The Many Different Religions
Atheists claim that because there are many different religions in the world, this leads to a denial of metaphysical beliefs in God or spiritual beings. Agnostics claim that there is a power out there but they don’t have the answers. Universalists claim that all religions lead to God and everyone will eventually be saved despite his faith. Many are perplexed and confused by the many different religions so, they give up their pursuit of the truth.
God has made Himself known to man in three ways: by an inner revelation to the reason and conscience of each man (Romans 2:15; John 1:9), by an external revelation in the works of creation (Romans 1:20), and by a written revelation in the Bible and in the person and work of Christ, which affirms and fulfills the other revelations. Further, the Creator has given man reason and intellect so that he can find Him. He had made man capable of seeing and examining His works. He has spread before him the proof of His goodness, wisdom, and power. Thus, God has made it possible for all men to know Him.
The invisible things of God may be clearly understood by the mind with the help of the created works of nature. Even though marred by sin, the “things that are made” testify that One of infinite power created this earth. All around us we see great evidence of His goodness and love. Thus, it is possible for even the pagans to know the power of the Creator. The revelation of God through conscience and nature is enough to enlighten humans with God’s requirements. In the face of this revelation, all men are without excuse for not doing what is right.
Even though God was faithful in presenting Himself, most men rejected this knowledge and chose their own ways. They chose gods of their own inventions. Many didn’t want a personal God to answer to in the day of judgment, so they made up religions with impersonal gods or powers. Others invented religions where God was a vindictive master ready to slay his slaves. Still others invented religions that allow for their own carnal lusts, greed and selfishness. Thus, many different religions were created as attempts to silence the conscience and dismiss the revelation of God and substitute it with falsehood.
Christ – The Truth
The supreme expression of divine love is the Father’s gift of His own Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It is the essence of love to sacrifice self for others. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Through Christ, it becomes possible for us to be “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). God’s love engulfs all mankind, but directly benefits only those who accept it (John 1:12) for love requires reciprocity in order to be fully functional.
There is one way that leads to God, which is through Jesus Christ, who declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And Christ’s testimony is true because there is no other man on earth that has ever done His mighty works. Christ healed all sickness (Luke 5:15-26), fed thousands of people (Luke 9:12-17), had authority over nature (Luke 8:22-25), cast out demons (Luke 4:33-37), raised the dead (Luke 7:11-16), lived a sinless life (1 Peter 2:22), sacrificed His life to atone for the sins of humanity (1 John 3:16), and then was resurrected from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
