CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
June 9, 2024
What is Christianity?
I Corinthians 1:21-30
I do not know how many of us have really asked that question. This
question is not like asking, “What is a Brethren, Baptist, Methodist,
Lutheran or Catholic or even what is Christian? Each denomination has
specific things, specific reasons they began. Each of the denominations
or each independent church has one or more doctrines of portions of
the Bible they have felt is important to emphasize. Maybe at a time in
history denominations formed because some Christians did not believe
something in the Bible was getting enough emphasis.
In some ways, it may be easy to say what a Brethren is, but what about
what is Christianity is? All those different denominations that I
mentioned and hundreds of others I pray have a common reason for
existing. Christianity. But once again, I ask you to consider, what is
Christianity? This question is different than the question, what is a
Christian?
As you continue to consider the question, I would like to share some
definitions that I ran across.
1) The religion based on the person and teaching of Jesus of
Nazareth or its beliefs and practices.
2) Webster dictionary says, “The religion derived from Jesus Christ
based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant bodies.”
These are two of the definitions you can fine online. However, do they
really tell the full story of what Christianity is? I was led to the message,
this question by reading the Billy Graham devotional Cathy and I are
using this year. It has led to several of the messages I have shared with
you this year. On this occasion, the particular devotion had nothing
really to do with this question and yet it, to me, has everything to do
with the question, “What is Christianity?” On the particular day that led
to this question, Billy Graham was talking to one of his associates after
an evening service. Billy was disappointed by how few came forward at
the end of the service and he wondered why. His associate told him,
“Your message did not talk about the blood of Jesus.” From that night
on, every message had some mention of the cleansing blood of Jesus
for the rest of his ministry. That is what led we to ask myself, “What is
Christianity?” What is it that makes the Christian faith so different, so
life changing. So, I began to think of what Christianity truly is. Can it be
defined? I thought what the key elements to Christianity that virtually
all of the denominations I mentioned earlier agree on. This is what I
came up with.
1) Christianity is not a religion. I disagree with the earlier definitions
that call Christianity a religion. Religions require strict following of
every rule that has been established for its’ followers to hopefully
appease its God. Christianity is a personal relationship that is
available through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, who is alive and
seated at the right hand of God the Father. Romans 8:3-4.
2) So, at the heart of Christianity is accepting Jesus as our Savior and
Lord. This happens when we put our faith and trust in Him. Faith
and trust in the fact that we are sinners and Jesus’ death paid the
price for our sins. As a result, our sins are forgiven.
3) The forgiveness we can receive is not based on how many rules
and laws we keep; it is based on our admitting we have broken
God’s rules, God’s laws and yet Jesus paid the price for our sins on
the cross. We are saved by God’s grace for we are all sinners.
Does that mean we have the green light to sin as often and in as
many ways as we want? Of course not. Romans 6:1-2.
4) The fourth key of Christianity is that God is three persons, yet one
– the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As Christians and as
Christianity becomes real is our lives, the Holy Spirit gives us the
power to sin less and less and the power to honor God in more
and more ways.
So what is Christianity? I believe at the heart of the answer to this
question is the first verse of a hymn we have sung at Easter for all of
our lives.
HE LIVES!
I serve a risen Savior; He is in the world today.
I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer.
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives! He Lives!
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives,
He lives within my heart.
That is Christianity. That is why I am a Christian.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
Thank you to all who helped in any way to make our annual
Strawberry Festival a success!
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
Donation Box for June: VBS
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Keep in Your Prayers
Lola Mogged; Ruth Siburt; Missie Wright; Steve Needham; Mike Roach; Shirley
Clarkson; Ava; Nora Hanaver; David and Jan Bower; Larry Traxler;
Randy and Michelle West; Mike Gentry; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler;
Doug Larrick; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea
Wood; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Mayo and
Darlene Hanaver; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken
requests; victims of disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the
Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Israel, Iran, the
Palestinians; Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Freeport congregation and for
all the youth and for the youth ministries in the District.
