In the eBible community, we love to have discussions about every aspect of this Christian life – from what it means to be a follower of Christ, to digging into the etymology of the original Greek and Hebrew texts. Here are this week’s top questions, presented with the top answers so far. Keep up with the discussion, and add your own thoughts
2. What is more important: Christ’s death, or His Resurrection?
Image via FlickrThe death and resurrection of Christ are equally important. The cross of Christ won for us the victory that we could never have won for ourselves. On the cross God piled our sins on Jesus, and He bore the punishment due us (Isaiah 53:4-8), therefore releasing the power of sin over us. By His death, Jesus destroyed the works of the devil (John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8), condemned Satan (John 16:11), and crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). The cross of Christ is vital to our salvation and was thus a main theme of the apostles’ preaching (Acts 2:23, 36 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2; Galatians 6:14).
But the story of Jesus Christ did not end with His death. The resurrection of Christ is also foundational to the gospel message. Our salvation stands or falls based on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, as Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Without the resurrection, we are still sitting “in darkness and in the shadow of death” waiting for the sunrise (Luke 1:78-79). Because of Jesus’ resurrection, His promise holds true for us: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Our great enemy, death, will be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-55).
3. Why do we need religion if we have God to guide us?
image via Flickr There are a lot of incorrect uses the word “religion,” claiming it is an attempt for man to reach God. The bible does not speak this way, neither does the English language. Religion: the belief in a god or in a group of gods, an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods. With that out of the way, Christianity IS a religion. How does growth take place outside of church and religion? Do we listen to a still small voice inside us, or look for feelings/impressions or “moves” of the spirit? Do we make it up as we go along? Does God guide us apart from his Word? The bible teaches us our hearts are wicked, that all unrighteousness flows from them (Jer 17:9, Mark 7:21). It also teaches us we are prone to deception (1 Jn 1:8, Luke 21:8, 2 Cor 11:3, Jas 1:16, Rev 20:8). To answer the question: We need religion because that is what Christianity is. Christianity is the one true religion amongst all false religions.Christianity teaches the one true God, the creator of the Universe, it has a system of beliefs which include the Trinity, the virgin birth, Jesus suffering on the cross, the atonement for our sins as well as other beliefs. It also has rules for worship; Paul lays them out for us in 1 Corinthians.
