What Is Christianity ?

-by BIll AIIhrnore

Christianity can be compared to man1agfL In marriage the bride
and the groom. usually after an engagement. arrive before the a...
\\'here they make a decision to enter a marriage contract by .aylng III
do or III WIlL" God In his love for mankind hal sent his Son the Lord
Jesus Christ to die on the cross for aI' of manldnd'i transgressions. All
Who accept Jesus ChrIst Into their hearts and lives .. their personal
Lord and Savior .now God to enact three great acts of redemption
Justification. sancatIcatIon. ancIgloJlllcatlon. .
JustIt'IcatIon Involves not only forgiveness of wrongs but Includes
God totally forgetting those wrongl, .. Ephesians 4.32 ura, -God far
ChrIsti sake bath forgiven you" and .. Hebrewl1G.i7 sars IIth_ ....
lind iniquities will remember no more.. JusIIIcdon II baed strlcly
on an ..of faith believing that Jesus CIIrIst died for tIIIIr .....
SancIIIIcaIIon. WhIle an act of faith .. wei. .... tile
believers perforllling good worts. Because of JustIIIuIon and ..
resurrection or J.... CItrIst, God now dwells In the IIeIIevers hearta
.. _"to of .... (Ph112.1S) I{QWtY-.........
.of human wulcri8sS and failure. sanctification II ..... learning..... a
growlng process. No 0lIl __ perfection In .... ... Vet
ChrIstians learn and grow they begin to experIenGe chanps In tile war
they live IaeIr lives and start to manifest lood worD. TbeH ....
from .voldlng destructive behavior to helping thoR In ...d, just lID
...... few. '
QIorItIcation of believers dependl wholly upon .. retunt of ......
ChrIst when believers - ..... _ blm _ .. Is.. (1 JolIn 3.1) As CIutst
rose from the dead so shllll there be .....urrectlon front .. grave of
those believers who have died .. wei - a translation of IIeIIevers wIlD
are alive at his coming. Upon l1li great act, God wBI ...aD believers
wilt perfect new bodies ..,. thts oorrupU.... must put 011 IncorrUption
and tllil mortal must put on immortality. (1 Cor 1....,
AI, WIth mama... salvation II permanent. thus ........ wID be
-ever with the Lord. (1 1bess 4.17) Having been cleared tDtaIIr front
all wrong doing. having experlenDed relatIonShIp with God In this ....
and then having become perfected at the second coming of ct......
believers will enjoy God'i presence forever.