I just had a rather eye opening conversation with a co-worker, She says that Christianity is the True religion because it is the religion taught in the bible....this is my first time hearing someone say this. I have been reading and studying the bible for a little over a year now (read it through twice) and not once did I see anything about Christianity being given as a religion by the Most High or his son....where did she get this idea from?
What was the Messiah's mission? Was he sent to us to start a new religion in his fathers name? Or was he simply an example like I have come to believe? Does anyone else believe as my co-worker does?
Any and all opinions are welcomed.
4YAH80,
It is very difficult to explain Biblical teachings to a person without Praecognita, when the Bible is Terra Incognita to them.
What your friend said is actually correct, but he did not start the new religion, because Jesus was born under the Mosaic Law Covenant, so he was under that law, and being under that law he would have qualified to be stoned to death, if he taught another way, Deut 13:1-5. Jesus started the foundation of the Christian Congregation. Jesus even told the Jews that their House, The Temple was abandoned, and that the Kingdom would be given to a people who would produce fruits, Matt 21:42-46, 23:37,38.
Let me explain!! I beg you to meditate on what I say, for I have studied the Holy Scriptures for over 55 years.
Jesus was born under the Mosaic Law Covenant, Gal 4:4. One of the important things that Jesus came to earth for, was to end the Mosaic Law Covenant!! The reason was; it was a law of sin and death, Rom 6:23, Gal 3:10-14, 2Cor 3:6,7, Rom 7:6, 8:1-4, 6:14,15, Gal 5:18, Col 2:13,14.
Jesus was telling about a New Covenant that he instituted on the night before his death, Luke 22:19, 20, 1Cor 11:23-26, Heb 8:6-13, 10:14-20.
JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US BECAUSE THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND BULLS COULD NOT TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF MANKIND, Heb 9:11-15, 10:1-4, 8-11.
The Mosaic Law Covenant was an interim Covenant, a De BENE ESSE Covenant, only to be in force until the Messiah would come, Jesus, Jere 31:31-34. The Law Covenant acted as a tutor for the nation of Israel until Messiah, Christ, Gal 3:23-26.
All the nation of Israel that continued to have faith in God changed and became Christians. These ones are called The REMNANT, Rom 9:27, 11:5. That Christian Congregation started at Pentecost 33CE when Jesus, who had gone back to heaven had poured out the Holy Spirit from God upon a small group of Jesus followers, Acts 2:1-21. The Holy Spirit on this small group enabled them to do miraculous powers, this to prove to the Jews that God had transferred His blessing on this small group, who were later called Christians, Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1Pet 4:16.
The Jews had been under the Mosaic Law Covenant for over 1,500 years, so something very strong and different was needed to show them that they were no longer blessed by Him, that He had turned His blessing to the small group gathered in Jerusalem on Pentecost.