The gods

The problem

• Many different religions;
• Many good people are sincere believers in other religions;
• Within Christianity there are many denominations
• Many good people are sincere members of these denominations
• Many post-modern Christian scholars teach that every religion leads to god by a different route. Therefore we should respect other people and not try to convert them. Rather we should try to understand their faiths so that we can all live in harmony and peace with each other.

 Are we all worshipping the same God?

1. Is 1 + 1 = 2 or 3?
2. Jews and Christians worship the Creator God Whose name is YHWH and Who is our Father: Exodus 3:13-15; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:36-37; John 4:22; Luke 23:46; Romans 8:15-16 
3. Islam worships god (“Allah” in Arabic) who is the Almighty. 
4. It is only the above 3 religions who could logically be argued to have the same god because the rest of the world’s religions either worship more than one god or believe in an impersonal god/force. For example:
5. In Hinduism one can worship whatever you please – you choose your own god. Generally gods are “it” and not a person. “Salvation” is through re-incarnation and works whereby your good works earn you good karma. 
6. Buddhism seeks to get its followers to be in harmony with the universe. It is either polytheistic, pantheistic or atheistic depending on the sect. Follow the 8-fold path to attain Nirvana. 
7. Traditional religions are animistic in other words they worship the spirits of created things (sun, moon, trees, animals, etc.) and the departed spirits. 

 

 Are Christianity and Islam worshipping the same god? NO

1. The characters of the gods they describe are vastly different. Allah has done nothing for man that cost him anything. God has sacrificed Himself for us (2 Cor. 5:19)
2. They present totally opposite ways of reaching god (works v. Grace). Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour through repentance and faith v. Faith and the five pillars of Islam.

 Is Jesus the only way to God? YES

1.       John 14:6 

2.       Acts 4:12 

3.       1 Timothy 2:5 

4.       Hebrews 2:3 

5.       Matthew 26:39 

 

Why is Jesus (not Christianity) the only way to God?

 1.       The problem of humanity is sin which separates us from God. 

1. God created us for relationship with Him 
2. God thus created us with a longing for God (Ecc. 3:11) 
3. When we sinned, we were separated from God’s presence (Genesis 3:22-24; Isaiah 59:2) This separation is spiritual death (Romans 6:23a) and ALL human beings are thus separated from God (Romans 3:10; Romans 6:23). We experience the partition of sin.
4. When we sinned we faced the just penalty for our sin (Romans 6:23) 
5. When we sinned we were polluted by sin (Mark 7:21-23) 
6. When we sinned we came under the power of sin (John 8:34) 
7. ALL RELIGIONS are attempts by human beings to fill the void left by God’s absence! 

 

2.       In order to get to God we have to get rid of our sin. And we are not able to get rid of our sin ourselves (Romans 7). No human beings can ever make themselves good enough for God. Once you have sinned once, you are no longer good enough to be in God’s presence. So we need God to save us from our sins. 

3.       No other religion claims to have a Saviour. The Buddha is a teacher, not a saviour. Muhammad is a prophet, not a saviour. In Islam, sinners will face judgment without forgiveness.  

 4.       Jesus Christ is our Saviour:

a.       John 3:16; 

b.      1 Peter 2:24; 

c.       The self-substitution of God 

d.      Isaiah 53:6 

e.      Ephesians 2:8-9 

f.        We will face judgment with our sins having been washed away by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:10-17; Revelation 21:27) 

g.       We receive the power of the Holy Spirit to give us life NOW! 

Jesus Christ frees us from the penalty, the power, the pollution and the partition of sin! (Romans 3:21-26).

I repeat – no other religion even claims to have a saviour.

