Only Two Religions
Chuck Sligh
March 2000
TEXT: Ephesians 2:8-9
INTRODUCTION
A. There seems to be a multitude of religions in the world. It seems like there are literally thousands of them. But, in reality, there are only two religions in the world. (EXPAND AS LED
B. Before we begin, let me clarify that we don’t really generally like to refer to biblical Christianity as a “religion.”
C. True Christianity is about a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, not “religion.”
C. But for lack of a better word, today I will use the term in the sense of a faith system generally.
I. WHAT ARE THE TWO RELIGIONS?
A. First is the religion of HUMAN WORKS
1. Human works are Satan’s oldest trick (EXPAND ON EACH AS LED)
a. Adam and Eve – Fig leaves versus animal skins (Genesis 3:6-7,21)
b. Cain and Abel – An offering of agricultural produce obtained through labor versus an offering of a blood sacrifice. (Genesis 4:3-5) (Compare Hebrews 11:4 – “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”)
c. The heathen’s false religions of works versus the Jewish sacrificial system.
d. Phariseeism versus Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.
2. Non-Christian religious manifestations of the false religion of works.
a. Hinduism – Salvation in Hinduism can be attained in one of three general ways
1. The way of knowledge – Knowing one is actually a part of the ultimate Brahman (ultimate reality, or the universe) and not a separate entity
2. The way of devotion – Love and obedience to a particular deity (idolatry)
3. The way of works – Following ceremonial ritual
b. Buddhism – The way to Nirvana is attained by “The Eightfold Path”
1. Right Views – You must accept the Four Noble Truths (four central Buddhist teachings about suffering and pain) and the Eightfold Path.
2. Right Resolve – You must renounce the pleasures of the senses, harbor no ill will toward anyone, and harm no living creature.
3. Right Speech – Do not lie, slander or abuse anyone, or indulge in idle talk.
4. Right Behavior – Do not destroy any living creature; take only what is given to you; to not commit any unlawful sexual act.
5. Right Occupation – You must earn your livelihood in a way that will harm no one.
6. Right Effort – You must resolve and strive heroically to prevent any evil qualities from arising in you and to abandon any evil qualities that you may possess.
7. Right Contemplation – Be observant, strenuous, alert, contemplative, free of desire and of sorrow.
8. Right Meditation – When you have abandoned all sensuous pleasures, all evil qualities, both joy and sorrow, you must then enter the four degrees of meditation, which are produced by concentration.
c. Islam – All Moslems must believe the “Five Articles of Faith” and observe the “Five Pillars of Faith.”
1. The Five Articles of Faith
a. God – There is only one true God and his name is Allah who is all-knowing, all powerful and sovereign judge, but not a personal God whom man can know.
b. Angels
c. Scripture – There are four inspired books in the Islamic faith:
i. The Torah (Law) of Moses
ii. The Psalms of David (Zabin)
iii. The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Injil)
iv. The Qur’an (Koran) – This is the most important supposed revelation, and supersedes all others.
d. Prophets – They believe that Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad were prophets, of whom Muhammad is the last and greatest of all Allah’s messengers.
e. Last Days – The last day will be a time of resurrection and judgment, with those who followed and obeyed Allah going to Islamic heaven, called Paradise and those who oppose them going to hell.
2. The Five Pillars of Faith
a. The Creed (Kalima) – “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah,” is the bedrock of Muslim belief and must be repeated constantly by the faithful.
b. Prayer (Salat) – The reciting prescribed prayers in Arabic five times a day while facing Mecca.
c. Almsgiving (Zakat) – The giving of one-fortieth of their incomes for the destitute, and other offerings.
d. Fasting (Ramadan) – Faithful Muslims fast from sunup to sundown each day during this holy month.
e. The Pilgrimage (Hajj) – A pilgrimage to Mecca is expected of all Muslims at least once in their lifetimes.
d. Judaism
1. Modern Judaism has not specific system of salvation.
2. It maintains that salvation, or atonement for sins, is accomplished by sacrifices, penitence, good deeds and a little of God’s grace.
3. “Christian” religious manifestations of the false religion of works.
a. Roman Catholicism – Catholics believe grace that leads to salvation is imparted through the “Seven Sacraments”
1. Eucharist (Communion) – They believe the wine actually turns into the literal blood of Jesus and the bread turns into the literal body of Jesus.
2. Penance – Confessions of sin, contrition (remorse for sin) and absolution (remission of sin by a priest).
3. Anointing the sick – especially the dying (called “last rites”)
4. Marriage
5. Orders – Becoming an ordained priest, bishop or deacon.
6. Canon Law – Obedience to the laws of Catholicism, especially papal declarations.
7. Worship of the Virgin Mary
b. Church of Christ – Believe that baptism and good works are necessary for salvation.
c. Apostolic Churches – Believe that three things are necessary for salvation
1. Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Water baptism in the name of Jesus only (not in the name of the Trinity, which they deny)
3. The supposed gift of speaking in tongues
4. Cultic Manifestations
a. Mormons – Various works necessary for salvation
b. Jehovah’s Witnesses – Various works necessary for salvation
c. Unification Church – Various works necessary for salvation
d. Children of God – Various works necessary for salvation
e. Christian-Science – Various works necessary for salvation
B. The religion of GOD’S GRACE---Christianity
1. Christianity teaches that salvation is a totally free gift to the one who receives it, though it was attained at great cost to God’s Son
2. His death on the cross secured God’s forgiveness of the believer’s sin.
3. Christianity is the only faith system that emphasizes a transformation on the INSIDE instead of a obedience to a set of rules on the OUTSIDE.
4. Scripture on salvation by grace WITHOUT human works:
a. Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
b. Titus 3:5 – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
c. Romans 3:24-29 – “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:”
5. Scripture that teaches that there is no other way to salvation, forgiveness of sins and heaven except through JESUS CHRIST:
a. John 3:35 – “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”
b. John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
c. Acts 4:12 – “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
d. 1 Timothy – “2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
e. 1 John 5:11-12 – “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
6. Man’s way of works seems right to the natural man; but God has a different way.
a. There is man’s way and God’s way.
b. All the religions of the world are man’s way—attempts to appease God or please Him through good works or human deeds.
c. But God does not think like man thinks, and He has a different plan – Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
d. The vast majority of humanity refuses to submit to God and follow His plan – Matthew 7:13 – “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
e. You have a choice: you can go God’s way and have eternal life, or man’s way of works, and face God’s judgment – Proverbs 14:12 (and 16:25) – “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
II. HOW DO WE KNOW WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT BIBLE CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONE TRUE WAY?
A. The resurrection of Jesus is the most powerful proof.
1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God throughout his earthly lifetime.
2. In fact, He based everything upon that claim.
3. By rising from the dead, he proved without any shadow of a doubt that what He taught and what He did (dying on the cross for our sins) was of God.
4. He is still alive changing lives in every land and people.
B. The Word of God is also a powerful proof of Bible Christianity.
1. Its infallibility and accuracy
2. Its unity
3. Its preservation
4. Its influence
5. Its power
III. WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
A. There is only one true religion—Bible Christianity, and any religion that proposes works of any kind as a means of salvation is a false religion.
B. The originator of any religion of works was a tool of Satan to deceive mankind and send sinners to hell, no matter how kind he may have been, or how much good he may have done in his lifetime.
C. Anyone trusting works of any kind to get him to heaven or to obtain salvation will go to hell for all eternity.
D. No one can get to heaven or obtain salvation through any other person than Jesus Christ.
E. No one can get to heaven or obtain salvation through any other way but by God’s grace.
F. The ONLY way to obtain God’s grace is by faith and repentance.
