Uniqueness of Christianity LONGER

Romans 3:10-12/ Romans3:19-28/ Romans 5:6

Today I would like to speak on the subject of the differences between Christianity and other beliefs.  What makes Christianity, what the Bible says about being a Christian unique among all the religions and beliefs in the world?

I’ve had people ask me, “Are you a Christian?”  Yes I’m a Christian.  Your parents are Christians?  Yes my parents are Christians.  Well that explains it.  You’re a Christian because your parents are Christians.  If your parents were Hindus, or Muslims, or Buddhists that’s what you’d be.  I have to admit in part, I am a Christian partly due to the fact that I could see the reality of Christianity in my parents, that is true but that’s not the question. 

If I were able to try out, research every religion in the world, every belief system in the world what would I be?   

It astounds me that people who are going to buy a new stereo, or a computer or a new car, or a new phone, or new clothes they will spend a great deal of time researching the internet, they will scour the internet looking for reviews, and testimonials, and advice to find very best they can buy the money.  Comparing one product line against another.  But when it comes to where they will spend eternity, they say well everybody has their own beliefs. 

If I were able to line up all the belief systems in the world and try them out and examine them which one is right. 

In order to be a Christian you don’t have to believe that everything is bad about every other religion.  There are many good things about other religions otherwise people wouldn’t believe them.  There are many similaritiesbetween Christianity and other religions and beliefs, but that point is where Christianity fundamentally disagrees with other religions, Christianity is right.  Otherwise we wouldn’t believe we are Christians. 

Rat poisons is 98% good, it’s the 2% that kills. 

I’m here to tell you I’m not a Christian because it’s simply nice to be a Christian or because my parents are Christians, or because I like Christianity over another belief.  I am a Christian because it is right. 

Like mathematics there are some answers that are closer to the right answer than others, but there is only one right answer.

ILL: Harry Ironside was preaching on the street in Oakland California.  As he preached a passer by interrupted him and said excuse me sir, “how do you expect an ordinary man like me to figure out the right way to heaven?”  There are thousands of beliefs in the world.  Harry Ironside said, thousands of beliefs?  I only know of 2.  The man said there’s Buddhism and Confucianism, and Hinduism and Islam and all the isms of Christendom what do you mean only 2 beliefs.  Ironside said sir there are those who believe they can save themselves and those who believe they need a Savior. 

All of the religions of the world basically tell you there’s something that you need to do to save yourself.  But the message of Christianity is unique in this that is proclaims to men and women a Savior. 

Why do we need a Savior?  Well we read in Romans 3 of a great problem with each and every one of us it’s the problem of sin.  We read that come short of the glory of God, in other words we come short of Gods standard.  Now religion comes along and says you need to do the best you can, you need to do good works to overcome the bad things you’ve done.   

It’s a funny thing to me that some people think that if they do good in certain situations that they will get a credit with God to overcome the bad things they’ve done. 

Gods’ standard is perfection and if by some amazing feet you were in a particular day able to meet Gods standard, live a perfect day, able to reach perfection one day.  That is Gods minimum daily requirement.  So, you don’t get a credit you’ve just broken even.  You’ve reached perfection for one day.  You’ll never get a credit.  God says my standard is perfection and nothing less than that will do. 

Now obviously that presents a serious problem to those who are honest.  Some people say well I think I’m a pretty good person.  You don’t even come up to your own standards let alone Gods.  You can’t even keep your own new years resolutions.  We have to agree with God, that were born in sin.

I had one man tell me I don’t think were born sinners.  I say obviously you haven’t had children.  I have some children, there not that old.  And Ill tell you something I don’t have to teach them to sin.  I didn’t say now Jonathan when your sisters not looking you reach over and pull her hair and then shell scratch your face and you cry.  Then when your mother comes into the room, she’ll think everything is Katelyns fault and she’ll spank her and give you sympathy.  I’ve never had to teach my kids that.  We are born sinners. 

And we practice sin.  And we fall short of Gods standards.  We are guilty as charged.  So we read in verse 20 “therefore by the deeds of the law (in other words trying to live a good life and keep the 10 commandments and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you) shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  Everybody falls short of Gods standard. 

God says we shouldn’t lie.  How many times have you lied in your life?  The average person tells 88,000 lies!  God says we shouldn’t steal, have you ever taken something that doesn’t belong to you?  God says you shouldn’t take His name in vain.  Have you every used the name of God or the name of the Lord Jesus as a curse word?  That’s what people do instead of using a swear word they use the name of The Lord Jesus in place of it.  God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.  Have you always obeyed your parents?  God says that’s what’s right. 

God’s standard is perfection.  If we were to put Gods law on one side of the platform and we were to put your life on the other side and we were to compare your life against Gods law would you be innocent or guilty?  Now remember that’s Gods standard is perfection, no sin.  Innocent or guilty?  Would you go to heaven or hell? 

