Today's Christian lesson is on the vast array of religions out there all claiming to have a way to God. Over the years I have met a lot of people with good intentions who lack a fundamental knowledge of the scriptures who have come up to me and said: Well, I believe in Christ, but I also believe that there are all these other ways to God prescribed by all these other religions which make a claim to know the path to God and to Salvation. How do we as Christians answer such a question? The answer is that while all the other religions may make a claim to their God, the only TRUE Living God is the one in the Bible, and the ONLY and I mean ONLY way to that TRUE God is through His Son Jesus Christ who died on the Cross for our sins. 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 is no other true way to God but through Christ. He is the ONLY WAY. There is no other Fundamental Truth greater than this.
“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” [Exodus 20:1-5.]
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods. [Joshua 24:14-16]
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. [Joshua 24:23-27]
Having said all this, must be very frightening to anyone who is not a believer in Jesus. Being a believer in Jesus does not mean that we treat people from other religions badly. Quite the contrary. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 Indeed we are called to witness to other people the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” Colossians 4:5-6
It is critically important to have wise conduct before outsiders (unbelievers) because the reputation of the gospel depends on you. You may be the only Christian a non-believer comes across.
What would they think of you (and of Christianity) if you treated them badly? The world judges Christianity by what it sees in you as a representative of Christ. Are you representing Christianity well, with kindness, holiness, and love for each other? Are you faithful in prayer, and consistent in your thankfulness and reverence for the Lord?
This does not give you permission to become one of them, partner with them in business endeavors or make an unbeliever your spouse. Quite the contrary, In fact, tomorrow's Christian lesson is going to be on this very topic. Until then, have a good day, a good night, and sleep well...!
“And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” [Exodus 20:1-5.]
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods. [Joshua 24:14-16]
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. [Joshua 24:23-27]
Having said all this, must be very frightening to anyone who is not a believer in Jesus. Being a believer in Jesus does not mean that we treat people from other religions badly. Quite the contrary. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 Indeed we are called to witness to other people the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone,” Colossians 4:5-6
It is critically important to have wise conduct before outsiders (unbelievers) because the reputation of the gospel depends on you. You may be the only Christian a non-believer comes across.
What would they think of you (and of Christianity) if you treated them badly? The world judges Christianity by what it sees in you as a representative of Christ. Are you representing Christianity well, with kindness, holiness, and love for each other? Are you faithful in prayer, and consistent in your thankfulness and reverence for the Lord?
This does not give you permission to become one of them, partner with them in business endeavors or make an unbeliever your spouse. Quite the contrary, In fact, tomorrow's Christian lesson is going to be on this very topic. Until then, have a good day, a good night, and sleep well...!
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