Brad Alles

While other religions exist on earth, none is more popular than Christianity. About one third of all humans are Christians. Yet something else is distinctive about the faith. In all other religions you “do” something for salvation. You must be good, keep enough laws, or satisfy certain requirements. The pressure of saving yourself is on you. Contrast that with Christianity.

One of the most singularly unique aspects of Christianity is salvation. It is “done” for you by Christ; it is nothing that you do that merits entry into heaven. No other religion on the planet is like that. This is made perfectly clear in Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” That’s why the Apostle John, near the end of his gospel, wrote these lines in John 20:30-31. “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Simply by believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, you may have life in His name, just like Lazarus did. Lazarus didn’t do anything; he couldn’t since he was dead. Jesus had to raise him from the dead. In the same way, we are spiritually dead in sin and God raises us up by the Holy Spirit’s power that Jesus is our Savior. That’s why Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.” We don’t do anything; how could we, since we’re spiritually dead? Salvation is done for us.

What a comfort to know that this worldview not only matches the reality around us, fitting the facts, but it also answers the questions that all people have, and is useful in dealing with the issues of suffering and death. The Lord of Life has dealt with our biggest fear and overcome it. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! It is true!