How to prove that Christianity is superior?

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Perfectly True ! Yes !

But people have to trust and believe Jesus , His Way,
instead
of trusting and believing men who lie, man's way,
to
even have a chance to see His Kingdom. (ONLY the PURE in heart can see any part of God's Kingdom, as Jesus says)

Click to expand...

I agree.


...

Strong in Him said:

I don't think our faith is superior, nor are we.

Click to expand...

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18).

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9).


...

Jason0047 said:

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18).

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9).


...

Click to expand...

Being called, chosen and set apart by God does not make us superior. Privileged, yes, superior, no because our salvation, calling and status as children of God is not down to us, our knowledge, character or deeds. It is all from God.

NT teaching is about humility, not superiority.

Strong in Him said:

Being called, chosen and set apart by God does not make us superior. Privileged, yes, superior, no because our salvation, calling and status as children of God is not down to us, our knowledge, character or deeds. It is all from God.

NT teaching is about humility, not superiority.

Click to expand...

While I am not in disagreement with humility, one is better (righteously) if they do what is right versus doing that which is evil. For God's people are kings and priests thru God are not on the same level as the wicked who will be destroyed for their rejection of Christ and their love of sin.


...

Jason0047 said:

While I am not in disagreement with humility, one is better (righteously) if they do what is right versus doing that which is evil. For God's people are kings and priests thru God are not on the same level as the wicked who will be destroyed for their rejection of Christ and their love of sin.
...

Click to expand...

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Christians are people who have responded to God's love, mercy and grace and accepted his salvation through Jesus. All this was from God - his initiative, his doing, he paid the price, sent his Son and his Spirit. We did not choose Jesus, he chose us; we did not love God, he loved us. We have nothing to feel superior about. And to go around thinking "we are better before God than they are; we have a better faith; we're off to heaven, they aren't", would be pride, which is a sin, and also misses the point.

Well, the individual who walks with God (in His good ways), has his mercy, has His knowledge, and has His gifts makes that individual more superior because God is superior. All goodness, glory, honor, and power comes from God and He purchased the church by His blood. We are God's prized possession. We are not like the wicked, unless you believe we can live wickedly and still be saved by His grace.

Side Note:

Please take note that when I say superior, this is not a kick somebody down a flight of stairs type superiority (Which would be in line with Hitler's type of thinking).

...

Strong in Him said:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Christians are people who have responded to God's love, mercy and grace and accepted his salvation through Jesus. All this was from God - his initiative, his doing, he paid the price, sent his Son and his Spirit. We did not choose Jesus, he chose us; we did not love God, he loved us. We have nothing to feel superior about. And to go around thinking "we are better before God than they are; we have a better faith; we're off to heaven, they aren't", would be pride, which is a sin, and also misses the point.

Click to expand...

Also, Romans 3 is talking about initial salvation and not sanctification (or a continued walk with God in holiness). Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 is talking about how even believers had once been unbelievers (in the past) at one point in their life (thereby making them sinners) whereby they had received the free gift of eternal life (Which applies to both the Jews and the Gentiles). These verses are not talking about the present state of the faithful believer in Jesus Christ. If that were the case, then you must believe Romans 3:11 is talking about how you and other believers have no understanding and or how you and other believers do not seek after God, too.


...

Also, the true believer does not rejoice at the destruction of the wicked. They would naturally want all people to repent of their wicked ways and come to Jesus and His loving and good ways. For they pray and do good towards their enemies with the hope that they might be saved.


...

Lazarus Short said:

The Bible is a self-validating document.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what they all say: e. g.
Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5: "...Ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

Jason0047 said:

Well, the individual who walks with God (in His good ways), has his mercy, has His knowledge, and has His gifts makes that individual more superior because God is superior. All goodness, glory, honor, and power comes from God and He purchased the church by His blood. We are God's prized possession. We are not like the wicked, unless you believe we can live wickedly and still be saved by His grace.

