Introduction A. A question for us to consider today, one of fundamental importance B. What is Christianity all about? C. Let us consider possible answers and what the Scriptures teach II. What Others Think Christianity is About A. When people in the world think about Christianity, they may think of many things 1. No doubt many think of Jesus of Nazareth 2. Yet many other attributes come to mind 3. Many may think of a large church building or a particular church 4. Some may think about it as a system of belief in contrast to other religions 5. Some associate it with western civilization, for better or worse 6. Others in America may associate it with a particular political ideology 7. Some think it is all about money, power, and control B. What shall we say about these things? C. It is lamentable that Christianity gets associated with the negative pictures 1. Unfortunately, some do make Christianity about money, power, and control 2. Some of the ideals of Christianity have been used for political purposes, for better and for worse 3. Yet Christianity is not about politics, money, power, or control (cf. Matthew 20:25-28, 1 Timothy 6:6-10) D. Many of the other ideas have merit, but they do not reflect the whole picture 1. Christianity does feature the church (Matthew 16:18, etc.), and congregations often meet in buildings, but that does not get us to the essence of Christianity 2. Christianity has had a powerful effect on western civilization, and does have a standard of doctrine particular to itself, but there is more to Christianity than doctrine (James 1:22-25), and influence on civilization is a side effect of the main purpose E. What, then, is Christianity all about? III. Christianity and Jesus of Nazareth A. From the beginning, those who professed Christianity placed the emphasis of their beliefs and actions on Jesus of Nazareth B. Why Jesus of Nazareth? 1. Consider the words of those who came after Him 2. Acts 2:22-24, 10:36-43, 13:22-39, 17:29-31 3. In these messages we learn much about the story of Jesus reflected in the Gospels and letters in the New Testament 4. He is declared to be the Son of God in power, the fulfillment of the expectations of Israel 5. He was killed by the authorities but raised by God on the third day 6. He now reigns as Lord and the proclamation of deliverance from sin and death now goes forth in His name 7. A day of judgment will come for all people on the basis of what He has said C. Following Jesus of Nazareth 1. While the message of Jesus went forth, believers from the beginning have insisted on following Jesus of Nazareth in a more concrete way 2. Paul, Peter, and John all speak about Jesus as an example, a way of living, a guide to the path of life-- to live like Jesus did (Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 John 2:3-6) 3. Yet what shall the believer follow? Jesus, after all, was a first century Palestinian Jew who had great divine power 4. Believers today cannot go to the Temple in Jerusalem, even if it existed; believers are not empowered to feed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fishes, or turn water to wine, or such things 5. Early Christians were aware of this-- they did not intend for the Law to be bound on Gentile believers, even though Jesus followed the Law, since He was the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-18, Galatians, Ephesians 2:11-18) 6. Furthermore, the emphasis was not on doing the same supernatural wonders and signs as Jesus 7. Instead, they focused on the moral and ethical attributes of Jesus of Nazareth-- those are what believers are to emulate, and in so doing, reflect what Christianity is all about! IV. The Kingdom and the Moral and Ethical Attributes of Jesus Christ A. Jesus Himself taught in terms of the Kingdom that He was establishing and how people were to function in that Kingdom B. The Kingdom of God is represented by those people who submit to God's rule and seek to reflect the attributes of God in Christ (Colossians 1:13, Galatians 2:20) 1. Such people will be subject to earthly authorities (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:11-18), but their true allegiance is with God in Christ (Philippians 3:20-21) 2. They will incessantly promote God's message and God's values to a world often hostile toward such things (John 1:5, 9-13, Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 John 2:15-17) 3. Yet their light is reflected light-- directing people back to the Source of life and hope, Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13-16, Romans 8:29) C. Above all, citizens of the Kingdom of God seek to be like their Lord Jesus 1. The Gospels and letters set forth the essential characteristics that mark Jesus and thus those who truly follow Him, and these values are often antithetical to the world D. Humility: Jesus, being God, yet humbled Himself in becoming a man, serving men, and dying for mankind (Matthew 20:28, Philippians 2:5-11) 1. Thus believers are to humble themselves, serve their fellow men (John 13:1-17, Romans 12:1-2) 2. Humility often deprecated as weakness in the world, but believers understand its true strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) E. Love: Jesus suffered and died for everyone, expressing love not just for friends but also for foes (Romans 5:5-11) 1. Thus believers love all men, regardless of whether that love is reciprocated or not (Matthew 5:43-48, 1 John 4:7-21) 2. It is not always easy to love the unlovable, but thus it has been commanded! F. Concern for all men: Jesus was concerned for the welfare of everyone, especially the outcast and the dispossessed (cf. Matthew 9:10-13, Luke 14:12-14) 1. Believers are to share the same concern (Galatians 2:20, James 1:27) 2. God is quite concerned for the least among us (Matthew 25:31-46)! G. Disciplined, godly life: Jesus was tempted but never sinned, did good (Hebrews 4:15, Acts 10:38) 1. Believers are called upon to cling to the good and abhor the evil (Romans 12:9) 2. Works of the flesh to be shunned; fruit of the Spirit to be manifest (Galatians 5:17-24) H. Dependence on God the Father: Jesus lived in trust in His Father no matter what came (John 6:57, 10:37-38, Matthew 26:39) 1. Believers are to live in similar faith/trust/dependence on the Father, Son, and the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:7) 2. Faith and hope are centered in God and His promise (1 Corinthians 13, 2 Peter 3)! I. These, and many permutations of these attributes, mark both Jesus and those who would be His disciples 1. We can see how being part of His church, assembling with Christians, and understanding the doctrines of the faith are part of this system, but by no means the whole! 2. Christianity must be a practiced discipline, not merely a set of beliefs or a form of identification! V. Conclusion A. What is Christianity all about? B. While many people may provide different answers, Christianity should be about Jesus of Nazareth and following Him! 1. He set forth the example of life for those who would seek God and be part of His Kingdom 2. His true followers are marked by their obedience to that example 3. Such obedience involves association with fellow believers in the church and the assembly, and an understanding of the doctrines of the faith, but is not limited to such things! 4. The follower of Jesus must seek to live as Jesus lived! C. Let all men hear the message of God in Jesus Christ and serve Him! D. Invitation/songbook