This is a line of thought that we hear a lot these days from many atheists and agnostics - but is it actually true?
- Though many religions have similar moral convictions and beliefs, many of them make claims that are not compatible with each other.
- Many religions respect Jesus as a wise or enlightened teacher, maybe even a prophet from God or the Messiah, but they deny that He is God in the flesh, or that salvation is only found through Him.
John 1:1-3: “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 3:16: “6 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:8-9: “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. “
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was Michael the Archangel before coming to Earth, and is a created being.
Colossians 1:15-20: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Revelation 7:9: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
God warned us about false religions like these in His word.
Galatians 1:8: “8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”
Matthew 24:26: “26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
When we hear people talk about how all religions are basically the same, we need to lovingly challenge them.
One problem, one solution.
Everyone sees how broken this world is, but we need to point them to the only solution.
John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Revelation 21:1-4: “1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This is Good News! We should be excited to tell everyone we know that one day, things will be made right. There is a solution to the pain and brokenness we see around us. Jesus is the only source of true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.
