Fake News: There is More than one way to God

Title: Fake News – “There Is More Than One Way to God”

Text: John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Matthew 7:13–14

I. ME: I Wanted to Believe It Too

Have You ever tried to plug a device in like your phone or a tablet? There are so many different connections now for different types of phones and devices.

There is the USB type C, there is a micro USB, there is a lightning connecter, there is a headphone jack on most phones.

But you need a certain type of phone for a certain type of connection. It can be frustrating though when you are not sure which type of connection you have for your phone or any other type of device.

You try it once. Doesn’t work. You flip it again. Still doesn’t work.

You flip it a third time—finally, it slides right in. It’s frustrating, right? You try all these angles, but there’s only one way it fits—one correct orientation.

That’s how it is with salvation. You can try a hundred different ways—good works, different religions, spiritual philosophies—but none of them connect you to God.

There’s only one way that fits. Only one way that works.

You can’t use something just any way you want and expect it to work.

It has a design. A purpose. A correct way to use it. And when it comes to salvation—when it comes to getting to God—there’s only one way that works, because that’s the way He designed it.

Back in 2008, during an episode of her show, Oprah Winfrey stunned many viewers when she said, “There couldn’t possibly be just one way.”

She was responding to the idea that Jesus is the only way to God, and she passionately argued that there are many paths to the divine. The audience clapped. Some nodded their heads. It resonated because it sounded open-minded, inclusive, and loving. But is it true?

That moment wasn’t just about Oprah. It was a reflection of a belief held by millions: that all religions ultimately lead to the same place. It’s a popular message in culture, but it directly contradicts what Jesus Himself taught.

Many of us have struggled with the idea that only one way could be right. Not because it doesn’t make sense—but because it feels harsh in a world that craves being included.

It means drawing lines in a culture that prefers to blur them. It makes things harder, more uncomfortable, and sometimes even confrontational.

Our culture wants us to believe that every religion is basically the same.

That God was sitting on the top of a mountain and we were all just taking different paths to reach Him.

That Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, spiritual seekers, and even folks who just try to be good people would all get there eventually.

They want us to believe it because it makes things easier. It keeps things from getting awkward at family gatherings.

It allows us to smile and nod when someone says, “Well, I believe in the Universe.” It makes us feel like we are being kind, compassionate, and open-minded.

But when we dig deeper and study different religions and read the Bible a little more carefully. We will realize something:

All religions are not the same.

They don’t teach the same things.

And they don’t all lead to the same place.

What we want to believe... and what’s actually true... were not the same.

II. WE: A Comfortable Lie

We live in a culture that prizes tolerance above truth.

How many of you have heard something like this before?

“All religions basically teach the same thing.”

“It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere.”

“There are many paths to the same God.”

“Christianity is just one option among many.”

That’s what our world tells us.

It feels good to believe it because it takes the edge off of evangelism. It removes the offense of the gospel.

It helps us avoid conflict.

It sounds peaceful. But it’s a peaceful-sounding lie.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. We’re not talking about arrogance here.

Christians aren’t better than anybody else. And we’re not saying we have everything figured out. But when Jesus says there is only one way, and culture says there are many, we’ve got a decision to make:

Will we follow the truth? Or will we cling to a comfortable lie? Let’s be honest—it can be hard to say what Jesus said without feeling judgmental, intolerant, or narrow-minded.

Especially when someone we love believes something different.

But we can’t afford to get this one wrong. This isn’t a matter of opinion. It’s a matter of life and death. Eternity hangs in the balance.

So let’s ask the question together: Is there really more than one way to God?

III. GOD: Truth Is Narrow, But It's Also Freeing

Let’s look at what Jesus actually said in John 14:6:

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

He didn’t say, “I’m one of the ways.”

He didn’t say, “I’m a good option.”

He didn’t even say, “I’ll point you to the way.”

No—He said, “I AM the way.”

Let’s break that down:

“I am THE way”— definite article. Not one of many.

“I am THE truth” — not just a truth or a version of truth.

“I am THE life” — real life, eternal life, is only found in Him.

