Are not all religions the same?

All Questions, Christianity

Are not all religions the same?

Category

Christianity, All Questions

Last updated

Jul 31, 2021

Reading Time ‘Minutes’

Word Count

This question is mainly asked by those who hold to the claim that all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different (basically meaning that all religions at their core are pointing to the same God, regardless of the traditions and practices they follow).

However, the truth is that all religions are fundamentally different and only superficially the same (basically meaning that all religions point towards the existence of a God, but they do not speak of the same God).

If all religions were the same, then they would not be so many contractions in the beliefs that each faith holds. They would, in fact, proclaim a more consistent nature of God.

Others even point out that all religions are similar because they all teach ethics.

The truth is that other world religions centrally seek to help bad people become better by adopting better personal ethics. But, on the other hand, Christianity invites spiritually dead people to become spiritually alive.

John 3:5 (NKJV)

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

So how does one become spiritually alive?

This is accomplished solely through Jesus’ sacrificial death. When we trust in Christ our sins are attributed to Him and His righteousness is attributed to us. This righteousness then makes justified (in right standing with God), and enables us to be indwelled with the Holy Spirit making us spiritually alive.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Jesus claimed that what He said took precedence over all other teachings. Therefore, He alone is humanity’s only means of salvation.

John 14:6 (NKJV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus also warned about those who would try to set forth a different Christ.

Matthew 24:4-5 (NKJV)

4. And Jesus answered and said to them:

“Take heed that no one deceives you.

5.For many will come in My name, saying,

‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

In conclusion, we don’t have to go very far to see how various religions teach us different views about God.

If Jesus was right (as Christians believe), then others are wrong.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

What are the 5 Solas of the reformation theology?

The Five Solas are five Latin phrases popularized during the Protestant Reformation, which took place in the 16th century.

Are not all religions the same?

we don’t have to go very far to see how various religions teach us different views about God.

what does it mean Christianity is a relationship, not a religion?

Christians believe that their faith is not a religion but, instead, is a relationship with God through His Son Jesus.

I am saved, what’s next?

All Questions, Salvation

I am saved, what’s next?

Category

Salvation, All Questions

Last Updated

Nov 13, 2020

Reading Time ‘Minutes’

Word Count

Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are saved. But what happens after that? We are still stuck on this earth? What am I supposed to do?

The gift of eternal life does not free us from serving God and knowing more about Him. The main purpose of our being – to know Him and to make Him known.

We can serve Him by using our talents and opportunities to minister to people.

While eternal life is a free gift given based on God’s grace, each of us will still be judged by Christ.

Matthew 16:27 (NIV)

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

The judgment referred to here is not regarding the salvation of our souls; instead, it is for our eternal rewards in heaven.

God will reward us for how we have lived and acted on the opportunities that He has made available for us.

But what if you have no idea what you are called to do?

Jesus tells us:

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

If you are unclear about where you are called to serve, the chances are that it is right in front of you or around you. When we fix our eyes on God’s kingdom and serve for His glory alone, we will begin to clearly see His purposes in our lives. Try to be mindful of what gifts, skills, dreams, visions, and unique opportunities you have within your grasp and use that to serve God’s purpose.

Lastly and most importantly, the Holy Spirit’s work allows us to be transformed daily into the image of Christ. So we have to spend time praying and reading His word enabling it to continually mold us and shape us into whom God wants us to be.

The main purpose of our being – to know Him and to make Him known.

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

How can I know if I am one of the elect?

This question is prevalent among believers who have read about the doctrine of election and are mainly guided by a sense of doubt and fear as they wonder if God did in fact, choose them.

What are the signs that I have been saved?

This is one of the core questions every believer may ask themselves one day.
The Bible tells us that we should examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith:

What does it mean to be saved?

The scriptures speak about salvation as having a past, present, and future.

I am saved, what’s next?

The gift of eternal life does not free us from serving God and knowing more about Him. The main purpose of our being – to know Him and to make Him known.

What if I was not born in a Christian family?

Atheists usually raise this question claiming that Christians who believe in God are merely doing so because they were born into that family or environment.

Justification, Sanctification & Glorification?

lets have a quick overview of the 3 phases is as follows.

can a christian be saved by works?

It is very common for people to believe that they can earn their way into heaven through specific acts during their time on earth such as good deeds, acts of kindness, giving to the poor, etc.

What about those who have not heard about Jesus?

The Bible says that salvation is through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
This statement has caused many to ask about those who did not have the opportunity to know the good news of Jesus. Would they be condemned to hell? Just because they never heard?

Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?

Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but instead, it depicts what took place in salvation. Baptism is a beautiful act of obedience to God’s word, and every Christian should be baptized post-salvation.

What does it mean to remain in Christ?

The writers in the new testament constantly warn the churches and the readers to remain in Christ.

What does the Bible say about slavery?

All Questions, Other Questions You always wanted to ask

What does the Bible say about slavery?

Category

When it comes to Christ's outlook of us, all social classes are broken down as we are all equal before God.

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Why take Communion?

Receiving communion is a common practice at most churches. But why do we do it? Here are 4 reasons why we should take communion;

How do we deal with the Ravi Zacharias scandal?

Many people are deeply saddened by the news of the ravi zacharias scandal. But how should we deal with this?

Why did Jesus weep at the death of Lazarus?

