Christianity is challenging because it is built upon the deity of the Master. Jesus was not just a man. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him was not anything made that hath been made...And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" (Jno. 1:1-3, 14).

In reply to the questioning of the Jews, Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (Jno. 8:58). To the unbelieving critics who object to His claims of familiarity with God, He
further stated, "I and the Father are one" (Jno. 10:30).

Jesus has "the Words of eternal life" (Jno. 6:68), "a name above all names (Phil. 2:9) and a glory unsurpassed (Jno. 14: 6). To the King of kings we owe allegiance that propels us
into a sojourn that people of the temporal world cannot even fathom (Acts 4:13). Even Napoleon, in his famous speech to General Bertrand, admitted that "the spirit of Christ overawes me." As another leader of men wrote, "so we believe as well, that our blessed Lord supercedes all rulers, armies, navies and heroes that ever lived in power, splendor and influence".

THE POWER OF EVANGELISM: -- The impact of Christianity challenges us also because it is promulgated by the great commission and not by some bombastic plan set forth by man. The parting words of the Savior, just prior to His going back to heaven, are so simple, yet profound. He told the apostles, "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned" (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15,16).

Jesus sent the disciples into the world with no weapons, no threats: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2 Cor. 10:3). They had only the message of salvation. But that
was enough! Nothing could have permeated the Roman Empire so successfully as the humble servants of the crucified Nazarene pressing the claims of the Messiah upon that profligate society. The early saints "went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:4), and soon the message of redemption covered the ancient world as the water covers the sea!

THE POWER OF PURE LIFE: -- Christianity demands our very best because it is demonstrated by purity of life. The fundamental values of the religion of Christ can best be seen in His life: He "hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin...Him who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21). It was said of Jesus, "He went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). Those same values seen in the life of Jesus are seen in the dedicated demeanor of fervent disciples of the Lord.

Too many times the world receives a faulty impression of the way of the cross because of our failure to portray the ethics of godliness. Oh, what demands the gospel places on the devotees of the Savior! Christianity is great because it brings hope, joy and optimism into the daily walk of the children of the heavenly Father. Trusting in the Creator (Prov. 3: 5), instead of earth's vain trinkets, gives us the enrichment that only the hope of heaven can bequeath to us.

Hope includes faith, but it also is assurance. Our hope is centered in the Lord Jesus: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Christians never look back to a life of sin, but ever press on tot he beautiful home of the soul, so that we, "Look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God
...Look for a better country, that is, a heavenly" (Heb. 11:10, 16). A careful man I ought to be, A little fellow follows me; I so not dare to go astray, For fear he'll go the self-same way.Let us all rise up to meet the challenge of Christianity. With a firm commitment and a deep resolve, we will one day -- by the grace of God -- enter into the heavenly city. And when the saints go marching into glory, we'll be able to join in that heavenly chorus.

By Johnny Ramsey, in Gospel Minutes,
Vol. 54, No. 42, Oct. 16, 2005.

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