Is there a difference between
Catholic and Christian?
Q: "Is there a difference between being Catholic and being a Christian?"
our A:
There are many denominations, types of churches that would be classified
"Christian," such as Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and so
on. But obviously there are members in each one who genuinely have a
relationship with Christ, and those who don't.
The word "Christian" means "Christ in one," or "Christ inside of one." So,
the real issue isn't what church a person belongs to, but whether the person
individually has Jesus Christ living inside of him or her...if they really have
a personal relationship with God.
In the Gospel of John, we are told, "to all who received him [referring to
Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children
of God."1 Why do we have to become children of God? Because until then, God is
distant. We may know he's there. We may know we are supposed to worship him. We
may even know that in times of need, he's the one to pray to. But there is a
distance we are aware of, and it is because of our sin.
Now, as long as we live and breathe, guess what, we're going to sin. We're
going to do things our way instead of God's way. But our sin need not remain a
barrier between us and God. Here's how.
The Bible says that there is a penalty for sin, and it might be greater than
you'd expect. The penalty for sin is death. It's not just the penalty for sins
like murder. It's God's judgment against any and all sins. The Bible says, "For
the wages of sin is death..."2 So that we would not have to die eternally
separated from God because of our sin, Jesus died in our place. He fully paid
for our sin. And offers us complete forgiveness. Not temporary forgiveness. Even
for the sins we will commit in the future, we can have his forgiveness now,
because Jesus died for all of our sin. We can immediately begin a close,
personal relationship with him, that barrier of sin being gone. It isn't that we
become perfect and no longer sin. But we become forgiven when we see that Jesus
died for our sin, in our place.
"Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done
this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God
sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger
against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his
blood, sacrificing his life for us."3
When we receive Jesus Christ into our lives, God declares us "not guilty" and
he says that we are now "made right with God." Our relationship with God has
begun in a real way, where we no longer know God is "out there," but instead we
know that he lives inside of us. We have God's forgiveness, a relationship with
him. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord."4
If you would like to be certain that you have a personal relationship with
God, your sins forgiven, and no longer any barrier between you and God, the
following explain how to have this now: Getting Connected.
1John 1:12
2Romans 6:23
3Romans 3:23,24 (NLT)
4Romans 6:23
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How to begin a relationship with God
