Without the Person of Jesus there is no Christianity! No one could replace Him as the proponent of The Way. Any other "prophet" could've founded any other system of religion, but Christianity, the only true religion among men, could not have been started or endured under anyone but God The Son Himself. Jesus, in His very nature, as with the other two members of the Trinity, is one of a kind.
See, Muhammad was just a man. Any devout Muslim will swear that it was in fact Muhammad that received the Islamic revelation, but there was nothing "of him" that made him irreplaceable. Allah could've chosen any man to receive that revelation just the same.
Mormonism was founded by a fellow named Joseph Smith. There was nothing "of him" that made him irreplaceable. The Mormons will swear the Smith was in fact the one God chose, but God could've chosen anyone to “restore” [their opinion] the Christian religion on earth.
Roman Catholicism has a pope today. Anyone could've been the first pope or a pope throughout history. Sure, God chose Peter and any other they'll say, but it could've been anyone approved in their traditions.
The Buddha could've been anyone on earth too. Anyone could have attained enlightenment. It was simply Gautama who did so first. And so it goes with just about every religion.
All of these non-Christian views have figureheads or proponents either today or at their start that were either chosen or were instrumental in their foundations, but are not at all required themselves.
Quite the opposite is seen in the light of truth. Paul says, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain," 1 Corinthians 15:14. It is Him they needed alive, and Him who we need just as much today. How about Ephesians 2:20 or John 15:5 where Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." ? I could literally cite hundreds of verses to establish this truth. My favorite right now must be John 14:6 which reads, "…I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." There is only one Christ, and by His very nature, as God, He is absolutely irreplaceable.
The Apostles knew they were replaceable. Their revelation was not, but they themselves, even like those in false religions, could've been anyone. Yes, it was Paul who received a revelation for the Gentiles, but it could've been anyone. Christ alone still remains irreplaceable.
This is just one more part of true religion that makes the very Person of Christ shine as the central figure of all human history, and as the head of His church. Jesus Himself is our hope and our faith.
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