“No one comes to the Father except through me”— that’s as exclusive as it gets.

And just in case we’re tempted to explain this away, the apostle Peter doubles down in Acts 4:12:

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Jesus is not just a way—He is the only way.

This is Religion vs. the Gospel

Let me show you what makes Christianity different from every other belief system. You can boil most world religions down to one word: "DO."

But the gospel of Jesus Christ is summed up in one word: **"DONE."**

Religion says try harder. Jesus says trust him

Religion says earn your way up to God. But God came down to man in Jesus Christ.

Religion says keep the rules and you will be accepted. God says accept my love and you will desire to obey

Christianity is not about bad people becoming good. It’s about dead people being made spiritually alive!

CONTRASTING CHRISTIANITY WITH OTHER BELIEF SYSTEMS

Let’s break this fake news wide open: Not all religions are the same.

They may share superficial similarities—moral codes, spiritual language, religious rituals—but at their core, they offer radically different pictures of who God is, who we are, what’s wrong with the world, and how to make it right.

🕌 Islam: Salvation by Submission

Now Islam teaches salvation by submission and that Jesus was just a prophet and not the Son of God or divine.

That Jesus was never crucified and That God is distant and not personal and salvation is achieved by obeying the five pillars of Islam. That you go to paradise only if your good deeds outweigh the bad.

Islam is fake news because we know that Jesus was crucified on the cross and died for our sins. Without the cross there is no atonement for sin.

We know from historical evidence outside of the bible that there are well attested and recorded events in ancient history acknowledge by secular roman sources like tacitus, Josephus and countless others.

The islamic religious text is the koran and is claimed to be delivered through Muhammad over 23 years through the angel Gabriel. Scripture warns us not to believe even an angel who presents to you a different gospel for they shall be cursed.

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the full and final revelation of God. Any claim—whether from Muhammad, the Qur’an, or any other source—that denies Christ’s divinity, death, and resurrection stands in direct opposition to the gospel

🕉️ Hinduism: Many Gods, Many Lives

Then you have hinduism. Hinduism is polytheistic or pantheistic—That God is everything and in everything. Christianity teaches God is the personal, transcendent Creator, separate from creation.

But hinduism believes the universe and creation itself is divine. That trees are God, that animals are God. That people are God.

For salvation Hinduism teaches karma and reincarnation-that you are reborn based on your past life’s actions but the word of God says we live once, then face judgement.

Hiduism holds to relative truth which believe that there are many paths to God but as Christians we know that Jesus is the only way.

Our response to hinduism as Christians should be that reincarnation offers no assurance of peace but God through Christ offers us forgiveness, freedom and eternal life.

That God is personal and not a force or energy but relational and living. God is the creator and not creation itself.

Imagine someone offers you a beautiful glass of cold water on a hot day.

It’s crystal clear. It looks refreshing. But just before you drink it, they say:

“Oh, by the way, I only put a tiny drop of poison in it. But don’t worry—it’s mostly clean water.”

Would you drink it? Of course not.

You see, it doesn’t matter that it’s mostly clean. That tiny bit of poison changes everything.

Church, this is how the enemy works.

He’s not always bold with lies—he often wraps them in things that look healthy, look peaceful, and look harmless.

Yoga, crystals, energy—they may seem like just exercise, relaxation, or healing. But when you trace them back, they come from spiritual systems that deny the truth of God’s Word.

They are poisoned wells—beautiful cups filled with a drop of deception.

You don’t need a crystal to bring you peace—you’ve got the Prince of Peace!

You don’t need yoga to connect with the divine—you need to get on your knees and call on the name of Jesus!

☸️ Buddhism: Escape from Desire

Along with Islam, and Hinduism, there is buddism.

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded by Buddha. It teaches that:

Life is suffering

Suffering is caused by desire and attachment

The way to end suffering is to eliminate desire

This is done by following the Eightfold Path, leading to nirvana, a state of liberation and self-extinction

That There’s no personal God, no Savior, and no forgiveness—just a long road of discipline, detachment, and inner effort.

