The Need For Distinguishing Biblical Christianity from Christianity

For decades, many in America identified as "people of faith," a phrase that traditionally referred to Christianity. However, over time, the term “faith” has been broadened to include all religions and forms of spirituality. As a result, Christian churches have had to become more explicit in defining their faith—affirming belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture.

Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation. False teachers have infiltrated the church, subtly distorting the truth and seeking to undermine the freedom we have in Christ, which is rooted in genuine faith in the biblical Jesus. The apostle Paul warned of such deception:
"For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." (Jude 1:4, NIV)
Many of these false teachers continue to profess Christ as their Savior, yet they reject His true nature as defined by Scripture. Jesus Himself warned of this deception:
"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:5, NIV)

This serves as a sobering reminder that merely professing belief in Jesus' name is not enough. True faith requires belief in the fullness of His identity—His divine nature, His atoning work on the cross, and His resurrection power. The apostle John emphasized this when he wrote: "Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." (1 John 2:23, NIV)

Thus, the true church once again finds itself in a position where it must clearly define and defend its faith. The distinction between the authentic, biblical church of Jesus Christ and those who use Christianity for their own agendas—sowing confusion, division, and leading others into falsehood—must be made unmistakably clear. As Paul exhorted:
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)

Now, more than ever, the body of Christ must stand firm in sound doctrine, expose deception, and boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel. As faithful stewards of God’s Word, we must hold fast to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), guarding against those who distort the message of salvation for their own purposes.