Nobody needs anything more than Jesus Christ.
For example, a convicted thief met Jesus Christ while they were beside each other; each on their own cross of crucifixion. There was no time for baptism, prayers, communion, nor any other religious dogma. The thief accepted that Jesus was the Son of God, and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus reached Heaven. Jesus assured the thief that he would be with Jesus in Heaven. Simple as that.
Christianity is exclusive. That means that only Christianity offers a guaranteed entrance into Heaven for all those who truly believe in Jesus. Of course, true believer follow God's Laws, and Jesus' teachings, and do not chronically practice sin.
Jesus performed miracles so that people would recognize Him as God. The Bible describes 37 miracles, and states in John 21:25 that many more were done, beyond these 37 miracles.
There are 44 prophecies in the Old Testament which predicted and described the life of Jesus Christ (see Bible37Miracles44PropheciesOfJesusChrist ). These prophecies were made during a period from 4,000 BC to 150 BC. These Old Testament prophecies are supported by the historical writings by Prophets, first and second hand witnesses of the life of Jesus Christ (Jesus' Apostles, Disciples, and others), as well as Roman, Greek, Jewish, and other historians who were alive at that time.
By all of this evidence, it is reasonable to conclude all of the objective evidence points to Jesus Christ being a real, historical person who did numerous miracles, claimed to be God, convinced thousands of people that He was God, lived a righteous life, made numerous prophecies that all came true, was falsely convicted, crucified, died, was buried, and ascended to Heaven 3 days after His death.
To conclude anything else is to ignore the strong, irrefutable objective facts that we have in our possession today.
If someone performs miracles and rises from the dead, I have made a personal policy decision to believe them when they claim to be God. I suggest you do likewise.
Other World Religions
Muslims are required to do continual prayers and good works. Islam claims that Allah takes note of all events in a person's life, assigning weights (good or bad) to every event, then Allah decides if a person has done sufficient good works to warrant heaven. You never know, until it's too late, how Allah will decide your case.Hindu claims reincarnation, but who decides if you get to move up or down; worm, dog, bird, human, or something else. In the end, you can cycle around and around forever, never exiting from the reincarnation cycle.
Atheism is a belief in the empty null set, that no God exists; one shot through life, then nothing. Agnostics aren't sure about God, and can continuously raise another doubt to procrastinate their final decision about God still longer. Either way, they get to do as they please with no absolute limits on their thoughts, words, or deeds; except as they choose to self-impose.
We have discussed 3 major religions, there are 4 more to consider for a total of 7 major world religions.
No other world religion offers what Christianity offers.
Some religions make spurious, non-verifiable claims. Only Christianity has the Bible to support and verify all claims made.
If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is untrue. Buyer beware of non-Christian religions!
Comparison Shopping
With the power of the Internet, people can easily do comparison shopping. You can more easily find the product, style, colour, features, price, and other characteristics that you seek without leaving home. While you may compare Walmart vs. Amazon, is it OK to compare all the world religions before choosing one?I am not sure if it's a sin to compare all the different religions before choosing one specific religion to follow. However Christianity is not a smorgasbord, where you can pick or choose what goes on your plate, for your own customized version of Christianity.
If you try to pick and choose the aspects of Christianity you like, and reject the parts you don't like, then you are creating your own false god; not the God of the Bible. A "cult" is defined as a religion that does not accept all Biblical doctrine, or adds additional doctrines to the Bible.
Mormons claim they believe in Jesus Christ, but the Mormon Jesus, as described in the Book of Mormon and other Mormon doctrine is not the same Jesus as described in the Bible.
Muslims claim to believe in the Prophet Jesus Christ. However the Jesus described in the Qu'ran is not the same as the Jesus described in the Bible. Allah is not the same as God of the Bible.
Worshiping a non-Bible Jesus is blasphamy. Creating your own custom designed god is also blasphemy, and contrary to the 2nd Commandment (see Exodus 20:3):
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me [God].
True Christians believe in:
- the Jesus Christ described in the Bible
- the teachings of Jesus Christ described in the Bible, and
- the Commandments of God as described in the Bible (see the 20 Commandments for Christians).
Fake Christians
Jesus can see all of your heart, mind, body, soul, and spirit. Jesus knows if you are a True Christian, or a fake. In Matthew 7:20-23, Jesus Christ said:"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?'
And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.' "Iniquity is unrepented, chronic sin. Iniquity is deadly. Iniquity annuls your status of "Born Again". Those who practice iniquity will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, to be burned and tormented for ever and ever.
Contrasting with the above, when True Christians reach Heaven, True Christians will hear Jesus Christ say something similar to Matthew 25:23:
"Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
Buying The Whole, Indivisible Jesus Christ
Jesus believed, quoted from, and included the Old Testament in His teachings. In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus said:"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."If you profess that you believe in Jesus, and Jesus is described by the New Testament, and in the New Testament, Jesus supported and included the Old Testaments, then we conclude that believing in Jesus requires believe in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Therefore true Christians believe in the whole Bible.
If a sect, denomination, Pastor, Priest, or Minister adds or subtracts or denies all or part of the Bible, then they are not true Christians.
Properly Interpreting the Christian Bible
The Bible is an essential part of Christianity. Therefore properly interpreting the Bible is essential.However, everyone must regard the speaker, the intended audience, and proper context of the Bible, so as to rightly divide the Word as 2 Timothy 2:15 says:
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
We don't impose definitions upon the Bible, we let the Bible define itself. We don't propose interpretations in one verse that conflict with other verses. We seek two or three witnesses to consistently agree so as to settle Biblical doctrine.
Biblical word study and doctrine takes hard work, patience, logic, and in depth study to apprehend the infinite nature of God in our insufficient mortal minds.
God will reveal the important aspects, while the finer points may remain mysteries.
While we can apprehend the essentials about God, we won't be able to fully comprehend God. That's where faith comes in.
Act Now While You Still Can
There isn't much time left, as the Great Tribulation will soon begin (sometime between now & Nov. 1, 2019 ???).Every second, approximately 2 people die somewhere on Earth (approximately 164,000 people per day). Their sudden, unexpected death is likely a shock to the ones affected.
Once you die, it's too late to accept Jesus as your Saviour. Procrastination is fatal to the infinite power of eternity. A big mistake!
If you aren't Born Again before you die, you are guaranteed a 1-way ticket to Hell.
I don't want you to go to Hell. I am a good and faithful Watchman, who wants to warn you of the danger so I don't have your blood on my hands. If you don't heed the Watchman's warning, your blood will be on your own hands.
Come to Jesus. Come today. Come now, before it's too late.
Here is Ravi Zacharia speaking at the Mormon Temple about the sufficiency and exclucivity of Jesus Christ and Christianity (55 minutes):
- Redemption. then
- Righteousness, then
- Worship
Part 1 to 5
Part 6
Part 7
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