“You’re not a Christian if…” (Part 2)

Jesus humanized God's awesomeness. (Photo: Flowery *L*u*z*a*)

You have to believe Jesus died then came back to life to be a Christian. I mean that literally, not like some metaphoric tale from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Jesus actually died then came back to life.

But that’s not enough for salvation, which leads to my next question:

“Do you believe Jesus was a man and God?”

The question links directly back to Part 1. And if you believe Part 1, the rest isn’t far off. Here’s how:

  • If you believe Jesus died, you’re close to believing He was a man. Gods don’t die the way we do, and Jesus died the way we do.
  • If you believe Jesus came back to life, you’re close to believing He was God. People don’t come back to life by themselves, and Jesus did.

Most people have more trouble believing that Jesus is God than that Jesus was a man. They agree with many of Jesus’s teachings. For example, they (mostly) appreciate the Sermon on the Mount. But they often don’t agree when Jesus claims to be God:

“I and My Father are one.” -John 10:30

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him… He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” -John 14:7,9

Don’t worry about trying to beef up Jesus’s authority on other matters without first pointing out that He died and came back to life. The “coming back to life” part of His bio has authority built into it. Keep this in mind when you share.

But other people have died then come back to life before, so this second part is also crucial for salvation. Bluntly again, you’re not a Christian if you don’t believe that…

  • Jesus was a man.
  • Jesus is God.

Putting this together with the first part…

“Do you believe Jesus died then came back to life, was a man and is God?

Serving Suggestions:

(1) Do you believe that? I’ve drawn a line (but didn’t make it up). Now choose which side you’re on.

(2) Are you emphasizing this as part of the starting point for Christianity? It doesn’t have to be a judgmental thing. It’s just a matter of finding where everyone stands. It’s the beginning of serving others on a whole new level.