What is Christianity? One simple definition is: Christianity is a major world religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. I like to say, “Christianity is the TRUTH about Jesus Christ; the truth of His birth, His life, His teachings, His death, His resurrection and ascension to heaven, and all the results of His sacrificial death to the sinner who believes on Him.” In Jude 3 the believer is exhorted to “contend earnestly for THE FAITH which was once for all delivered to the saints.” This simply means the believer will earnestly defend ALL THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST that they have learned through the teachings of Jesus Christ Himself and His apostles who were inspired to write of Him in their epistles.

Christianity began with the teachings of Jesus Christ. We read in John 1:17, “For the LAW was given through Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.” Moses was given THE TEACHINGS OF THE LAW on Mount Sinai and he in turn gave them to the nation of Israel. Included in “the Law” was obeying the Ten Commandments and many other commandments that dealt with every aspect of daily living. God also gave Moses the blueprint for a Temple where He would dwell, and the people would worship Him there. There was an ordained “priesthood” that offered animal sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. This “religion” was called “Judaism.”  When Jesus Christ began His public ministry, He taught the people in Israel something new; He taught them about GRACE. The “Law” CONDEMNED THEM (see Romans 3:9-20), but He had come “in grace” to SAVE THEM by taking their place in death and judgment on the cross (John 3:14-17). The sacrifices offered under THE LAW had foreshadowed this (Hebrews 10:1-14). Jesus Christ taught them that He was “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-18), the One who came to lay down His life in death to save them (John 10:1-18). This is THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY. It focuses on CHRIST, the “Savior of the world” (1st John 4:9-10, 14). Christianity (the “Covenant of GRACE”) has replaced Judaism (the “Covenant of LAW”), for Christ has fulfilled all the types and shadows of the Law (see 2nd Corinthians 3:1-11 with Hebrews 8:1-9:28).

Now we’re ready to answer your question. We saw that the teachings of Jesus Christ began in Israel, so we know that Christianity is for the Israelites. But is it only for them? No! As it became evident that the nation of Israel was going to reject Jesus as their Messiah (John 1:11) and have Him crucified, Jesus began to proclaim that His death and the salvation of sinners would include GENTILES (non-Jews) as well. In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved THE WORLD, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” After Jesus died and rose from the dead, He told His disciples, “Go into ALL THE WORLD and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE” (Mark 16:15). Just before Jesus ascended to heaven He told them, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to THE END OF THE EARTH” (Acts 1:8). In Acts chapters 1-8 we have the Gospel of GRACE (the “truth of Christianity”) going out to the Jews and those in Samaria, but in chapter 10 God sent Peter to preach to a house full of GENTILES where everyone who heard the gospel was saved (verses 44). We read in verse 45 that the Jews “were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” From that point on it was primarily the Gentiles who heard and believed the good news of Jesus Christ.

I will end this mediation by quoting Acts 11:26, “So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called CHRISTIANS in Antioch.” Antioch was a Gentile city and their testimony for Christ was so great that unbelievers labeled them “Christians,” which meant they were “followers of Christ.” Again, Christianity is “the TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST” and these faithful followers of Christ were proclaiming that wonderful truth and were blessed to be called by a name reflecting their faith in their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  (DO)  (587.3)