5. What about those who have never heard the gospel?

1. Even those who have not received written or spoken revelation have knowledge of God and of right and wrong (Rom. 1:18-20; 2:15)
2. Judgment is on the basis of what we have done in this life (Rom. 2:5-11).
3. For those who have Law they are judged by Law … for those who have conscience only, they are judged by conscience. (above plus Rom. 2:16)
4. God’s judgment will be just and fair (Genesis 18:25)
5. All human beings justly deserve separation from God (Rom. 3:10-18, 23; Rom. 6:23)
6. ALL PEOPLE NEED MERCY!!
7. This mercy is only available because of Jesus’ death for us (Hebrews 10:10). Anyone who receives God’s mercy has Jesus to thank for that mercy being available (Romans 3:23-31).
8. Mercy is available to all who trust in God by faith and therefore call on God for mercy (Romans 4:3; Luke 18:9-14) … and show their genuineness by repenting (Mark 1:15) … whether or not they have yet heard of Jesus.
9. Jesus and the mercy He bought on the Cross is always the only way to God (John 14:6)
10. The only guaranteed means of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ.
11. Once you have heard of Jesus you have to make your choice (John 3:16-21) – to ignore Jesus is to reject salvation.
12. But if someone who has not yet heard of Jesus turns to the Creator God by faith (Rom. 1:20) … turns from his sins and pleads for mercy (Luke 18:13)… trusts in God’s mercy and not in any goodness of his own (Eph 2:8-9) … and begins to live a totally selfless life of constant reliance on God and of complete mercy towards other people (thus keeping themselves in God’s mercy; Matthew 7:1-2 ) … loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and loving his neighbour as himself (Matt. 19:16-21; 22:34-40) … it would seem to me contrary to God’s nature for Him to send them to hell.

How many people will be saved like this? Will any religion point people to so this? No. They will either teach against One True God or they will teach people to trust in their good deeds. We have to preach the good news of Jesus and the guaranteed salvation that only comes through Him!! (Romans 10:5-15) 

6. What about those who have never heard the gospel?

1.       Even those who have not received written or spoken revelation have knowledge of God and of right and wrong (Rom. 1:18-20; 2:15)

2.       Judgment is on the basis of what we have done in this life (Rom. 2:5-11).

3.       For those who have Law they are judged by Law … for those who have conscience only, they are judged by conscience. (above plus Rom. 2:16)

4.       God’s judgment will be just and fair (Genesis 18:25)

5.       All human beings justly deserve separation from God (Rom. 3:10-18, 23; Rom. 6:23). So if you’re under judgment you have a HUGE problem.

6.       ALL PEOPLE NEED MERCY!!

7.       This mercy is only available because of Jesus’ death for us (Hebrews 10:10). Anyone who receives God’s mercy has Jesus to thank for that mercy being available (Romans 3:23-31).

8.       Mercy is available to all who trust in God by faith and therefore call on God for mercy (Romans 4:3; Luke 18:9-14) … and show their genuineness by repenting (Mark 1:15) … whether or not they have yet heard of Jesus. BUT which person of which religion would do this??

9.       Jesus and the mercy He bought on the Cross is always the only way to God (John 14:6)

10.    The only guaranteed means of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ.

11.    Once you have heard of Jesus you have to make your choice (John 3:16-21) – to ignore Jesus is to reject salvation.

12.    But if someone who has not yet heard of Jesus turns to the Creator God by faith (Rom. 1:20) … turns from his sins and pleads for mercy (Luke 18:13)… trusts in God’s mercy and not in any goodness of his own (Eph 2:8-9) … and begins to live a totally selfless life of constant reliance on God and of complete mercy towards other people (thus keeping themselves in God’s mercy; Matthew 7:1-2 ) … loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and loving his neighbour as himself (Matt. 19:16-21; 22:34-40) … it would seem to me contrary to God’s nature for Him to send them to hell. BUT again one has to ask – which person of which religion would ever do this?

How many people will be saved like this? Will any religion point people to so this? No. They will either teach against One True God or they will teach people to trust in their good deeds. This is why it is crucial that Christians preach the good news of Jesus and the guaranteed salvation that only comes through Him!! (Romans 10:5-15)