John 11:35 (NKJV)
Jesus wept.

What is the new covenant?

All Questions, Other Questions You always wanted to ask

What is the new covenant?

Category

Salvation, All Questions

Last Updated

Jul 27, 2021

Reading Time ‘Minutes’

Word Count

At the last supper, Jesus announced to the disciples that through His blood, a new covenant would be established.

Luke 22:20 (NKJV)

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

So what is this new covenant? And what was the old covenant?

In the old testament times, God had agreed to forgive the people’s sins if they would bring to the priest certain animals for sacrifice. During this sacrificial system, the blood of the animals sealed a covenant between God and His people.

Exodus 24:8 (NKJV)

And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”

There are few things to note about this sacrificial process.

The animal blood itself was not able to remove sin (only God can forgive our sin).

The animal sacrifices had to be repeated day after day and year after year.

When Jesus instituted the “new covenant,” He Himself became a sacrifice for us by dying on the cross in place of our sins. Now unlike the blood of animals, His blood (because He is God) would remove the sins of all who put their faith in Him.

Moreover, Jesus’ final sacrifice on the cross would never have to be repeated; it would be sufficient for all of eternity (Hebrew 9 & 10).

Here are a few reasons why the new covenant is more superior to the old covenant:

it has a more reliable mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ

Hebrews 8:6 (NKJV)

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

it offers a greater hope, most notably the promise of complete forgiveness

Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV)

No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

–

Hebrews 10:4 (NKJV)

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

it grants all believers direct access to God without the need for priests;

it is gracious in that its blessings will never be forfeited by disobedience (though disobedience brings chastening

Hebrews 12:4-11 (NKJV)

4. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

6. For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

8. But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

9. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

10. For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

11. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

it is internal, written not on tablets of stone (2 Cor. 3:7; Ex. 31:18), but on the heart

Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)

33. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

–

Hebrews 8:10 (NKJV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

it brings spiritual life, not spiritual death

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NKJV)

who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

–

Romans 8:2-3 (NKJV)

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

it results in righteousness, not condemnation

2 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

it is clear and straightforward, unlike the old covenant's types, pictures, symbols, and mysteries; and

it is energized by the Holy Spirit's liberating power

The prophets in the Old Testament also looked forward to this new covenant that would ultimately fulfill the old sacrificial agreement (Jeremiah 31:31-34), and John the Baptist called Jesus “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (john 1:29).

We must be grateful to be a generation that gets to live in the new covenant, where we can have direct access to God’s grace, forgiveness, and mercy through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus' final sacrifice on the cross would never have to be repeated; it would be sufficient for all of eternity

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

How can I know if I am one of the elect?

This question is prevalent among believers who have read about the doctrine of election and are mainly guided by a sense of doubt and fear as they wonder if God did in fact, choose them.

What are the signs that I have been saved?

This is one of the core questions every believer may ask themselves one day.
The Bible tells us that we should examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith:

What does it mean to be saved?

The scriptures speak about salvation as having a past, present, and future.

I am saved, what’s next?

The gift of eternal life does not free us from serving God and knowing more about Him. The main purpose of our being – to know Him and to make Him known.

What if I was not born in a Christian family?

Atheists usually raise this question claiming that Christians who believe in God are merely doing so because they were born into that family or environment.

Justification, Sanctification & Glorification?

lets have a quick overview of the 3 phases is as follows.

can a christian be saved by works?

It is very common for people to believe that they can earn their way into heaven through specific acts during their time on earth such as good deeds, acts of kindness, giving to the poor, etc.

What about those who have not heard about Jesus?

Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?

What does it mean to remain in Christ?

The writers in the new testament constantly warn the churches and the readers to remain in Christ.

What does the Bible say about alcohol?

All Questions, Other Questions You always wanted to ask

What does the Bible say about alcohol?

Category

"Permissible but Not Necessarily Beneficial."

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Why take Communion?

Receiving communion is a common practice at most churches. But why do we do it? Here are 4 reasons why we should take communion;

How do we deal with the Ravi Zacharias scandal?

Many people are deeply saddened by the news of the ravi zacharias scandal. But how should we deal with this?

Why did Jesus weep at the death of Lazarus?

John 11:35 (NKJV)
Jesus wept.

What does it mean when the Bible calls us priests

All Questions, Other Questions You always wanted to ask

What does it mean when the Bible calls us priests?

Category

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

SEE SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Next Entries »

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The main purpose of our being – to know Him and to make Him known.

When it comes to Christ's outlook of us, all social classes are broken down as we are all equal before God.

it has a more reliable mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ

it offers a greater hope, most notably the promise of complete forgiveness

it grants all believers direct access to God without the need for priests;

it is gracious in that its blessings will never be forfeited by disobedience (though disobedience brings chastening

it is internal, written not on tablets of stone (2 Cor. 3:7; Ex. 31:18), but on the heart

it brings spiritual life, not spiritual death

it results in righteousness, not condemnation

it is clear and straightforward, unlike the old covenant's types, pictures, symbols, and mysteries; and

it is energized by the Holy Spirit's liberating power

Jesus' final sacrifice on the cross would never have to be repeated; it would be sufficient for all of eternity

"Permissible but Not Necessarily Beneficial."

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Recent Posts

Categories

Pin It on Pinterest