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Why believe in Christianity?

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Why believe in Christianity over all other religions?

Critics often ask why Christianity is any better than any other religion in the world. After all, of all the religions that exist how can it be that only Christianity is true? If God exists, why can't God use different religions? Don't all paths lead to God? Skeptics ask these kinds of questions all the time and, unfortunately, few Christians have the the answers. Therefore, in an attempt to demonstrate why Christianity is true and all other religious systems are false, I've prepared the follow list of reasons for Christianity's superiority.

There are such things as absolute truths
If truth is relative, then the statement that truth is relative is an absolute truth and would be self defeating statement by proving that truth is not relative. But, if truth is absolute, then the statement "truth is absolute" is true and not self defeating. It is true that truth exists. It is true that truth will not contradict itself as we have just seen. In fact, it is absolutely true that you are reading this paper.

If we can see that there is such a thing as truth in the world, then we could also see that there can be spiritual truth as well. It is not absurd to believe in spiritual absolutes anymore than physical or logical absolutes. Even the statement that all religions lead to God is a statement held to be a spiritual absolute by many people. This simply demonstrates that people do believe in spiritual truth. Why? Because truth exists. However, not all that is believed to be true actually is true. Furthermore, all belief systems cannot be true since they often contradict each other in profound ways -- and truth is not self-contradictory.

Religions contradict each other; therefore, they cannot all be true.
Mormonism teaches that there are many gods in existence and that you can become a god. Christianity teaches that there is only one God and you cannot become a god. Islam teaches that Jesus is not God in flesh where Christianity does. Jesus cannot be both God and not God at the same time. Some religions teach that we reincarnate while others do not. Some teach there is a hell and others do not. They cannot all be true. If they cannot all be true, it cannot be true that all religions lead to God. Furthermore, it means that some religions are, at the very least, false in their claims to reveal the true God (or gods). Remember, truth does not contradict itself. If God exists, He will not institute mutually exclusive and contradictory belief systems in an attempt to get people to believe in Him. God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that there can be an absolute spiritual truth and that not all systems can be true regardless of whether or not they claim to be true. There must be more than a mere claim.

Fulfilled Prophecy concerning Jesus
Though there are other religions that have prophecies in them, none are 100% accurate as is the Bible and none of them point to someone like Jesus who made incredible claims and performed incredible deeds. The Old Testament was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Yet, the Old Testament prophesied many things about Jesus. This is undoubtedly evidence of divine influence upon the Bible.

Please consider some of the many prophecies of Jesus in the following chart.

Prophecy - Old Testament Prophecy - New Testament Fulfillment

Born of a virgin
Isaiah 7:14 Matt. 1:18,25
Born at Bethlehem Micah 5:2 Matt. 2:1
He would be preceded by a Messenger Isaiah 40:3 Matt. 3:1-2
Rejected by His own people Isaiah 53:3 John 7:5; 7:48
Betrayed by a close friend Isaiah 41:9 John 13:26-30
His side pierced Zech. 12:10 John 19:34
Crucifixion Psalm 22:1,
Psalm 22:11-18 Luke 23:33;
John 19:23-24
Resurrection of Christ Psalm 16:10 Acts 13:34-37

Fulfillment of prophecy can have different explanations. Some state that the NT was written and altered to make it look like Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy (but there is no evidence of that). Others state that the prophecies are so vague that they don't count (but many of the prophecies are not vague at all). Of course, it is possible that God inspired the writers and Jesus, who is God in flesh, fulfilled these prophecies as a further demonstration of the validity of Christianity.

The Claims and Deeds of Christ
Christianity claims to be authored by God. Of course, merely making such a claim does not make it true. Anyone can make claims. but, backing up those claims is entirely different. Jesus used the Divine Name for Himself (John 8:58), the same Divine Name used by God when Moses asked God what His name was in (Exodus 3:14). Jesus said that He could do whatever He saw God the Father do (John 5:19), and He claimed to be one with the God the Father (John 10:30; 10:38). Likewise, the disciples also called Him God (John 1:1,14; John 10:27; Col. 2:9). By default, if Jesus is God in flesh, then whatever He said and did would be true. Since Jesus said that He alone was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one can find God without Him (John 14:6), His words become incredibly important.

Again, making a claim is one thing. Backing it up is another. Did Jesus also back up His fantastic words with miraculous deeds? Yes, He did.
  • Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:6-10).
  • Jesus cast out demons (Matt. 8:28-32; 15:22-28).
  • Jesus healed lepers (Matt. 8:3; Luke 17:14).
  • Jesus healed diseases (Matt. 4:23,24; Luke 6:17-19)
  • Jesus healed the paralytic (Mark 2:3-12).
  • Jesus raised the dead (Matt. 9:25; John 11:43-44).
  • Jesus restored sight to the blind (Matt. 9:27-30; John 9:1-7).
  • Jesus restored cured deafness (Mark 7:32-35).
  • Jesus fed the multitude (Matt. 14:15-21; Matt. 15:32-38).
  • Jesus walked on water (Matt. 14:25-27).
  • Jesus calmed a storm with a command (Matt. 8:22-27; Mark 4:39).
  • Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:39; John 20:27).
  • Jesus appeared to disciples after resurrection (John 20:19).
The eyewitnesses recorded the miracles of Jesus and the gospels have been reliably transmitted to us. Therefore, we can believe what Jesus said about Himself for two reasons: One, because what He said and did, agrees with the Old Testament and two, because Jesus performed many convincing miracles in front of people who testified and wrote about what they saw Him do.

