Religion is part of the wide path that leads to destruction. On that cautionary note, I will endeavor to explain.
All religions intend to point you to a higher power and even if you are calling yourself God, religion generally offers insights to a supernatural entity or presence and, by extension, the meaning and purpose of life.
If there are multiple gods or a single god is involved in declaring truths and people are wiling to live by those truths.
A system of religious-like beliefs may be critical for the functioning of a society and although it may be a crucial fabric of that social order, ultimate belief in absolute truth(s) that spans all humankind would be be hard to prove as the ultimate authority without evidence.
For instance, who is to say human sacrifice isn’t actually a type of god ordained right humans have, humans do it all the time, whether in the ancient temples of Baal or some Aztec sacrifice or in the numerous ways we devalue life for our own lack of empathy for others, self-convenience, and pursuit of ambitious goals.
If there is a powerful being that declares its truth, would there be more than one all powerful being for a different groups of people, declaring different contradictory truths about Creation of the purpose of life? Are their different dimensions for different gods, determining diverse fates for the planet and its people?
It is apparent to me, people tend to make up their own god. If people didn’t worship a deity, they would just as well worship a sports team, a valuable object, or a popular celebrity, a past life or even a popular leader (who is not God or proclaiming to be one).
People are wired to worship and people are given free will. People will love and worship what they will.
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In Isaiah 44, the Bible explains the futility of a man creating a God for himself, one intellectually or physically, the practice is known as idolatry:
Isaiah 44
9 Those who form a graven image are all of them futile, and their desirable things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 10 Who has formed a god or cast a graven image to no profit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them be in dread, let them together be put to shame.
12 The man crafts iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, forming it with hammers and working it with his powerful arm. He also gets hungry and has no power; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 Another crafts wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a stylus. He makes it with planes and outlines it with a compass and makes it like the form of a man, like the glory of man, so that it may sit in a house. 14 In order to cut cedars for himself, he takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.15 Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also works to produce a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm; I have seen the fire.” 17 But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.”
18 They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they will have no insight.19 No one causes this to return to his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then make the rest of it into an abomination; I fall down before a block of wood!” 20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, and he cannot say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
If there are multiple religions that suppose there is a truth, and each truth is so different that only one can be true, then it is possible ALL could be false, however, truth being exclusive, then one could be or is true.
Using this logic, religion is prone to be based on human creativity and false. Truth can only be founded upon the character of a supernatural God who can objectively offer it. Humans, no matter how bright or intelligent and subject to a myriad of weaknesses could achieve anything better than hypocrisy to succeed in perfect obedience to an absolute moral law.
Absolute law can only come from an absolute law giver.
We yearn for justice, yet true justice can only be delivered by one who is Holy and Righteous. A just law giver.
Truth must be absolute, otherwise, it could not be the truth.
What is Biblically “Good” (moral perfection) is only achievable by one who is perfectly holy and righteous. Jesus, who was both fully man and fully God, said to the rich young ruler (Matthew 19, 16:22), that only God is good (which implied Himself to those who were savvy to what He was saying).
Therefore, since all of humanity is corrupted by sin. We’ve all fallen short of God’s glory. Human intellect no matter how spiritually elevated they may become, can only form the relative opinions of the human mind influenced by all the temptations and corruptions that the world can offer. The only truth humans can declare are those truths revealed by God.
And all the peoples see His glory – Pslam 97:6
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Who is Jesus Christ who did He pay a price for?
Jesus is trustworthy. He did what He said He was going to do and, because He loved us, He was willing to pay a severe price to save us.
The account of Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, death and resurrection given in the Bible via eye-witness accounts, Old Testament prophecy, and the rapid emergence of His following His Resurrection all point to supernatural truths that are consistent with the character of the Biblical God who created the universe and humankind.
In God’s wisdom, He sent His Son to live among us, to teach with amazing wisdom, perform miracles of healing, to warn people of their idolatry and self-righteousness, to speak and teach much about the Kingdom of God. He spent His 3 year ministry in the presence of common men and women and religious Jews who witnessed His daily life.
He very clearly warned of hell and God’s holy and righteous justice that must be exercised.
Jesus’s ministry culminated in God’s sovereign plan to offer humanity the only way to Redemption. This is what Good Friday and Easter are all about giving us grace through the work of Jesus and not of our own.
Being a Christian is becoming a follower of Christ. Even if you never step into a church building, becoming a follower of Christ makes you part of His body of believers. Being a genuine Christian is all about Christ and your relationship with God through Christ.
Following Christ is about turning away from sin, because God hates sin and is storing up His righteous and anger and wrath for judgment.
Christ knows that we cannot save ourselves. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, holy and righteous, gave His life up and suffered the wrath of God, wrath for our sins that would otherwise be inflicted upon each of us in the final judgment of all humankind.
After His death, on the Third Day (Easter morning), He rose from the dead, defeating death, thereby allowing others to follow Him in a future glorious bodily resurrection. His work of redemption is valid throughout eternity from the beginning of time, saving even those who did not know the name of Jesus but had genuine faith in God (e.g from Abraham (Genesis) to Rahab the prostitute (see Joshua 2)).
Stern and warnings are repeated about the Judgment will come. Jesus warned of the coming judgment and calls each of us to repent and to receive Him as Lord of our lives.
In the heavenly vision given to John the Apostle, he described what’s known as the Great White Throne Judgment.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.12 Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:11-15
In Revelation 21, God promised those who accept Christ will be like His children. He will live among His people and care for them, and help them grow and live with joy throughout eternity. Death will be destroyed.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be anydeath; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “They are done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. – Revelation 21:2-6
Jesus revealed further His promise to receive His people.
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. -John 14:1-3.
The Gospel Calls
And you were dead in your transgressions and sins -Ephesians 2:1
GOD, THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, DID FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES. THE DEAD CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES, THEY CANNOT LEND A HAND.
GOD, THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, DID FOR US WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES. THAT IS A KEY FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BECOMING. FOLLOWER OF CHRIST AND BECOMING A MEMBER OF A RELIGION.
Will you now begin to turn away from sin, and have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Do it now before it is too late! Christ paid for your sins that, otherwise, you will be judged for.
Receiving Christ is a transformational relationship with the Living God who loves you and was willing to die for you even though we are all guilty.
There is no better time than now to be secure in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
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Bible passages from the Legacy Standard Version
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