Christianity agrees that the world is full of pain and suffering, but it offers a radically different solution:

The problem isn’t just desire—it’s sin: rebellion against a holy God (Romans 3:23)

The solution isn’t detachment—it’s redemption through Jesus Christ (John 3:16)

The goal isn’t extinction of self—it’s eternal life with God (John 17:3)

Buddhism says the answer is within you.

But the gospel says the problem is within you—and the answer is in Jesus.

Buddha said, “Work out your own salvation with diligence.”

But the Bible says, “It is finished.”

You don’t have to work your way to freedom—Jesus already paid the price!

IV. YOU: You Can’t Afford to Be Wrong on This

If you’re here today and you’ve been believing that all roads lead to God, I want to lovingly challenge you to reconsider.

Imagine this: You’re going to a wedding, and it’s at a specific venue—one location, one address.

You can’t just say, “Any road will get me there.” If you pick the wrong road, no matter how sincere you are, you’ll end up at the wrong destination.

Truth is exclusive by nature.

Two plus two can’t be five.

Water can’t be both boiling and freezing at the same time.

God can’t be both personal and impersonal.

Jesus can’t be both the only way and just one way among many.

C.S. Lewis said it like this:

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

So let me ask you—have you entered through the narrow gate? Have you received the free gift of salvation in Jesus?

You don’t get to God by trying. You get to God by trusting.

Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

And if you’ve already put your trust in Jesus—are you sharing that truth?

Don’t be ashamed of the exclusivity of the gospel—it’s the only message that saves.

Romans 1:16 says:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…”

Let the world call it narrow.

Let the world call it offensive.

We call it beautiful.

Because when every other road was leading us to death, Jesus made a way.

V. WE: Let’s Be Gracious Truth-Tellers

So where do we go from here?

Let’s be a church that doesn’t just know the truth—we speak it, live it, and love others enough to share it.

Truth without grace is mean.

Grace without truth is meaningless.

But truth and grace together? That’s the gospel.

We don’t need to be jerks for Jesus. We don’t need to win arguments. We’re not trying to be right—we’re trying to help people be rescued.

Let’s be the kind of people who are bold enough to speak the name of Jesus, and gentle enough to do it with love.

Let’s be clear in our witness:

Not every road leads to God.

Not every religion is the same.

But anyone—absolutely anyone—can come to God through Jesus Christ.

That’s the good news. That’s what we hold onto in a world full of fake news.

Closing Illustration: The Lifeboat

Imagine you were on a sinking ship. The storm is raging. People are panicking. And a lifeboat pulls up beside you.

You have two options:

1. Tell everyone there are many lifeboats—even though there’s only one.

2. Shout as loud as you can: “This is the only way! Get in now!”

Which is more loving?

Jesus is the lifeboat. The cross is the rescue plan. The tomb is empty. The way has been made.

Church, there is not more than one way to God.

There is one way.

One truth.

One life.

And His name is Jesus.

Let’s share Him with the world.

ALTAR CALL: Come to the One Way Today*

Friend, you’ve heard the truth today. Not from me, but from the very Word of God. Jesus is not one of many options. He is the only way to eternal life. And He is inviting you to come.

Maybe you’ve been trusting in your own efforts, your own morality, or even in another religion.

Maybe you’ve been hoping that being a good person is enough. But today, the truth has pierced your heart, and you know—it’s not enough. You need Jesus.

Today is your moment.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.”

If you want to receive the gift of eternal life, to be forgiven of your sins, and to begin a relationship with the living God, you can do it right now.

Pray this simple prayer of surrender:

“Jesus, I believe You are the only way to God. I confess that I’ve sinned and tried to find my own way. But today I turn to You. I trust in Your death on the cross and Your resurrection. I receive Your forgiveness and Your grace. Be my Savior and Lord. I choose to follow You.”

If you prayed that prayer from your heart, welcome to the family of God. You’ve just stepped into the one true way, and His name is Jesus.

Please don’t leave without telling someone. Come to the front. Let us pray with you. We want to walk this journey with you. You’re not alone.

Church, let’s worship together. And as we sing, if you need to come—come now. The way has been made. The door is open. Jesus is calling.