The Only Way

Intro

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

There are many religions in the world, but how do we know which one is right or that just one of them are right?

Studies show many Christians believe other religions are valid. Interestingly, some of those Christians would claim that Jesus is also the only way.

John 14:6-7 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.””

This is an audacious claim, not just in our time but throughout time. There have been Christians who were martyred, not specifically because they believed in Jesus, but because they only believed in Jesus. You must not upset all the other gods.

Believing other religions to be equal, or all leading to the same god, is what’s known as Religious Pluralism. A statement from the Gospel Project who talked to many pluralists noticed many who believe in Religious Pluralism, “They believe it to be more enlightened, humble, and tolerant.” But is that the case?

Let’s take a look at some of the major religions in the world, see the claims they make, and what they have to offer.

What is religion?

Oxford Languages - the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods

a particular system of faith and worship

World Religions

Buddhism

Doesn’t believe in God

Karma

Four noble truths

The fourth then leads to an 8 fold Path, actually quite complicated

Escape from suffering and the cycle of rebirth

Our desires turn into suffering

Essentially to empty yourself of yourself

Nirvana

Islam

An impersonal monotheism, Allah

5 Pillars to reach paradise

Shahadah - belief in Allah and that Mohammed was his prophet

Prayer

Fasting

Charity

Pilgrimage

Good deeds must outweigh your bad deeds

Actually claims to serve the God of Abraham and to be from Ishmael

The God of Abraham had one son of the promise and that was Isaac

Can’t be the same God

Believes Jesus was a prophet but not God

Hinduism

Ranges from polytheism to atheism

Multiple sources of revelation that teach different things

Karma

Cast system

Cosmic principle of ultimate reality, Brahman

There is an identity with the individual soul, atman

To get out of the cycle of reincarnation you have to follow one or more of the four paths

Judaism

The God we believe in, Yahweh

To make it to heaven you have to follow the law to be considered righteous

Jesus was not the Messiah so the Law of Moses is still in place

Pluralism

Rather than accepting all religions actually denies all religions

All religions make opposing claims

They don’t even believe in the same “heaven”

All the religions also different sects, denominations

Pluralism falls into the same trap it claims for other religions, arrogance

Your way isn’t right, my way is right

Pluralism isn’t tolerant because of this claim of supremacy

Pluralism isn’t nice because of this claim that everyone else is wrong

Rather than being inclusive and nice, Pluralism is patronizing

Relativism, you do you, falls under these same problems

I’ve heard some try to escape this problem by saying each religion is true and we can all reach our own god

Christians will be in heaven, Muslims in paradise, Buddhists in Nirvana

This again falls under the same issue, each religion makes a claim that the others are false

Makes a claim of supremacy

Why Christianity?

Don’t say, “Because I feel that it’s right.”

Many people in other religions can make the same claim

Prophecies

Years before Jesus was made flesh who He was and what He would do was prophesied

What Jesus claimed and did

Jesus claimed to be God, plenty others have made that claim in cults not religions

Jesus backed up His claim through miracles, other miracles have been claimed

Jesus came to serve

Jesus died for us

Jesus rose again

The resurrection

Historically verifiable

All other religions are able working, you have to save yourself

It is easier to do things than to humble ourselves surrender

We have a God who came down to us and saved us

God is personal

Scripture is reliable

Closer to events than any other text

Buddhist text written down 454 years after Buddha

Alexander the Great wasn’t written about until hundreds of years later

Verifiably say the same as when they were written

Christianity is definitely a religion but it puts the horse back in front of the cart

Our faith saves us which drives our actions

Other faiths claim the action of religion will save you

What did Jesus say?

John 14:6–7 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus was preparing the disciples for His death and resurrection

He was going to the Father to prepare a place

“How can we know the way?”

Some have said this could also be translated, “I am A way”

They are the religious pluralists

Doesn’t make sense with The next sentence, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Faith in Jesus is the way

He is true

He is our life

How now shall we live?

Evangelize

Suicide rate went up again last year with older men being most affected

People need the truth

It is not by our works, no amount of “good enough”, “I’m really trying”

Genuine faith will produce works

Only surrender and faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and rose again

Are you surrendered or still trying to do it yourself?

We are kind and loving to those who believe differently

We are also kind and loving enough to speak the truth