What is Christianity? How may we define “Christianity” so that the casual reader may understand the divine meaning behind the term?
We must agree that God exists and is eternal. Without that understanding, we cannot continue with exploring this topic sufficiently. God has always existed. We see God is, was, and forever shall be.
In the Scriptures, Paul states for our understanding, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23, King James Version [KJV]). Man fell into sin and out of fellowship with God (Genesis 3). The outcome of this condition is that man is physically and spiritually eternally separated from God.
So where does that leave man? Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). If all men have sinned, then they are slaves unto sin. Jesus continued, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24). God is one of the masters. The other identified here is “mammon,” in the King James Version of the Scriptures. If we serve mammon, or man, then we are not obedient to God. Instead, we are slaves to sin (Ephesians 2:2) and to the lusts of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Slaves are directed by a harsh master.
As we have seen, man separates himself from God, eternally. Eternal separation is the consequence of our sins. How then may man be restored into fellowship with God? Is this even possible? To ask the question is to consider the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus.
God knew a sin offering is required to pay the price for sin. In the Garden of Eden, it is not revealed which animal was sacrificed for the sin of Adam and Eve--But God offered it, teaching the sacrifice for sin to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). This same sacrifice is that which was required by Abel and Cain (Genesis 4). Abram was instructed to keep the sacrifice for sin and to teach his son, Isaac, the same instruction from God. The same was kept by the descendants of Abraham, throughout history unto the New Testament. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). If there is no sacrifice acceptable for sin, what is man to do?
Paul states, “according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (Ephesians 3:8-11, ASV). There is an “eternal purpose in Christ" ? Paul states emphatically that “in Christ” is the fulfillment of the eternal purpose of God. The eternal purpose of God is that man be redeemed unto Him---from sin and into salvation. Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).
Paul writes, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” (Colossians 1:10). To walk worthy of the Lord, we must obey the Lord. Paul, again writes, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). The commitment must be in our hearts. It is unto the hearts of men that the word of God is sown (Luke 8:11-12). It is there that the commitment begins and moves each unto the willing service of Christ our Lord. John writes, “but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). We find ourselves pleasing unto God and in fellowship with him once again, after obeying the gospel of Christ. This obedience is “which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;” (2 Peter 3:21).
Many in the New Testament are described in Scriptures as “a servant of Christ”: in Paul’s letter to the congregation at Colossae, Epaphras is described as “a servant of Christ” (Colossians 4:12); Paul (Romans 1:1); James (James 1:1); Peter (2 Peter 1:1); Jude (Jude v. 1); and John (Revelation 1:1). Others are also described as “in Christ”: Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3); Epaenetus of the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ (Romans 16:5); Andornicus and Junia, who also are prisoners, are noted as “in Christ before” Paul (Romans 16:7); Urbane and Stachys are described “in Christ” (Romans 16:9); Apelles is noted as “approved in Christ” (Romans 16:10). These are a few examples.
If we consider the question at hand, then the lesson is simple to understand. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 16:6). First, God shows that His love for man was so great that He determined to send His Son as the eternal sacrifice for sin. Second, when man follows the plan of salvation as outlined in God’s word, it is then Christ redeems our sinful soul by His blood (Acts 20:28). “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). If we will see eternal life and not eternal separation from God, we must be servants of righteousness. Choose service to Christ.