These days people say things like, "that may be true for you, but
it's not true for me." They'll argue that everything is relative.
Everything is subjective. Everything is a matter of
perspective. Everything can be revised. "There is no absolute truth."
"You can't handle the truth!"
Is the statement "there is no absolute truth"
true?
If not, then no need to worry, right? On the other hand if the
statement is true, then it follows that it is not true, since there is
no absolute truth. So if the statement is false, it’s false; and if it's true,
it’s false. So either way the statement is false.
Therefore
there IS absolute truth. This means that there is only one truth and
since the different religions teach vastly different things, then really
only one can be true.
Why is Jesus the only
way to God?
1.
Why do we need Jesus anyway?
a.
The Fall (Genesis 3)
i.
Relationship between God and man is broken (v.8)
ii.
Relationship between man and his fellow man is
severed (v.12,13)
iii.
Bond between man and nature is broken (v.17-18)
iv.
Man’s separation from himself (emptiness,
loneliness)
b.
God’s promise to make it right again (Genesis
3:15) by sending a Savior.
c.
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God”, thus everyone needs a savior.
d.
The prophesied characteristics of the Savior
make it statistically impossible for any one person to fulfill them, yet Christ
did.
e.
Christ died in our place so we could again have
a right relationship and be reconciled with God. NO OTHER religion provides
such provision!
2.
Testimonies to Christ’s Lordship
a.
Jesus Himself said so.
i.
“Jesus answered, “I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6)
ii.
“If you do not believe that
I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
b.
Peter
i.
“Salvation is found
in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by
which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
c.
Paul
i.
“For there is one God
and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all
people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
3.
If there are other ways
to God, then Christ’s death was in vain and His resurrection is meaningless.
4.
The precepts of other religions and the
characteristics of their deities:
1.
Exclude Christ as God
a.
Christ’s Identity
i.
Christianity: Fully God and Fully man.
ii.
Islam: Man. A good teacher and Prophet. Allah is
the only one god.
iii.
Hinduism: Varies. Mostly a wise Man, or perhaps an
incarnation. There is no consistency in Hinduism.
iv.
Buddhism: A wise and enlightened Man.
2.
Contradict the Bible and Christ’s teachings and
are mutually exclusive.
a.
Salvation. In ALL other religions, salvation is
dependent on the works of the person.
i.
Christianity: By Grace through Faith, not by
works. Dependent upon God (free gift). A person simply must accept the gift of
God. It is not dependent upon self or how ‘good’ you have been. In ALL other
religions, salvation is dependent on the works of the person. “But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.” Romans 5:8. No other religion provides an atonement and
reconciliation to God.
ii.
Islam (from Quran and other Islamic teachings)
Dependent on SELF, not GOD to be “good enough” (or other conditions such as
martyr) to be saved:
1.
Those who believe and do good deeds (with
contradictions “The good deeds of
any person will not make him enter Paradise.”)
2.
Allah purifies who he pleases
3.
“Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance,
then turn (to Allah) soon, so these it is to whom Allah turns
(mercifully), and Allah is ever Knowing, Wise. And repentance is not for those who go on doing evil deeds, until when death
comes to one of them, he says: Surely now I repent; nor (for) those
who die while they are unbelievers. These are they for whom we have prepared a
painful chastisement. S. 4:17-18 Shakir” According to this, Allah does not and
will not accept the repentance of a person at death. (Conflicts with what
Christ told the criminal on the other cross)
4.
Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger
(Muhammad) said: “When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver
to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your
RESCUE from
Hell-Fire”. (
Sahih Muslim, Book 037,
Number 6665)
5.
Male Muslims will receive virgins in heaven for
the purpose of sexual pleasure whenever they want it. The virgins are also
referred to as wives or spouses in various Islamic teachings. This contradicts
Christ’s words in Matthew 22:29-32.
iii.
Hinduism (again, dependent on SELF, not GOD to
be “good enough” to be saved):
1.
Salvation for a Hindu is called Moksha. Moksha
is when an enlightened human being is freed from the cycle of life-and-death
(the endless cycle of death and reincarnation) and comes into a state of
completeness. He then becomes one with God. There are four ways to Moksha:
a.
The Way of Action: This involves carrying out
certain religious ceremonies, duties and rites. The objective is to perform
works without regard for personal gain.
b.
The Way of Knowledge: This requires using your
mind and philosophy to come to a complete comprehension of the universe.
c.
The Way of Devotion: Salvation is reached
through acts of worship, based upon the love for a god (there are millions of
gods in Hinduism).
d.
The Royal Road: The use of meditation and yoga
techniques. This method of reaching salvation is typically only used by
wandering monks.
2.
Each of these ways to salvation in Hinduism
requires that a person do certain things. Salvation is through what a Hindu
does. It is through human works. This completely contradicts Biblical salvation
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
iv.
Buddhism (again, dependent on SELF, not GOD to be
“good enough” to be saved):
1.
For a Buddhist salvation is reaching Nirvana.
Nirvana is a transcendental, blissful, spiritual state of nothingness--you
become a Buddha. To reach Nirvana you must follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The
Noble Eightfold Path is:
a.
Right Understanding: accepting the Four Noble
Truths. (The existence of suffering; the cause of suffering; the end of
suffering; and the end of pain.)
b.
Right Resolve: renounce the pleasures of the
body. Change your lifestyle so that you harm no living creatures and have kind
thoughts for everyone.
c.
Right Speech: do not gossip, lie or slander anyone.
d.
Right Action: do not kill, steal or engage in an
unlawful sexual act.
e.
Right Occupation: avoid working at any job that
could harm someone.
f.
Right Effort: heroically work to eliminate evil
from your life. Through your own effort develop good conduct and a clean mind.
g.
Right Contemplation: make yourself aware of your
deeds, words and thoughts so that you can be free of desire and sorrow.
h.
Right Meditation: train your mind to focus on a
single object without wavering so as to develop a calm mind capable of concentration.
2.
Following the Noble Eightfold Path requires that
a person do the above eight things. Salvation is through what a Buddhist does.
It is through human works. Again completely contradicts Biblical salvation
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Regarding the topic of
“What if some tribe in the deep dark jungle has never heard of Christ? What
about them?” For that I refer you to Romans 1:17-20 and Hebrews 11. My thought
on this is: God knows whether or not someone will accept the Gospel and will
provide a way for them to hear the Gospel. Why didn’t God send the Israelites
priests into Jericho to convert the town? Because He knew they would not turn
to Him. In Joshua 2:9-11, Rahab says that they all knew that “the Lord your God
is God in heaven above and on the earth below”, yet they did not turn to Him
and repent. The same goes for the other places that God told the Israelites to
destroy “with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young
and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.” (6:21) There was no point
in
trying to convert the town. God knew they would not turn. I think the
same goes
for today. God WILL get the Word to those who will accept it. It is also
important to note that God had Israel forewarn the people that he told
them to destroy, so they had ample time to flee or surrender. This shows
God's mercy, despite knowing the people would not accept Him.
_____________________________________________________________
Compared the 4 major religions of the world for the above
notes.
Sources for information and quotes include:
1.
The Holy Bible (NIV)
2.
The Qu’ran
