What is Christianity?
Via What Is Christianity? pp. 1-2
Christianity has been in existence for nearly two thousand years, – indeed, for almost six thousand, if we take into account the first Messianic promise. Can it be then, that Christians still disagree as to what Christianity really is? Is the nature of Christianity still a debatable question among its adherents? To this we reply: Christians indeed fully agree as to the nature of Christianity. All those who are really members of the Christian Church truly believe that through faith in Christ, the Savior of sinners, they have forgiveness of sins and salvation, not through their own merits or works. Because of this faith, and solely because of it, they are members of the Christian Church. Whoever has his faith belongs to the Christian Church; whoever has not this faith does not belong to the Christian Church. Even those who belong to the Christian Church under the Papacy and within the sectarian bodies believe that they have forgiveness of sins through Christ and not through their own works or moral conduct. This is the one faith which St. Paul ascribes to the Christian Church when he writes: “One Lord, one faith,” Eph. 4:5. This is the “unity of the Spirit” which the Holy Ghost works and preserves in all Christians, as we confess of Him in the hymn: – Who the Christian Church doth even, Keep in unity of spirit. The faith and confession of all Christians is expressed in the words of Scripture: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1, 7, and: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law,” Rom. 3, 28. We find it also in the beautiful children’s hymn: – Christ’s precious blood and righteousness, My glory are, my beauteous dress; So clothed, before my God I’ll stand, When I shall reach the heavenly land.