We read that we are All Sinners, in other words we are all guilty before God.  There is no amount of good works that can offset the sin in our lives.       

But now those who find the way barred by somehow meeting Gods standard by keeping the law, by doing good works, by living a good life.  To those who find the way barred, to those who find Gods standards impossible to keep, the righteousness of God without the law is made manifest.  The righteousness of God which is by faith unto all and upon all them that believe. 

Now matter how wicked a sinner you think you are, no matter how good you think you are, God has made an offer to the human race.  To those who find the way barred because their own sin and failure has kept them from meeting Gods standard.  There is an alternative.  It is the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 

________________________________________________________________________

Sometimes when we preach the gospel we say I have good news and bad news.  First the bad news, you’re a sinner.  But in chapter 1 of Romans we find that the gospel isn’t a good news bad news situation.  It’s all good news.  Good news that you’re a sinner, not exactly.  But good news that you can be honest with God about your sin. 

This is something that is absolutely unique about Christianity.  Christianity is the only belief in the world that lets you be honest with God about your sin.  You ask someone who is trying to get to heaven by their good works, “how are you doing?”  Oh not bad.  Oh really not bad huh, doing pretty good, doing my best.  I’ve never met anybody that does their best, even by their own standards. 

THE SAMARATIN WOMAN

One day a woman came out of a town called Samaria.  She was making her way to a well near Sycar, to gather her daily water.  And as she came near to the well she noticed a stranger sitting on the well.  She tried to avoid him she saw he was a Jew.  But it was a bit tough to avoid him because he was sitting on the well and especially when he began to speak to her.  And He said could I have a drink please.  She said what are you doing talking to me?  You’re a Jew I’m a Samaritan and the Jews have no dealing with the Samaritans.  He completely avoided the racial issue and said if you knew who you were talking to I would give you a drink and you would never thirst again.  You’d be satisfied.  She said Id love some of that water, why don’t you give it to me. 

He said why don’t you go get your husband and well have a talk about it.  She said I don’t have a husband.  He didn’t say to her you liar.  He said you told the truth, your right.  You’ve had five husbands and the man you’re living with is not your husband.  All of a sudden she realized, this man knows everything about me. 

When she went into town you know what her big selling point was?  Come see a man that told me everything I ever did.  This couldn’t be the Messiah could it?  In fine print she was saying, there’s somebody who knows all about me and he still loves me.  In spite of my sin he loves me.  She emptied the town; they all came out so see the Lord Jesus.  Thinking to themselves: if he could love that woman knowing all about her, maybe he could love me knowing all about me. 

________________________________________________________________________

This is good news.  God doesn’t ask you to pretend your ok.  He wants you to be honest with Him.  Like the man Jesus spoke about who came to the temple in Jerusalem and he stood afar off and he wouldn’t even look up and said, “God be merciful to me the sinner.”  That man went home justified. 

You’re no surprise to God.  He knows every sin you’ve ever committed.  The sins you’ve forgotten about, He knows the sins you wish you could forget.  The sins of the mind, the sins of the flesh.  The sins of omission, the things you should have done and didn’t do.  The sins of commission that things you shouldn’t have done and did.  He knows them all.  He hates your sin because if separates you from God.  Sin brings disappointment, it damages you, it will eventually damn your soul, in the Lake of Fire. 

You know what Saul of Tarsus said, the man who killed Christians for a living?  After he became a Christian, “The Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”  He loves you, enough to die for you. 

The Christian message is this.  You can be honest with God about your sin.  Why don’t you do that?  Why pretend any longer.  Just tell God, guilty as charged your honor.  I stand condemned, guilty.  It’s all true but Jesus died for me, he died for my sins.  And I hold God to his promise that any sinner that comes to the foot of the cross by faith, Jesus will save me from my sins.

________________________________________________________________________

That’s the next  thing about Christianity.  Christianity is the only belief in the world that offers a Savior.  I’m not saying that Christianity is the only belief system in the world that offers a real Savior.  The true the right Savior, I’m not saying that, that is true, that’s not what I am saying.  I’m telling you that of all the religions of the world there is only one Savior. 

Islam doesn’t offer a Savior.  Islam says save yourself.  You count your beads, 99 beads in the long chain.  Every one of them the name of Allah and not one of them the name of love and not one of them the name of love.  You make your pilgrimageto Mecca and Medina and Jerusalem and Hebron.  You pay alms to the poor; you say prayers 5 times a day.  You acknowledge there is but one God and his name is Allah and his prophet is Mohammed.  And if you do that and do it faithfully enough you may get to heaven.  You do it yourself, it’s a do it yourself religion. 

