What is it about the Christian faith that is so different?
The answer to the question would take volumes, but the prophet Jeremiah gives us a brief understanding of the significance of faith in Christ.
First, Christ gives us the ability to follow Him and keep His commands. Christ’s work in making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) makes possible our following Him and carrying out His commands. Jeremiah said that the days were coming when God’s law would be written on the mind of believers and put in their hearts. Rather than an external tablet the law would be an internal desire. It would be the believer’s motivation for service.
I have a good friend who is an excellent salesman and trainer of salespeople. This is what he says: “There is one thing I cannot do. I cannot motivate people to want to sell. That is something internal to them.”
What Christ does is give us the desire to be obedient. If you want to explore this concept further read “All Religions Are Alike.”
Second, Christ lets us know Him personally. Throughout the Scripture, God reveals Himself personally. He is not out there somewhere. He is close, personal, loving, kind, and available. To put this in human terms, He shows up when we need Him. We are persons and God relates to us personally. To read more about this, look at “Are All Religions Really The Same?”
Finally, Christianity is different because of grace and forgiveness. God really forgives. He forgives us and does not remember our sin. This is certainly an unearthly concept. The God who created us can forget, but the only thing that He ever forgets is our sin!
Forgiveness seems to be the basis for the New Covenant. The passage could be translated in this way: “They will all know me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, when I forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). Rather than calling attention to our sin, God calls attention to His grace. He forgives and He forgets.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
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