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Are all religions essentially the same?
Now listen to me carefully, because this much is certain: if those have it right who are saying that all religions are essentially the same, and all are leading to the same place, then Jesus Christ had it all wrong.
JESUS
Jesus didn’t believe all religions were essentially the same or that they were all leading to the same place. Contrariwise, he said; “Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
Jesus believed and taught that there is only one way to God and that he is that way! “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Christ said. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Jesus didn’t say he was one of many ways to God. He said he was the way--the one and only way to God. To make absolutely certain no one misunderstood what he meant,
he said: “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” If those who say there are many ways to God have it right, Jesus Christ had it all wrong.
Jesus wasn’t trying to be narrow-minded or intolerant when he made those claims for himself. He was only being truthful. Jesus isn’t alone in saying he is the only way to God. Peter said it, John the Baptist said it, and so did the disciple whom Jesus loved.
All three of these said that Jesus is the only way to God!
PETER
After explaining how Christ had risen from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and been exalted to the right hand of God as Prince and Savior, Peter said: “Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). If those who claim that there are many ways to God have it right, Peter had it all wrong.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for Christ’s arrival. He told everyone who would listen to him that Jesus was the only Savior that there is, ever has been, or ever will be. “He that believeth on the Son hath life,” John the Baptist said. “And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). If those who claim there are many ways to God have it right, John the Baptist had it all wrong.
DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED
John the Apostle (the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who wrote the fourth gospel and four other books of the Bible, the one who leaned on Jesus’ breast at the last supper, who attended his trial and stood so near the cross when Christ was dying that Christ could speak to him) also believed that Jesus is the only way to God.
“This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life,” John said, “and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (I John 5:11, 12). If those who are claiming that there are many ways to God have it right, John the Apostle had it all wrong.
Jesus, Peter, John the Baptist, and John the Apostle all believed and taught the very same thing; namely, that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
This may sound narrow-minded or intolerant to those who want to make up their own truth about God, Christ, sin, salvation and eternity. Whether it sounds narrow-minded or not isn’t the point. The only thing that matters is whether or not it’s true.
It sounds so noble, so all-inclusive, so spiritually tolerant, to say there are many ways to God and it doesn’t matter which one a person takes. But it is a lie.