"jesus-The Only Path To Heaven"

“Jesus-The Only Path to Heaven”

John 14:1-6

In recent years we have been forced to learn a brand new vocabulary in America. Words such as Islam, Allah, Jihad, Taliban and Al Queda. Attacks by terrorists in the past 13 years have changed everything and all of this has brought the religion of Islam to the front page of our newspapers. Our president and other leaders have bent over backwards to make sure that the world understands that Islam and terrorism are in no way related and that the Moslem faith is actually peaceful. There is a Greek word for that. Bologna.

In 1988 Salmon Rushdie, a Muslim was sentenced to death over his book, The Satanic Verses” said that these kinds of statements that Islam and terrorism are not related are simply untrue. Franklin Graham, son of Dr. Billy Graham said recently of Islam, “I don’t believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion. When you read their holy book, the Koran, it tells them to kill those who are outside their faith. He went on to say It wasn’t Methodists flying into those buildings; it wasn’t Lutherans; it was an attack on this country by people of the Islamic faith.

One of the larger conversations that have been going on among religious leaders in recent years is the debate of whether or not Jesus Christ is the one true Savior of the World. And it leaves many people left wondering is there more than one path to get to God?

Now here is the problem in a nutshell. If you were to ask the average American today what the difference was between the major religions of the world most people would not know the difference. Or they would probably mumble something about all religions being pretty much the same. Different names for God but the same God. They will often say that people travel many different roads, many different paths but they all lead to God.

George Barna does a great deal of research in the area of religion. In a recent survey of his he found these common opinions:

• 38% believed that it doesn’t matter what faith you follow—they all teach the same lessons

• 44% believe we will experience the same outcome regardless of our faith

• 55% believe that if a person is good or does good things for people they will earn a place n heaven

There is a Greek word for that… Hogwash.

I don’t want this conversation to ever fall into this group who believe the lie that is being told to America that Islam is a peaceful faith; or that or doesn’t matter what you believe…that it’s all going to work out in the end. I certainly don’t want you to believe that there are many paths to heaven

This morning I want us to look at 5 facts we need to understand on this subject.

1. Muslims are sincere. Muslims are devout. That is not enough. Many Moslems have memorized the Koran, their Holy book. They pray at least 5 times a day. They fast for a full month every year. They are very sincere but I believe they are sincerely wrong. The Moslems must earn their salvation. They must keep on the “straight path.” Women are regarded as temptations that can lead men away from the straight path so they are required to wear a veil and clothing that completely covers them. As a result of their sincerity Islam is now the fastest growing religion in the world.

Here are the top 3 in size.

1. Christianity……………..2.1 billion……………..33%

2. Islam………………..1.3 billion…………20.1 %

3. Hinduism………..851 million………13.3%

NBC news reported that there are 20,000 new converts to the Islamic faith every year in America. There are now 7-8 million Muslims in the U.S. 90% are among the black population.

Islam and Judaism share one thing in common. Both trace their roots to Father Abraham. Islam, however traces their roots to the son of Abraham by Hagar, named Ishmael. The Jews trace their roots to Isaac, the Son of Abraham and Sarah who had been promised by God. Why does this matter? Listen. The war that has been going on in the Middle East for centuries can be traced back to this very issue. Who is the rightful son of Abraham? This is where the battle takes place. And the truth is in case you don’t know it is this: the nations that are Muslim will never make peace with Israel. And this is why….They don’t actually want peace---they never wanted peace---what the want is to own Israel, not some of it…they want all of it.

2. It is a good thing to believe in God but it is not enough. There is a problem right here in the U.S. there are those who think that because they believe God exists that we are OK. I have met many people in my lifetime who assume that because they simply believe in God that’s enough. Listen to this. James 2:18-19.