According to Michael S. Horton: “Christ died – that is history; Christ died for our sins – that is doctrine. Without these two elements, joined in an absolutely indissoluble union, there is no Christianity.”1 As I have shown in several past devotions Christianity is unique among world religions because of several factors.
While all religions are basically man reaching up to their idea of God, Christianity states that man can never find God unless He chooses to reveal Himself to us, which fortunately He has through His precious word – the Bible. In addition, all man made religions are works related – man trying to do good works to earn favor with God. Only Christianity says that we are born sinners and all our good works can never erase the fact that our sins have separated us from God.
But what really distinguishes Christianity from other world religions is that it is testable historically. I don’t know about you but if I am going to put my faith in something as important as a worldview I would want to know that it is true. Christianity not only allows us to test it but encourages us to examine it closely as to its veracity. Sadly, too often people accept a religion without examining its for its validity. As I have shown over and over, from many past devotions, the Bible and Christianity are historically accurate, scientifically spot on, prophetically always true, and uniquely transformational.
My friends since Christianity has not only passed every test hurled at it, as far as its historical accuracy, it makes sense that we should put its doctrines to the test to see if they also ring true. And one of its unique and core doctrines is that we are sinners in need of a savior. I believe if you are an honest seeker of the truth and you examine your own heart you will have to admit that you are indeed a sinner. And that is why Christianity is so valuable because it is the only religion that states that we are sinners and provides us with the cure – Jesus Christ!
So, the next time you are sharing your faith with a non-believer first, pray for the Holy Spirit to open their heart to our message, second, ask them to explore the evidence for the veracity of the Bible, and third, ask them to examine their heart to see if they indeed have a sin problem. And finally, once you leave them, commit to praying for their salvation daily. And, oh, by the way, don’t forget to thank God every day that in His wonderful grace He saved you!
1 Inspirational Quotes by Michael S. Horton (bibleportal.com)