The Essence of Christianity

By Andrew Nudd

            I find it very disturbing that in Christian circles today we are quickly losing sight of what true Christianity really is. We have got the mindset that Christianity is about how many times we go to church, how much we read the Bible, pray or witness. But is that what the Bible really teaches?

            I am sure that we will all agree that the first thing that one must do to become a Christian is to get saved or “born again” as we southerners like to say. I will give a quick summary of what it means to get saved. First we must admit that we are sinners (Rom. 3:23) Second we must believe that Jesus is God and believe that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection is enough to save us from God’s wrath. (John 3:16), thirdly we must confess our sins and accept God’s forgiveness (Rom. 10:9), and finally we must repent (from our sins and work on renewing our mind so that we think and act as God acts (Eph. 4:23-24). That last point is so often overlooked but it is essential for proper spiritual growth.

            In Eccl. 12:13 it says that the whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments…” But what are His commandments and how do we fear God? Prov. 8:13 says: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth do I hate.” In a nutshell what the Bible is saying that fearing God is hating the way that is opposite to what God loves. Keeping God’s commandments go hand in hand because we can “keep” God’s commandments but yet still not fear God. (Look at the Pharisees. they “kept” God’s commandment but yet were still filled with pride which God wants us to hate) Now there are many “commands” of God but they all tie into two commands: Loving God with all your heart soul and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:34-40; loving by the way is not just emotion it is a commitment of putting someone before yourself)