Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Do all religions lead to God?

This was the lesson on Sunday. Please do ask us questions if you don't understand anything ya? =)

In this day and age, where our world is becoming a global village, racial, cultural and religious harmony is encouraged. People should learn to be tolerant (note that being tolerant does not mean that you agree) of each other’s habits and beliefs.
But many mistake this to mean that all religions are equally true and are valid paths to God. That when reduced to the core beliefs, all religions are essentially the same. This is NOT true! Why?

There are fundamental differences between various religions.
• Hinduism believes in many gods; whatever works, goes. But Christianity has only one God.
• Judaism (Jews) believes that the Messiah has not arrived yet and is still waiting but we believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
• Islam believes that Jesus was just a prophet and that He was not crucified. He did not and cannot pay for our sin but we believe that He did.

*Only Christianity believes that God became human to save us. Other religions have laws that dictate how we must work to save/deliver ourselves but Christianity is all about grace. (We do good deeds in response to what God has already done for us, not because we are earning our way to heaven. We cannot earn our way to heaven, it is impossible.)
*Only Jesus resurrected from the dead and He is alive today! Jesus’ coming was prophesised hundred of years before He came, He led a life of miracles and great teachings, and He died for our sins and rose again.

These differences cannot be reconciled, you can only believe in one or the other.

Isaiah 44:6 "This is what the LORD says— Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”

We all want to live in a world in which noone does anything wrong. But the fact is noone is perfect and so noone is fit to be in a perfect world. God is a holy God and He cannot tolerate any sin.

Romans 3:21-24 “21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

We have all sinned. We cannot save ourselves and we need to be forgiven, we need help that is stronger than human help. We need God.

God, in His infinite grace, sent Jesus. Jesus’ blood covers us. He makes us perfect in God’s sight.

John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ”

No other religion will do. Only Jesus can lead us to God. Jesus, son of God, our sacrificial lamb, our High priest.

Love,
Chuu Ling