And all the religions of the world fall under the same category.  You do it and if you do it well enough maybe you will get to heaven. 

A Christian was asked to meet with 2 Muslims.  They wanted to talk about religion and the differences between Christian and Islam.  One the Muslims had converted his friend to Islam.  They began to talk and as the Christian talked the missionary the one who had converted his friend; he would distort what was said.  The new convert to Islam would straighten it out.  He’d say something else, he’d twist it and the other one would correct him. 

After about 30 minutes the first fellow said I don’t think were getting anywhere.  I think we ought to stop.  He realized he wasn’t converting the Christian and he was doing a pretty good job of un-converting his friend.  The other man said it’s actually been quiet helpful.  I think we could say there are a lot of things in common between Christianity and Islam.  We both recognize Abraham the patriarch we both recognize Jesus on a certain level, we believe he was a prophet.  We both accept the Bible at a certain level.  I suppose the one big difference is between Christianity and Islam is that you have a Savior and we don’t. 

I don’t think it could be said any better than that.  That’s exactly the point.  And as long as you think you can save yourself any religion will do.  But when you find out you need a Savior the list is very short there is only one and His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Save yourself is an absolutely ludicrous statement.  If you’re in a burning building and you screaming out the window, “HELP, Save me!”  And I’m walking by and I say save yourself. 

If you can save yourself you don’t need to be saved.  You can’t save yourself.  The Lord Jesus came to be the Savior.  He said I am come to seek and to save that which is lost. 

Have you ever had someone say to you, “You’ve done your good deed for the day?”  I have and it’s usually when you do a favor for someone.  I had a customer say that to me after I helped him out. 

________________________________________________________________________

JB Nicholson tells a story of a time when he was in Chicago and all the flights were cancelled.  He was stuck with 1000’s of passengers stranded with nowhere to go.  All of the hotels were full.  The airport brought out cots for the people to sleep on.  There was a woman who didn’t do much traveling her son needed medication, she had put in a suit case and checked it, thinking that shed only be transit a few hours.  Here she was all night and her boy needed medicine.  So JB got her baggage tag and found a security man and went down through the airport.  They walked and walked and finally they found the luggage.  Brought it back to her and she was so grateful.  When he finished he sad down on the other side and there was a priest sitting next to him that saw everything.  

The priest said well I guess you’ve done your good deed for the day.  JB said sir your just the person I need to talk to, you look like and expert in the matter.  Tell me, “How many good deeds do I have to do in a day?”  The priest smiled and said looks like you have something on your mind.  JB said I do.  I’ve never been able to figure that out how good deeds could work that way.  He talked about how he was over to the south of Ireland and knocking on doors and talking to people.  And he said I noticed as I spoke to people that they didn’t know the difference between justification and sanctification.  The priest said well how do you define justification and sanctification?  He said now I presume you’re an expert in this.  He said there’s a letter in the bible that was written, this man taught ethics at the Vatican, he said there’s a letter in the Bible specifically written to the Christians in Rome.  I presume you’d be an expert in that particular book.  That’s what it’s all about Justification and Sanctification. 

________________________________________________________________________

What do you mean by that?  What the bible teaches is this.  To be justified it means by an act, a judicial act of God he declares you to be right.  You’re not right, you’re a sinner.  But when Christ died on the cross he made provision for the debt you owed.  And in exchange for your sin He offers you His rightness, His righteousness as a gift.  A free exchange and if you will believe Him he will not only declare you to be right He will begin the process of setting your life apart for Him and making you right. 

The people that I talked to were trying to be made right before they’d been declared right.  In other words they were trying to live the life before they’d received it as a gift. 

The priest said would you pray for me I need to understand what you’ve been talking about. 

Salvation is not something you earn.  Salvation is a gift.  We are saved through faith not of ourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. 

Receiving the gift of God is like an exchange program whereby He became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness/rightness of God in Him. 

________________________________________________________________________

Christianity is the only belief system in the world that offers you an instantaneous change in status. 

Now there are many religions that tell you if you follow our program, someday you might get passage into heaven. 

The problem is nobody’s ever come back to tell us if it’s true or not. 

If I tell you I’ve got a great investment scheme.  You give me $10,000 of your money and I’ll leave the country with it and once I get safely out of the country, I’ll send you $100,000.  What kind of a fool would go for something like that?

There’s no way of guaranteeing it is there?  You say to me tonight you’ve been saying if you repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are guaranteed a place in heaven. 

Everybody’s got their own heaven and everyone has their own way.  Here’s the secret.  Only Christianity offers you eternal life now.  That’s what Gods offering you.  

He’s not saying if you do this and do that then maybe when you die you’ll get to heaven.  You only get to die once and if you get it wrong you can’t go back and change your mind.  Its appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment. 

