What is Christianity?

What is Christianity? 

I believe it would be best to begin the answer to this question with an illustration. 

In the city of London, 2 years back a 6 storey building had a fire emergency. The majority of the people escaped but there remained 5 people on the 3rd floor. They were unable to escape via the staircase because flames surrounded them. The only option they had was to jump out of the window. Minutes later the fire brigades arrived. The firemen decided to use the ladder on one of the vehicles to get to the people on the 3rd floor. The ladder was lengthened and drawn close to the window. However at full length the ladder came short by 6 feet. On seeing this one of the men on the 3rd floor yelled, “It’s only one Man short!” 

A retired army General heard this and immediately volunteered to climb the ladder and cover the 6 feet with his own body. He made himself a human walkway. As fire was spreading and he got some severe burns. The act was painful but he went through it to save those 5 people. If it were not for him those men and women would have died. 

This is what Christianity is. It is about that one Man. The world has so many religions, philosophies and ideas. But none are able to save men from their sins; none are able to save them from the power of sin in their lives and none are able to save them from the guilt of sin. Like the ladder, “It’s only one Man short!” 

When true Christianity is preached, it always centers on the one Man, Jesus Christ and what he has done for us through his death, burial and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) (1 Corinthians 1:23) The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Jesus Christ invites you today to believe and receive all that he has done for you through his death, burial and resurrection. 

For the Lord says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)