The Essence of Christianity
When Jesus asked Peter, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:16), the question was preceded by the disciples giving examples of what others were saying about who they believed Jesus to be. They were saying Jesus might be John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or perhaps one of the prophets. None of those were quite right. Jesus wanted to know what Peter thought. It was an important question. It is the all-important question that too many don’t take seriously enough.
Peter’s answer was so right-on that Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17). What did Peter say that was so impressive to the Lord? He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). In other words, Jesus is not just one of those others who points to the One; He is the One.
Jesus is the distinct, exclusive One about whom all the others have spoken and written for centuries. And there He stood before His disciples! Not even they had fully come to grips with the magnitude of His importance at that point. So Peter blurts it out correctly, not by his power but by the power of God.
Jesus was good at asking significant questions. They were necessary because the answers were critical in understanding truth, especially the truth about Him.
For Martha, the sister of Lazarus, the question following Jesus’ proclamation that He was the “resurrection and the life” and “everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” was, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Fortunately, she answered “Yes.” Any other response would have been a fundamental denial of His identity. Her reply was not just for her but for us who must respond in kind to perhaps the most essential question Jesus ever asked; it’s right up there with what Jesus asked Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” Answer that one wrong, and nothing else matters.
Yet, precisely who they say that Jesus is in many churches today doesn’t seem to be a big deal. Many are more comfortable letting the world define Christianity for them than trusting the ancient and sacred doctrines of the church. As a result, biblical theology has become nothing more than a cumbersome distraction. Being “missional” and “incarnational” are buzzwords for going into the world to meet “real needs” in the name of Christ.
Meanwhile, the world prefers that Jesus not be part of the equation. They even applaud those who go out, ostensibly in the name of Christ, armed with a feeble grasp of theology. But, as many churches seek to meet physical needs, they can offer virtually no appreciation of, as Paul put it, “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17). Somewhere along the line, humans—not Jesus—took center stage. They are Christian in name, but lack the essence of Christianity.
What makes Christianity Christianity ? What we believe about many vital doctrines makes our faith genuine. Who do you say that He is? How important is that to you? How much does your doctrine of Christ define your faith? Christianity is not just about doing good deeds, although what we believe can and should lead to good deeds.
Love people in the name of Christ. But make sure you know—to the degree Scripture reveals Him—the One in whose name you love them. Know the Christ of Christianity.
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” —2 Peter 3:18