So then the Bible tells us that God offers salvation through His son.  And if you respond in faith before you leave this building you will have eternal life, you will be made new in the Lord Jesus. 

If I brought a desert that you had never tasted before and I told you this it’s the best desert you have ever tasted.  How would you find out if I am telling the truth?  You’d have to taste it. 

God says I want you to confess your sin to agree with me about your sin.  You’re the guilty sinner that Jesus died for.  Receive Christ and you will see.  Everybody that believes it finds out its true. 

There has never been an exception.  So it is not a matter of hoping everything’s going to be ok.  It’s the conscious immediate enjoyment of the gift of eternal life.  In other words as soon as you receive Christ as your Savior He gives you joy and peace in believing.  He gives you the assurance of sins forgiven.  He gives you power for living.  He transforms your life.  I could ask for people to stand up in this audience and they would tell you that exactly what happened to me. 

Christianity is the only belief in the world that lets you be honest with God about your condition, Christianity is the only belief that offers a Savior, and it’s the only belief that offers you and instantaneous change of status. 

Not asking you to do so many good works or do this or do that.  You don’t have to get to the next level.  He that has the Son has life and is passed from death unto life. 

If you believe Christ God will give you evidence in your life that’s its true.  You’ll become a piece of evidence. 

The amazing thing is that around the world tonight, in millions of towns and cities and villages there are people who had no hope, no reason for living there lives were in ruins and the came to the Lord Jesus as is and he took them and He saved them and transformed their lives.

Like the story of the man who trusted Christ and when he went to work he told his friends what had happened.  A friend said to him come on now you don’t believe the bible do you?  He said I sure do.  He told his friend some time after he was saved.  The friend said you don’t believe the story of Jesus turning water into wine do you?  Well said the man I don’t know about turning water into wine but he turned whisky into furniture in my house. 

Obvious evidence in the life of the believer that something dramatic has happened.  God offers that to you.

God isn’t asking you to turn over a new leaf, God isn’t asking you to start trying harder, God isn’t asking you to start doing or giving a little more.  God is asking you to examine your life and agree with Him about your sin.  Agree with Him that there’s nothing that you can do to save yourself.  That’s what the bible calls repentance.  And then believe on His Son, believe that when the Lord Jesus died on the cross it was for your sin.  And God says those the receive the Lord Jesus he gives them power to become the sons of God. 

That happened to me over 22 years ago and my life has never been the same.  I’ve often wondered where would I be tonight if it wasn’t for Christ?     

________________________________________________________________________

Christiaitnty is the only belief in the world, verse 26 of chapter 3, allows God to be both just and the justifier to everyone that believes in Jesus.  Every other religion basically says that when you stand before God your desperately hoping that He is going to fudge a bit to let you into heaven.  There is no follower of any religion that says when I stand before God someday I’m going to say to Him ok God here’s your challenge put my life up on this side, put your law on that side and I challenge you to find one things wrong with my life.  Is that what people are going to say?  No No.  They are HOPING that somehow they are going to slip in the top ½ percent.  Maybe there going to get in if God isn’t too careful at looking at their life. 

I want to tell you something that I am a poor sinner but God isn’t going to sneak me in the back door of heaven.  I’m going to come in the front door.  God will not be unjust in saving me.  He will be both just and the justifier in those that believe in the Lord Jesus. 

How can he do that?  God standard is perfection, he’s never changed it, He’s never going to lower it.  I’m not perfect by any means.  How can I expect to get into heaven?  God says heres what we’ll do.  I’ll account your debt to my Son.  He will pay your debt in full.  So God sets the standard.  God hands over the bill and then he pays it in full. 

My sin O the bliss of this glorious thought my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord praise the Lord O my soul.

Why would you say no?  If you have one good reason why you would refuse the gospel I would like to hear it.  I haven’t heard one yet. 

I buy life insurance so that if anything happens to me my family will be provided for.  When I bought it basically what they told me was this, we want you to send our company money every month and when you die we will give your money to someone else.  They say it much nicer than that but basically that’s what there saying. 

We preach you don’t have to die in your sins; you can have as a free gift eternal life.  Can you explain to me why people buy life insurance and refuse the gospel?

Examine the evidence in the Bible, examine the evidence in your own heart that you’re a sinner and you need a Savior and you can’t save yourself.  Then read what the Bible says about the Lord Jesus, the Savior of sinners, He came to save you. 

And if you will the Bible declares, be honest with God about your sin.  And receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior.  Say to God I don’t know why you’d ever want me, I’m a sinner, but you said whoever came to you would not cast out.  Take me now, save me now.  Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.  Before you left this building tonight you could be saved and have eternal life.

Ill just quote the verse we read at the beginning and we will close with prayer.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.