Of all the many religions out there, how do we know which one is the true religion? They all have their heavens, or forms of the afterlife. They all have means of achieving those heavens. But how are we supposed to believe that Christianity is the only one true way to salvation and eternal life. Why can't we do good works and build up karma in Hinduism and Buddhism to gain unity with Brahman, the chief godhead? Why can't we follow the five pillars of Islam and get to heaven with the same God Christians worship? Why can't we just continue the traditions and purification rituals of the Jews? Each of these religions and 99% of all world religions follow this, that to get to "heaven", you must do good works. Therefore there are many ways to heaven. WRONG!

That is where Christianity comes in as the unique one, the black sheep if you must. It involves one decision. Trusting Christ in being the one and only way to salvation, and to repent and turn away from your sins, allowing God to lead your newly restored life. Jesus said many things about being the only way to salvation. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the father but by me." He also said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

Finally Jesus said in John 11:25-26, " I am the resurrection, and the life, he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" In Christianity, you see we get to heaven by accepting God's gift of salvation. It is not of good works as most of the world, and America thinks. There is nothing we can do. Our righteousness is like filthy rags to him.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, God through Paul said, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Now when you look at this, you might begin to see how fair and just God really is. Christianity is the only truly fair religion. If your salvation was based on good works, then what if you died very early in adulthood. What if you didn't have time to accumulate enough good works to get us to heaven? Then you would be left out I suppose. Or be reincarnated.

No, Christianity involves one decision. Believing and following Jesus, bottom line. It is a simple yes or no, do you or do you not accept kind of decision. How much fairer can you get? But many miss this fairness. When you look at the uniqueness and true fairness of Christianity, you might begin to see that there is only one way to eternal life.

The devil uses these thoughts of religious unity and tolerance to his advantage. Yes everyone has the right to worship how the want. But you have the freedom to worship how you want, don't you. Finally you must have faith. When you begin to study God's word and feel him work in you like me, you will know you are on the right track.

Article by Mark Penn
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