The True Religion
As one considers the different religions, he may wonder which religion is the true one? If we examine the world religions, we find that there are 7 major religions in the world. The major polytheistic religions that believe in many gods are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. These don’t believe in a personal loving God. And the monotheistic religions that believe in one God are: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
In the monotheistic religions, Christianity is a fulfillment to Judaism. And they both present the God of infinite love and justice. Islam contradicts both Judaism and Christianity and presents a different picture of God who is mainly judgmental and doesn’t judicially solve the sin problem.
In Christianity, Christ came to show the loving and just character of God. The death of Christ at the cross satisfied both the love of God to the sinner and His justice on sin (John 3:16). All those that accept Christ’s death on their behalf and live a holy life by His power, will be saved (John 1:12).
Critics often ask why the Christian religion is any better than any other religion in the world. Here are briefly few reasons:
1- The Christian religion stands apart from other religions because of its fulfilled prophecies.
The Old Testament Messianic prophecies were so precisely fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth that both Jesus and apostles used these prophecies to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. There are more than 125 of these prophecies. Let’s review just 12 of them:
| Prophecy | Old Testament Scripture | New Testament Fulfillment |
| 1. Born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1 |
| 2. Born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:18-23 |
| 3. Of David’s lineage | Jeremiah 23:5 | Revelation 22:16 |
| 4. Attempted murder by Herod | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew 2:16-18 |
| 5. Betrayal by a friend | Psalms 41:9 | John 13:18, 19, 26 |
| 6. Sold for 30 silver coins | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 26:14-16 |
| 7. Crucified | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:16-18, 37 |
| 8. Lots cast for His clothes | Psalms 22:18 | Matthew 27:35 |
| 9. No bones broken | Psalms 34:20; Exodus 12:46 | John 19:31-36 |
| 10. Buried in rich man’s tomb | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
| 11. Year, day, hour of His death | Daniel 9:26, 27; Exodus 12:6 | Matthew 27:45-50 |
| 12. Raised the third day | Hosea 6:2 | Acts 10:38-40 |
Dr. Peter Stoner, former chairman of the departments of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College California, worked with 600 students for several years applying the “principle of probability” to the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming. They chose just eight from the many available and finally decided the chances of all eight being fulfilled in one man in a lifetime is one in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
What would the odds be on the more than 125 prophecies of the Messiah? It couldn’t just happen!
2-The Christian religion is backed by the supernatural works of Christ.
- Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:6-10).
- Jesus cast out demons (Matthew 8:28-32;15:22-28).
- Jesus healed lepers (Matthew 8:3; Luke 17:14).
- Jesus healed diseases (Matthew 4:23,24; Luke 6:17-19).
- Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2:3-12).
- Jesus raised the dead (Matthew 9:25; John 11:43-44).
- Jesus restored sight to the blind (Matthew 9:27-30; John 9:1-7).
- Jesus restored/cured deafness (Mark 7:32-35).
- Jesus fed the multitude (Matthew 14:15-21; 15:32-38).
- Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:25-27).
- Jesus calmed a storm with a command (Matthew 8:22-27; Mark 4:39).
- Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:39; John 20:27).
- Jesus appeared to disciples after resurrection (John 20:19).
All the miracles of Jesus were recorded by eyewitnesses and an entire nation was blessed by them.
3-The Christian religion is supported by the Resurrection of Christ.
No other religious leader, who has died in full view of trained executioners, had a guarded tomb, and then risen three days later to appear to many people. This resurrection is proof of who Jesus is, and that He did accomplish what He set out to do – the redemption for mankind. Buddha did not rise from the dead. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. Confucius did not rise from the dead. Krishna did not rise from the dead, etc. Only Jesus has physically risen from the dead and was witnessed by many (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Christianity has absolute truths. Only in Christianity are there accurately fulfilled prophecies of a coming Messiah, miracles done by Christ to prove His claim of divinity, and the historically proven resurrection of Christ.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
