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If you have picked up this material or have been given this by a friend, I kindly invite you to consider these questions. Are you a seeker of truth? Do you desire to know if all religions lead to God in their own way or if there is only one way? If every religion considers itself to be “the truth” but every religion has different beliefs, how can they all be true? Let us consider these questions together.

First, we must start with some terminology. When we speak of the word “salvation,” we are talking about being saved from something that binds us down in this life and to the final hope of eternal life after death. Some may consider death as a topic to avoid, but if we are honest with ourselves, we realize that everyone faces death at some point. Salvation would be what one would consider as heaven or eternal bliss or the avoidance of hell or some similar terms. If you are an atheist, you may think of death as the end of all (i.e., annihilation) and that life has no purpose beyond the grave. Now let us consider some facts.

The Roman Catholics teach that man needs to believe on Jesus for salvation but must also do good works in order to attain heaven or he will pay for his sins in purgatory. Some Protestant denominations teach “confirmation,” meaning that being a member of a church, getting baptized, or doing charity will result in their going to heaven. Islam teaches that Allah will be merciful if his followers follow the 5 pillars of Islam and are faithful to do them. The Mormons believe in a “Jesus,” but being part of the Mormon church and doing what they teach is required for salvation. Hinduism teaches that man is in this cycle of re-incarnation based on the works he does, with the ultimate goal of becoming one with the ultimate reality of Brahma. Buddhism teaches the eight-fold path from within to reach enlightenment. The Occult teaches that one can gain access to powers that allow them to find happiness or fulfill their desires.

The general message most belief systems—from what has been stated and beyond—is that man has good within himself, and that he can attain heaven or happiness through religion, good works, or by pursuing what seems right. Is that possible? On one hand, we see the achievements which are possible when people apply their knowledge and skill toward medicine, science, and technology. But what about the wars that we see around us, the shootings, racism, the corruption that is seen everywhere? Are these evil-doers just a select group of people and not what represents mankind? My friend, I would like to offer some thoughts for you to think about and analyze for an honest evaluation.

Jesus was a historic figure, and this has been proven by our world history being split in two main periods: Before Christ (BC/BCE) and After Christ (Anno Domini/AD/CE). In the Qur’an, which was written 600 years after Christ, Jesus (Isa) is given the status of a prophet, who would die and rise again (Surah 19:30-34), and that He speaks the truth, is righteous, and would be born of a virgin (Surah 3:45-47). Gandhi as a Hindu, who led the independence movement in India, stated, “I have regarded Jesus of Nazareth as one amongst the mighty teachers that the world has had.... I shall say to the Hindus that your lives will be incomplete unless you reverently study the teachings of Jesus.” Was Jesus Christ just a good teacher? Is He the founder of Christianity like others such as Muhammad of Islam? Is He just a good person who helped others? Let us hear from Him what He stated in the Holy Bible.

First, a note to those who claim to find fault with the Bible because they believe it “changed over time” or “was corrupted by religious leaders.” The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the Qumran Caves in 1946-1956 contain over 25,000 scroll fragments. They are the oldest surviving manuscripts of entire books included in the Bible, and show Divine preservation without error of the text we have today. They were dated from 3 BC to 1 AD. Other ancient copies of New Testament books show similar continuity. The Bible can be trusted.

Jesus stated that His purpose in coming to earth was to bring us to God (John 17:3). He taught that man is spiritually dead and has lost his way, and that mankind needs to be made alive and shown the way to God. He is called the “Word,” someone who has always existed before this world began. The Bible declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). Jesus stated, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). But, in a world where one can be a slave to opinions, religion, or movements—even to die for them—how can we have this promised new life? And why then do people die?

I humbly ask you to pay close attention to the next few statements. Death came because of man’s sin. God created man and woman in perfection and blessed them with good things. Man rebelled against God and brought sin into this world which brought death. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Sin is anything that you and I do which does not glorify God and is against His nature. God is holy and everything God does is perfect, but we fall short daily. We may be morally good by our own standards and in the eyes of others, but God’s standard is perfection. So, when God says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16), He means for us not to lie even one time during any day of our lives. Yet, we lie to get our way, covet something that belongs to others, lust after a woman or a man, and fantasize after them in our hearts. Since we cannot claim perfection and love our sin, our hearts condemn us that we are guilty before God who hates sin. It condemns us ultimately to the literal place of torment called hell, “as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Sin brought death, fear, suffering, wars, murder, hate, and so forth.

Sin must be paid for. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Do you see this my friend? Do you realize that you have offended a good God, and that He is just (right) to punish you because of how you have behaved towards Him? Since sin requires a payment, God, who still loved you, gave a substitute (Jesus) in your place, so that He (Jesus) might take the punishment you deserve. In Him, the innocent was sacrificed for the guilty to save us through His blood. “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us [take our sin], who knew no sin [innocent]; that we [guilty] might be made [by God] the righteousness of God in him [declared innocent]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus came in human flesh and hung on the Cross to take upon himself the wrath of God, poured out in the judgment of sin that you and I should rightfully receive. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He rose from the dead three days later, proving that He was God and has conquered the wages of sin, which is death. If you see that you have sinned and that your sin has separated you from God, then, my friend, I plead with you to think seriously about the remedy. Go to a quiet place and hear what God has to say. “[God] commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). To repent is to change your mind about sin, seeing yourself as convicted (guilty) before God. It also means to take sides with God against your sin, in that you are willing to forsake it and submit to Jesus Christ as your Lord, as your Savior from sin. Repentance does not save you, only Jesus does, but it shows the natural response from the revelation of your condition by the Spirit of God. Call upon him in prayer for mercy, though you know in your heart that you don't deserve it.

God promises that “[he] that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). My dear reader, call unto Him, confess to Him that you are a sinner and deserve hell, and plead for mercy, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). And when He saves you, you will know that in Jesus Christ is life and that now you have peace (a relationship) with God through Him. Jesus did not come to form a religion but to show us the way to the Father. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). There are not many paths to God, but only one, granted through the Person of Jesus Christ alone. Go to Him, for He loves you and will save you, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It is not good works or requirements that religion teaches that we should do to reach God, but casting yourself completely upon Christ, knowing you have nothing to offer. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If you would like to know more about God and what He has done for you, the Gospel of John is a good place to start. Request a free copy from those who gave this to you, and you can read it for yourself. May God guide you into His truth.

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