What if Christianity has gotten it wrong?

from the old testament

• The Bible takes seriously people “getting it wrong.” It says that if a person claims to speak on God’s behalf and says something that is not true, this person is a false prophet. In Deuteronomy 18:20–22, the Bible warns that a prophet who speaks presumptuously in God's name or proclaims something that does not come to pass is not sent by God. A false prophet was to be put to death because they spoke presumptuously in God's name and led people astray (Deuteronomy 18:20).
• False prophets deceive people by giving them false hope (Jeremiah 23:16), speaking visions from their own minds instead of God's word (Jeremiah 23:16), and assuring the rebellious that they will have peace despite their sin (Jeremiah 23:17). God strongly condemns them because they were not sent by Him (Jeremiah 23:21), and if they had truly listened to His counsel, they would have called people to repentance instead of leading them astray (Jeremiah 23:22). God is true and takes seriously those who misrepresent Him.
• God is always true and never lies. Numbers 23:19 states, "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" God's character is defined by truth, faithfulness, and justice (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 25:10; Isaiah 65:16).
• God’s Word is based on who He is, which is always true (Psalm 19:7–9; 33:4; 119:142, 151, 160; Isaiah 40:8). Proverbs 30:5 confirms that every word of God proves true.

from the new testament

• False prophets are also strongly condemned in the New Testament because they mislead others and distort God’s truth (Matthew 7:15–20).
• Jesus and the apostles warned against deception, emphasizing that false teachers would arise and lead many astray (Matthew 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1–3; 1 John 4:1). The Bible calls for discernment, urging believers to test every teaching against Scripture to avoid being deceived (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• The New Testament confirms that God is true (Romans 3:4). Titus 1:2 reminds us that, "God … never lies." God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18).
• God has revealed Himself and His plan for humanity through His Word. Second Peter 1:20–21 tells us that all of Scripture came from God: "Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
• The Bible claims to be true and everlasting because it reflects God and comes from God (Luke 21:33; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 1 Peter 1:25).
• Along with God’s character and His Word, the biggest way to know Christianity is true is by the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. If Christ did not rise from the dead, which is what Christianity is based on, then that would be an easy way to show that Christianity has gotten it wrong.
• First Corinthians 15:12–20 presents an argument showing what would result if Christ did not rise from the dead: “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” If Christ has not been raised, then Christian faith is worthless, believers are still in their sins, and those who have died in Christ are lost. But since Christ has been raised, His resurrection guarantees the hope of eternal life for all who trust in Him. There is a lot at stake if Christianity has gotten it wrong.

implications for today

If Christianity were false, we would have no hope beyond this life, and our faith would be meaningless. If He did not rise, then we are still in our sins, separated from God, and those who died believing in Him are lost forever. But because God is true, His Word endures, and Christ’s resurrection is a historical reality, we can be confident that our faith is not in vain. The resurrection is not just a religious claim—it is the foundation of our hope, proving that Jesus is who He said He is and that He has conquered death.

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most well-documented events of ancient history. Even skeptical scholars agree on key historical facts: Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, His tomb was found empty, His disciples were radically transformed from fearful men into bold proclaimers of His resurrection, and hundreds of people claimed to have seen Him alive after His death (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). The earliest records of these events date back to within a few years of the crucifixion, making legendary development unlikely. Roman and Jewish authorities could have stopped Christianity from spreading by producing Jesus' body, yet they never did. Instead, the apostles, who had nothing to gain and everything to lose, endured persecution and martyrdom rather than deny what they had seen.

The Christian faith is grounded in reality, not wishful thinking. It assures us that every promise God has made—our forgiveness, our future resurrection, and eternal life with Him—will come to pass. Rather than being pitied, we have every reason to rejoice because our hope in Christ is secure for eternity. In a world filled with uncertainty and deception, we can stand firm, knowing that our faith rests on the unshakable truth of God’s Word and the risen Christ. Because of this assurance, we can live boldly for Christ and allow others to see the truth of Christianity.