BGEA: Can't all religions lead us to God?

Aren't there many good religious writings and religions that can show us the way to know God and experience eternal life?

Mr. Graham believes there is only one infallible standard—the Bible, God's Word. In it God has revealed all we need to know and all we can know about Himself. A true faith is based on the Word of God, while a faith that is based only on the ideas of men is not reliable. That is why it is so important for Christians to know the Bible and what it teaches, because there are many contradictory ideas and religions in the world today.

Although Christianity may be defined by some as a religion, it is more than a religion; it is a relationship with Christ. While the great religions of the world teach that men must do something for God to earn His favor and to gain heaven, Christ brought the good news that God has done something for men. Because Christ paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, God offers salvation—forgiveness of sin, friendship with Him, and eternal life—as a free gift to be received through repentance from sin and trust in Christ.

We believe the evidence shows conclusively that Jesus Christ alone gave us the full truth about God. Most of the founders of the world's various religions were men searching for God; they could give us only their own ideas about God. However, Jesus Christ made a startling claim. "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me ... For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it" (John 12:44-45,49). Now if this is true, we do not need to look elsewhere for the truth. That is why Jesus could say, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

Was Jesus who He claimed to be? Yes! How do we know? Because He rose again from the dead. This act forever sets Jesus apart from all the religious leaders of the world. And it also means that He alone can forgive us and save us when we put our trust in Him.

6 Comments

Darrell says 4.11.2011, 1:58 p.m.

I have spent the better part of my life searching for proof, written dialog that proves the Word is all we need. My pastor recently put it quite clearly when he said it is very simple. Too simple for most people to accept. But the answers are there in the Word. Trust Jesus, for no man can get to God except through Him. Sometimes things in life can be simple and we try to make it more difficult than it needs to be. Praise God and read His Word.

Kathleen says 3.8.2011, 2:06 p.m.

The simple truth is that Christians do not claim to be the only way because Paul or Peter or disciples said it but because Jesus, himself, said that he was the only way (see the book of John). If he was telling the truth, then we need to listen to him. If he was lying, then he is not the "good man and teacher" non-Christians are willing to call him. I'm afraid that it is that simple and that hard.

Gary says 11.20.2010, 12:46 a.m.

Should read:... and to foster a belief in US and THEM is to divide humanity, not unite it.

Gary says 11.19.2010, 7:04 p.m.

The plain truth is; God does't have a religion and God doesn't discriminate. Any religion that professes to be the only true religion, or that they special in the eyes of God preaches false doctrine. If the Spirit of God is truly with you, it will only be known by acts of unconditional love and charity. No religion can claim exclusive rights to God. He belongs to all that He has created, and to foster a belief is to divide humanity, not unite it. And so it will be in The End, that those who have set themselves apart from their fellow man will find that they have set themselves apart from God. The worth of a soul will only be measured by how much it has loved, nothing more, nothing less. Woe to those who have taken the widows mite and built castles and empires in His name. They have incurred a great accountability. Their suffering will be unending.

John says 9.21.2010, 01:41 a.m.

I like this response too. However, it does beg a major question and leaves other questions unanswered: How can we believe the words in King James' bible? Why are they more infallible than the words in other scriptures also claiming to be from God? How does God relate to a person born of another faith who sincerely wishes to worship Him but finds his own tradition more convincing than that of the bible?

Peter says 6.26.2010, 09:10 a.m.

I like this response, it is clear and makes sense.