RELIGION VS JESUS CHRIST

I believe that the Bible is inspired by God as it says and trustworthy for all truth. I have never known anyone to disprove its accuracy of facts or its power to transform lives. I have encountered many alternative viewpoints, ideologies, and lifestyles that oppose it, but I have yet to see any convincing stance against its overpowering truths.

Many religious sects counter scripture with their own inspired books, revelations, and prophets. The teachings of their chosen human teachers they see just as valid. Some have even experienced their own dreams and visions in support of their beliefs. So how can we choose one above another? They say each religion deserves respect and it is a common belief held that all will eventually lead us to the same place; that all of them lead to God and Heaven.

Even now there is the hint of a one world religion in formation that is inclusive of all views. The eventual leader of this future association has already been identified in scripture as the false prophet. Over the past few years we have seen the beginning stages of this in the Ecumenical movement and organizations with names such as Interfaith. This is the combining of different religions and where many different religious groups can form alliances of respect and tolerance while worshipping together.

You may say, “How can this be a bad thing? Any time people can unite, serve, and appreciate one another this has to be a good thing. Let’s look at this through the Lord’s perspective as opposed through our human reasoning. First, the God of the Bible distinguishes Himself from every religion since its greatest claim is that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God. Other claims that it makes are:

1. Jesus Christ was God becoming a man

(Gal 4:4, John 1:14, John 1:1, 1 John 1:2, 2 John 1:7, Isaiah 7:14, Matt 1:23, Isaiah 9:6)

2. Jesus Christ was equal to God

(John 10:30, John 20:27, Philippians 2:6, John 14:9)

3. Jesus Christ was the creator of everything

(John 8:58, Colossians 1:15; 2:9)

4. Jesus Christ died to save man from his sins

(Titus 2:13, 2 Corinthians 5:2, Romans 10:9, Isaiah 53:3-5, 1 Peter 3:18)

5. Jesus Christ rose from the dead

(2 Timothy 2:8, 1 Peter1:3, John 11:25, 1 Corinth 15:20)

6. Jesus Christ has power over evil, death, hell, and the grave. (Gen 3:15, Rev 1:17, Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17, Matt 16:18)

7. Jesus Christ is the only way to God and Heaven

(John 3:16, John 3:36, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 8:24)

8. Jesus Christ and faith in His name is the only way to receive the Holy Spirit from God

(I Cor 6:15,19, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Eph 4:30, Acts 2:38, Acts 5:32, John 15:26, Acts 19:5-6)

Now no leader of any religious group has ever made all these claims. Yet Christ claims this and backs it up with identifiable proofs. How?

1. Accurate prophecies foretold

Scriptures from the first half of the Bible called the Old Testament records over 300 prophecies that Christ fulfilled. These were written hundreds and thousands of years before he was even born. They foretell his birth all the way to his death and resurrection. The odds of anyone being able to fulfill all of these is beyond incomprehensible. To make sure the naysayers could not hold any weight in their argument, Jesus fulfilled EVERY one of the prophecies made about Him. The specific details, accuracy, and surety is amazing and no religion in history can even come close to comparing. Bible scholars and agnostics alike can’t deny this overwhelming evidence.

2. Historical and archaeological records

Many people try their best to question its truth with the statement, “Men wrote the Bible.” Which is funny to me since the Bible tells us itself that men wrote it as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. They were under His guidance. How else could they have written about something that would not take place for hundreds of years and get it exactly right? Only God knows the future, man doesn’t. God used man and His proof is that the result was something that was impossible for man to create himself. The many manuscripts and items found by archaeologist have shown the Bible to be more historically reliable than any other ancient text. God allowed too much to be recorded and left behind for it to be discounted.

3. Eyewitness documentation

Jesus is mentioned in Jewish and Roman history extremely close to his lifetime as well as Christian writings. The historical accounts written by non–Christians fit the time frame recorded in the gospels. There is no proof to deny Jesus was not a real person who lived. The same goes for His miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. The historical evidence from sources, most being non-Christian, is astounding. Jesus appeared to so many in His day and when you discover the eyewitness stories and add the firsthand accounts of his own followers, we are left without any doubt about who He is.

4. Miraculous life changing transformations

The very best evidence that can be given to anyone regarding Jesus life, death, and resurrection is the countless number of disciples that believed in Him and followed Him resulting in a transformed life. I must include myself and personal testimony as well. There has never been a person that has the type of impact on so many lives as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No other person has changed the course of history even affecting how we refer to time, BC (before Christ) and AD (the year of our Lord). Countless many have given their life in death for this faith and lived a life of selfless love.

RELATIONSHIP VS RELIGION

Every religion known to man has provided counterfeits to the real thing. All religion is created by man for man. Therefore, man is in control. This is what separates Christ and the Bible from the rest. It is not a religion, but a relationship. God initiates His love for mankind by providing a Savior that will bring man to God. Our part is only to respond to His love by giving up our lives and letting Him live His life through us.

This explains why religion has been such a destructive force in our society. For as much human good as it has done, its harm has been twice that. Many people do things in the name of God that seems really good, but only what you do for Christ and through Christ will have a true lasting impact. True disciples of Christ were called by Christ himself, born again, turning their back on this world, producing fruits of their repentance, placing their love for God first, and living their life for His purpose.