As a pastor, I often remind people that Christianity did not appear out of thin air. It emerged from within Judaism, and understanding that connection deepens our faith.
Judaism is the ancient faith of the Jewish people, rooted in God’s covenant with Israel. It centers on the Torah, the Law given through Moses and the promise that God would send a Messiah. Jewish faith emphasizes obedience to God’s commandments, communal identity, and hope for future redemption. Importantly, Judaism is still waiting for the Messiah to come.
Christianity begins right there but diverges at a crucial point. Christians believe that the promised Messiah has already come in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi, born into a Jewish family, teaching from the Hebrew Scriptures. The earliest followers of Jesus were all Jewish. What separated Christianity from Judaism was the conviction that Jesus was not only the Messiah, but the Son of God who died for the sins of the world and rose again.
Christianity began in the first century after Jesus’ resurrection. His disciples preached that forgiveness, salvation, and new life were available not through the Law alone, but through grace by faith in Christ. As this message spread beyond Jewish communities to Gentiles across the Roman world, a distinct Christian movement emerged.
So the difference is not about opposing faiths, it’s about fulfillment. Christianity proclaims that God kept His promise. And that promise is still transforming lives today.
At beacon, we follow Jesus with humility, gratitude, and a deep respect for the roots of our faith, because knowing where we come from helps us live faithfully where God has placed us now.