Side Note:

Please take note that when I say superior, this is not a kick somebody down a flight of stairs type superiority (Which would be in line with Hitler's type of thinking).

...

Click to expand...

Well maybe it's just semantics, but I dislike the word superior.
I don't believe we are better than non Christians. We have the amazing privilege of knowing the Lord Jesus, have received the grace and the Spirit of God and are his children. My point is, that ALL that is from God; we cannot boast that we are better, more holy, more deserving or have done anything to save ourselves. We have done nothing to earn his love or grace.

Salvation is not about good works, but I know non Christians who do more for others, give more time and money than some Christians. I have family members who are lovely, cheerful people and would do anything for anyone, while not believing in God; and members of my previous church who attended Sunday after Sunday, week in, week out but who weren't very helpful and felt they had "done their bit" when it came to serving in the church.
In the Lord's eyes, IF the latter group are truly saved and know him, they are in a better position, spiritually, than the former group - but I would still dispute it makes them superior. And to even hint to members of other religions "we are BETTER than you. WE have the true faith, you don't", would, as I said, be asking for trouble.

brinny said:

Please elaborate further what you mean by superior.

Thank you kindly.

Click to expand...

I've scrolled through these six pages of remarks and haven't seen them respond to your second question asking for clarification of, superior.
Good question. I don't think we can address the question without knowing what they mean by that first.

willowsbible said:

I've scrolled through these six pages of remarks and haven't seen them respond to your second question asking for clarification of, superior.
Good question. I don't think we can address the question without knowing what they mean by that first.

Click to expand...

i agree.

The word itself begs elaboration.

As it stands, without the clarification, it quite possibly is the very antithesis to what is of God.

Pride.

Strong in Him said:

Well maybe it's just semantics, but I dislike the word superior.
I don't believe we are better than non Christians. We have the amazing privilege of knowing the Lord Jesus, have received the grace and the Spirit of God and are his children. My point is, that ALL that is from God; we cannot boast that we are better, more holy, more deserving or have done anything to save ourselves. We have done nothing to earn his love or grace.

Salvation is not about good works, but I know non Christians who do more for others, give more time and money than some Christians. I have family members who are lovely, cheerful people and would do anything for anyone, while not believing in God; and members of my previous church who attended Sunday after Sunday, week in, week out but who weren't very helpful and felt they had "done their bit" when it came to serving in the church.
In the Lord's eyes, IF the latter group are truly saved and know him, they are in a better position, spiritually, than the former group - but I would still dispute it makes them superior. And to even hint to members of other religions "we are BETTER than you. WE have the true faith, you don't", would, as I said, be asking for trouble.

Click to expand...

A Christian is a king and a priest because of the faith (that God provides to them). When one is not these things, especially when one may despise God and His Word is to be of a lower rank or position with God (Because God will destroy the wicked vs. rewarding the righteous). One group will be in heaven because they responded correctly to God and the other group will be punished because they did not respond to Him (or respond to Him in a correct way). For example, there are many people who proclaim to know Jesus, but their deeds say otherwise (See Titus 1:16).

The righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished. This makes one group far better off than the other group. One group is in a better or higher position because they are saved and have favor with God.

Also, there are various meanings for the word "superior."
Obviously, the type of "superiority" I am referring to is not in conflict with us being humble, and in us thinking we have power outside of God (i.e. for we are nothing in and of ourselves alone), etc.

Also, prosperity preachers like to butter the believer up and make them think they have a lot of power. They use motivational self talk to say we are awesome, powerful, children of the Kingdom, etc. But this is part of the false name it and claim it gimmick. Surely our faith is not in words only but in a real walk with the Lord in righteousness (i.e. His righteousness working thru you). Surely we seek to genuinely love all people including the poor and our enemies. Surely, we do not justify sin and think we are still saved. God's people are good (doing good and righteous things); And the wicked are evil (doing evil and sinful things). Those who are truly acting righteously according to God's Word are better off (in rank and position with God) than the wicked who do evil things. Sure, the wicked may mask some of their sinful and evil ways with certain good deeds, but they are deeds that are not focused towards God and His Kingdom. Their good deeds are not done as a part of God's Kingdom but a part of the devil's kingdom or the world system.


