Christ Wesleyan Church
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Fact #3 - Only One Road Leads to Heaven
John 14:6 NLT
A. Isn’t “only one way” too narrow?
John 14:6 NLT
1. Sincerely wrong never makes one right!
Proverbs 14:12 NLT
2. “All the major religions of the world ask their followers for sincerity. Each one also asks for exclusivity. Each one claims that their way is the only way.” – "The God Questions"
3. “Why would God allow confusion like this? Why would a loving God visit one area of the world and describe one way to get to heaven, and then show up in another area and point them in a different direction? Answer: He wouldn’t.” – "The God Questions"
4. The enemy is constantly seeking to destroy truth.
John 8:44 NLT
B. What do Muslims believe?
1. Founder: Muhammed, Followers: 1.6 billion
“The Islamic population is doubling every 26 years: the world’s population is doubling every 40 years.” - "The God Questions"
2. View of God: Monotheism
3. Holy Book: The Koran
4. Central Teaching: 5 Pillars
5. Afterlife: Paradise
6. Comparison to Christianity:
a. Islam and Christianity are both proselytizing religions…Muslims to conquer by sword and Christians by sharing the Good News.
b. Both look forward to the day when all the world will believe.
C. What do Hindus believe?
1. Founder: Moksha, Followers: 1 billion
2. View of God: Pantheism
3. Holy Book: The Vedas
4. Central Teaching: Reincarnation
5. Afterlife: Nirvana (about 600,000 lifetimes)
6. Comparison to Christianity:
a. The Bible teaches only 8 people raised from the dead including Jesus.
b. All of us have only one earthly life.
Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV
D. What do Buddhists believe?
1. Founder: Siddhartha Gautama, Followers: 500 million
2. View of God: “A Noble Silence”
3. Central Teaching: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
4. Afterlife: Nirvana
5. Comparison to Christianity:
a. Buddhism seeks to be free of pain and suffering where Christianity says suffering is profitable in helping us develop.
Romans 5:3-4 NIV
b. Buddha attempted to detach himself from his suffering and taught his disciples to do the same where Christ entered into the sufferings of the world in order to help the world.
Hebrews 2:18 NIV
E. What are the beliefs that are being brought into question?
1. Man is basically good.
Psalms 51:5 NLT
2. There is no hell.
Matthew 25:41 NLT
3. The authority of Scriptures
2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT
4. Who Jesus is.
Colossians 2:10 NLT
F. What do Christians believe?
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
1. Founder: Jesus Christ, Followers: 2.2 billion (with estimates of 100,000 new followers each day)
2. View of God: Monotheism
3. Holy Book: The Bible
4. Central Teaching: Grace
5. Afterlife: Heaven
John 1:12 NLT
Questions to ask when searching for truth about Jesus:
1. Whom do you believe Jesus is?
2. Whom did Jesus say He is?
- The Son of God (John 11:4)
- "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
3. What did Jesus say about other spiritual paths?
- "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
4. Jesus was either who He said He was or He was a fraud. Given His claims, we can't logically believe he was only a great teacher, for He would have been teaching falsehood rather than truth (this is an argument by C. S. Lewis).
5. Jesus alone is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).
In a changing world, here are some concerns for truth:
- There is no ambiguity in truth, especially the truth of Scripture (1 John 2:21)
- The Scriptures are truth and reveal God’s truth (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17)
- The Scriptures exhort the discovery and the guarding of truth (Proverbs 23:23)
- God is a god of truth and must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth (Psalm 31:5; John 4:24)
- Jesus Christ is unambiguously called the Truth (John 14:6)
- The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of Truth” and guides the believer into truth (John 16:13)
- The church is supposed to be the pillar of truth (1 Timothy 3:15)
- Believers are characterized by the love of truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
- Believers are set free by knowing the truth (John 8:32)
- Godless men suppress the truth (Romans 1:18)
- False teachers turn away from the truth (Titus 1:13-14)
- False teachers will turn the church away from the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Digging Deeper--for all those interested in digging deeper into this topic, there are resources in the Well Read Bookstore to assist you.
- The God Questions book ($2.50 gift edition & $7.50 followup study)
- Additional materials are available upon request for the serious student!
Coming Soon:
October16: Fact #4 A Good God May Allow Suffering
Answer to the Question – How Can a Good God Allow Suffering?
October 23: Fact #5 God Created
Answer to the Question – Which Is Right: Evolution or Creation?
October 30: Fact #6 – Heaven is a Place for Eternity
Answer to the Question – What Will Heaven Be Like?
November 6: Friend Day (End of 40 Days)