The Origin of Christianity

(originally published in The Daily Press - Religion Section, October 11, 2014)

In response to my Aug. 23 column, “Live humbly as servants of Christ, obediently as children of God,” I received a letter from a reader stating: “the founder of their religion (Christianity) was not obedient,” and every religion “had to have started as a heresy by some disobedient nonconformist.”

Let’s bring clarity to this by considering the origin of Christianity.

Genesis 1 – 3 explains the story of creation, the nature of the relationship God intended to have with humanity, and what our purpose was on earth before sin (disobedience) entered the Garden of Eden.

Through sin, Adam and Eve’s union with God was broken. Their safety, security and significance were replaced with feelings of rejection, guilt, and shame. They spiritually died and lost relationship with the Creator.

Religion is man’s way to reach God. Relationship is God’s way to reach man.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John. 14:6).

Jesus didn’t come to earth to establish religion, he came to undo the works of the devil and redeem humanity.  Theologian Wayne Grudem succinctly states; “Christ obeyed God in our place and as our representative, thus succeeding where Adam had failed, where the people of Israel in the wilderness had failed, and where we had failed.”  

Sinless and obedient, Jesus went to the cross for you and me just as prophesied (Is. 53:7). Three days after his crucifixion, he resurrected from the dead and walked the earth. Forty days later he ascended into heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:9). 

Those that recognized Jesus as Messiah and followed his teachings became known as “Christians” first at Antioch (modern day Antakya, Turkey). Christian meant follower of Christ. The term “church” referred to the entire group of Christians living in one place such as “the church in Jerusalem.”

The first major division in the church did not come until A.D. 1054 when the Eastern and Western churches divided over a creed change. The Eastern church protested a change the pope made stating he had no right to do this of his own authority. Henceforth division, and the door opened for denominationalism.

There are no elite Christians in the eyes of God. All fall short of the glory of God this side of heaven. Those who repent and confess Jesus Christ is Lord are equal at the foot of the cross.

While we are called to obedience, in our human nature we fail from time to time. That is why we need Christ and why John called him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

In Old Testament times, the priest sacrificed a perfect lamb on a daily basis for the sins of the people. Jesus came to earth as the final atonement. As the perfect “Lamb of God” he took the wrath in our place paying the penalty for our sins, bridging the gap for us to cross over into God’s presence, removing us from the kingdom of Satan. Jesus restored the possibility for relationship to resume.

Salvation exists through the perfect person and obedient work of Jesus Christ alone. Not your background, personality or behavior. In no other faith system is salvation acquired through grace alone.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

The New Bible Dictionary brings perspective: “Christianity is not simply one among many religions, but differs from all others in that its content is divinely revealed and its outward expression by believers is not an attempt to secure salvation but a thank-offering for it.”

God’s purpose wasn’t to establish a religion but to redeem humankind. Our appropriate response is to worship him in spirit and truth. As we do, our lives are released, renewed and restored to his glory.  

The Rev. Heidi Summers is affiliated with Freedom in Christ Ministries, is a board certified pastoral counselor, board certified life coach and is currently completing her doctorate at Fuller Theological Seminary.