...

Strong in Him said:

Well maybe it's just semantics, but I dislike the word superior.
I don't believe we are better than non Christians. We have the amazing privilege of knowing the Lord Jesus, have received the grace and the Spirit of God and are his children. My point is, that ALL that is from God; we cannot boast that we are better, more holy, more deserving or have done anything to save ourselves. We have done nothing to earn his love or grace.

Salvation is not about good works, but I know non Christians who do more for others, give more time and money than some Christians. I have family members who are lovely, cheerful people and would do anything for anyone, while not believing in God; and members of my previous church who attended Sunday after Sunday, week in, week out but who weren't very helpful and felt they had "done their bit" when it came to serving in the church.
In the Lord's eyes, IF the latter group are truly saved and know him, they are in a better position, spiritually, than the former group - but I would still dispute it makes them superior. And to even hint to members of other religions "we are BETTER than you. WE have the true faith, you don't", would, as I said, be asking for trouble.

Click to expand...

Also, James says faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Paul says that there are those who profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him (Titus 1:16). In fact, Paul essentially says that if any man speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of Godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James says, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). If being righteous did not mean anything to God, then the Lord would not have taken Enoch home (whereby he did not see death). If being righteous did not mean anything to God, then surely the Lord would not have boasted in Job by asking the question, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil?" (Job 1:8).

For if one's faith is dead, then one obviously cannot be saved. For we are saved by grace THRU faith (Ephesians 2:8).
And without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). For we are to continue in his goodness, otherwise if we don't, we can be cut off just like the Jews were cut off (See Romans 11:22).


...


....

Some LIVING ekklesia TODAY are dwelling with YESHUA MESSIAH

seated WITH HIM in HEAVENLY PLACES

and LIVING here on earth

in UNION WITH HIM just
as
it is written of those born again believers followers of JESUS immersed in His Name , in Ephesians through Revelation and more Scripture.

IS anything BETTER than this anywhere on earth ?

yeshuaslavejeff said:

Some LIVING ekklesia TODAY are dwelling with YESHUA MESSIAH

seated WITH HIM in HEAVENLY PLACES

and LIVING here on earth

in UNION WITH HIM just
as
it is written of those born again believers followers of JESUS immersed in His Name , in Ephesians through Revelation and more Scripture.

IS anything BETTER than this anywhere on earth ?

Click to expand...

Yes, true believers who are seated in heavenly places in the Lord are in a far better (superior) position or rank than the wicked because the wicked are under the Condemnation whereby they will be destroyed. However, of course, we do not boast in ourselves and brag to the lost about our salvation over their lost state towards them. We strive to lead them in love and we pray for them doing good always (being a vessel for the Lord in letting HIS light shine thru us).


....


...

Albion said:

The faith itself has to be seen as correct or else you're essentially persuading the Hindu (or whomever it is) that all faiths are inherently sound and the difference is only in how the adherents live up to the ideals taught by their respective religions.

Click to expand...

Tell that to the White House.

TX_Matt said:

I've been thinking a lot about "Christian superiority" lately, and I'm not sure any kind of superiority-complex is actually compatible with Christianity. I think it's one thing to see Christianity as set apart from other religions, but another to say that it is "superior" to them.

Click to expand...

It is, indeed, separate and apart. It is not a religion.

TX_Matt said:

I'm talking about how some Christians have the mentality that were better than other people because we are Christians.

Click to expand...

God forbid!

Righttruth said:

People of other religions also claim that with regard to their holy books.

Click to expand...

.....and they are deceived, not having received.