Increased Faith

We have recently been going through a series in apologetics on Wednesday nights at nightLIFE. We are learning about other religions, and how their belief system differs from Christianity, specifically Southern Baptists. So far we've covered, Islam, Atheism and Theism, Hinduism, Buddahism, and Jehovah Witness. I have to say that while looking deeply into each of these religions, my faith has increased in my own beliefs about God and scripture.

Each of these organized religions requires faith. The atheist may be the only one to argue, but if they would be honest, they are certainly applying faith to evolution. These religions are placing their faith in different places than Christianity does though. The one thing that they all have in common is that their beliefs depend totally upon their actions or good works. Their faith and hope is in themselves to be good enough, or to do enough good things to achieve paradise, nirvanna, completion, heaven, etc.

This is where we differ at our very foundation. Scripture teaches us that we are saved by GRACE alone. We can in no way achieve, or earn, or ever be good enough to accomplish "holiness". This word "holy" is an adjective used to describe God alone, so unless God does something to us we could never achieve it. And scripture teaches without holiness no one will see God. I am comforted that in my readings, I have only religion that speaks of a loving, personal God who is pursuing all men. Not only this, but He is the only God who came on a rescue mission where the Creator came and died for His creation.

Because of this great act of our God. Salvation is exclusive to this particular faith(this makes others angry). We must place our faith in the Creator God who became flesh, and died for His sinful creation. This is why there is no other way to God, this is why salvation is exclusive to those with faith in Christ. This is why there is only one narrow road to heaven, not many as Oprah would suggest. Unless we come through Jesus, our rescuer, we do not come.

Don't misunderstand. I don't think you have to be "Southern Baptist" to go to heaven! But you do have to be on the "narrow road". The narrow road is Christ Jesus as Lord. You can have some messed up theology, I probably do myself, but you have to at least have the correct foundation of Jesus right. That being: his full deity and humanity, virgin birth, perfect sinless life, death on the cross for the sins of the world, burial, and physical ressurection. Because He lives, He is the Way!