Only One Salvation

Some Of The Different Religions

Let me say that there are many religions in the world, but only one salvation.

eph 4:4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, listen as I read today’s text;

Jeremiah 2:11-13

11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

I read that one of the major denominations met in Columbus to debate, of all things, whether or not Jesus Christ is the one true Savior of the world. Is he the universal Savior or might there be several they said?

What about the other world religions and their claims? Some people wonder if perhaps there are not many paths to God? If you asked the average American today what the difference was between the major world religions, they would probably mumble something about all religions being pretty much the same.

People assume that all religions have nearly the same moral teachings and ideals. They might have different names for God they’ll say, but it is the same God.

These religions, many people believe, may travel different roads, but they all lead to God. As long as you believe in something, as long as you believe in God, it really doesn’t matter what form your belief takes.

Well dear heart the truth is that these religions are all very different and even contradict each other at crucial points. What this means is that we are left with two options: either none of them are true, or one of them is true and the others are not.

Please understand, I’m not here to pick on any individual as I’m not sure who may be listening or what country you may be from, but I do believe you would not be listening if you wasn’t interested in finding out the truth, because if what you believe is not satisfying your heart, then just maybe the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD would have you listening in today.

So today I want to talk just a little on the belief systems of the five major world religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

1st of all:

I. BUDDHISM

Most Buddhists oppose the concept of an ultimate God. Buddhism is not about finding God or even finding his will. Buddha himself did not claim to be divine, nor did he claim that his teachings were derived from a divine source.

There are about 355 million Buddhists worldwide, and one of them is Dr. Marian Caldron, professor of Eastern religion at Northwestern University. She said in one interview, “God is not the focus or ultimate concern of the Buddhist tradition. Instead, the Buddhist tradition focuses on the teachings of the historic Buddha.” Buddha simply means “Enlightened One.” His original name was Siddhartha Gautama. He lived about 483 B.C. and was born on the border between Nepal and India.

He was born a prince and had a lavish palace and everything he could want, but he was troubled about the meaning of life. ‘If I have it all, why am I not happy?’ he asked himself.

And so as a young man he left his family, and he went seeking the truth. as he sat under a Bo Tree he discovered that the problem of life was craving. Craving leads to dissatisfaction. You want something, and even when you get it you are dissatisfied with it or you want more. Buddhism teaches that enlightenment is the path to bring an end to craving.

Buddhism’s central teaching is how to arrive at the ideal state where there is no longer any craving, in fact, any kind of desire or feeling. That state is called Nirvana.

It is the state of disinterest toward all that is around you. In short, the way to avoid unhappiness and suffering is not to care or feel anything at all. You form no earthly attachments.

Contrast this with Jesus’ words that he came to give us life and give it more abundantly.to (John 10:10). He said he came that his joy might be in us and that our joy might be complete (John 15:11).

Instead of withdrawing from life and any emotional attachment to it, Jesus taught John 16:3333These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world..