Christ's resurrection
Within Christianity, the resurrection is vitally important. Without the resurrection our faith is useless (1 Cor. 15:14). It was Jesus' resurrection that changed the lives of the disciples. After Jesus was crucified, the disciples ran and hid. But when they saw the risen Lord, they knew that all that Jesus had said and done proved that He was indeed God in flesh, the Savior.

No other religious leader has died in full view of trained executioners, had a guarded tomb, and then risen three days later to appear to many many people. This resurrection is proof of who Jesus is and that He did accomplish what He set out to do: provide the only means of redemption for mankind.

Buddha did not rise from the dead. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. Confucius did not rise from the dead. Krishna did not rise from the dead, etc. Only Jesus has physically risen from the dead, walked on water, claimed to be God, and raised others from the dead. He has conquered death. Why trust anyone else? Why trust anyone who can be held by physical death when we have a Messiah who is greater than death itself?

Conclusion
Why should anyone trust in Christianity over Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, or anything else? It is because there are absolute truths, because only in Christianity is there accurate fulfilled prophecies of a coming Messiah. Only in Christianity do we have the extremely accurate transmission of the eyewitness documents (gospels) so we can trust what was originally written. Only in Christianity do we have the person of Christ who claimed to be God, performed many miracles to prove His claim of divinity, who died and rose from the dead, and who said that He alone was the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). All this adds to the legitimacy and credibility of Christianity above all other religions -- all based on the person of Jesus. If follows that if it is all true about what Jesus said and did, then all other religions are false because Jesus said that He alone was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). It could not be that Jesus is the only way and truth and other religions also be the truth.

Either Jesus is true and all other religions are false or other religions are true and Jesus is false. There are no other options. I choose to follow the risen Lord Jesus.

Article by: CARM
 
Member
Excellent post bro ,have to print this one off thanks for sharing

God Bless and Much Love xoxoxoxoxoxox
 
Member
"The Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)

Christianity is the only religion that speaks of God coming to earth for the specific purpose of meeting the needs of human beings. I know of no other religion that speaks of a god doing that.

SLE
 
Member
Why believe in Christianity?

I accepted Jesus as my Saviour when I was a young boy, my father being a Methodist Minister. I am now 68 years of age and I studied well and received an excellent education as a boy/teenager.

But I have not yet found in my pursuit of life, over these 68 years, anything to surpass, or outshine, or satisfy, or give future that is any match to the Christian message.
 
Administrator
Staff Member
"The Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28)

Christianity is the only religion that speaks of God coming to earth for the specific purpose of meeting the needs of human beings. I know of no other religion that speaks of a god doing that.

SLE

Amen, true. Also, no other religion as a personal relationship with GOD nor a Savior.
 
Member
Matt 28:20
Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.

A wonderful Lord we serve. We have him with us always.

I can find no other Gods that makes this promise .:love::love:

God bless
 
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Member
great post , i put this on to myspace so friends and family can read it
god bless
 
Member
I am sort of confused about the first prophecy.
How is Isaiah and Matthew related to each other concerning
Jesus being born of a virgin? The first verse says a woman will give birth, but what about a virgin birth? In my eyes the first verse is just concerning any woman and any baby name. Or is there something I don't see here...
 
Member
The first verse says a woman will give birth, but what about a virgin birth? In my eyes the first verse is just concerning any woman and any baby name. Or is there something I don't see here...

Isaiah 6:14 NIV says "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means "God with us".)

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)
 
Member
I AM the TRUTH and the LIFE....

That right there pretty much sent me back to Jesus in 2004. I love that...Couldn't find that in others that I read about. NO WAY! Jesus IS THE WAY....:wink:
 
Member
Not wanting to be picky, but we need to be careful here when promoting 'Christianity' among the non-Christian world. While it is true that we believe Christianity is the only true form of religion that leads to God, our faith is not in 'Christianity' . We don't believe in Christianity as such, but in a real live personal loving compassionate gracious and merciful God. It is Jesus Christ we believe in. We believe His promises, and we believe the purpose and outcome of His mission, and we also believe He hears us today, and answers us when we call on His name. No system of religion can do what Jesus can do for us . Not even Christianity.
 
Member
Before and even after i accepted Christ into my life, i had doubts. I was scared that i was making a decision that was based off of fictional beliefs and i would be miserable for eternity. I looked into other religions and studied what they believed in and i never looked at them based off of truths.

You've shined a light on this for me. Thank you.
 
Loyal
Christianity is the only religion that speaks of God coming to earth for the specific purpose of meeting the needs of human beings. I know of no other religion that speaks of a god doing that.

Bingo!! Every other religion is all about "me, me, me". Unless you're in choir then it's "mi, mi mi".
 
Member
Lord Jesus Christ is GOD

He is The Only Way, The Truth and The Life!

John 14:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

There is Only One Truth and that is Jesus Christ The Word of GOD! God Come in the flesh Hallelujah!

The Father and The Son Lord Jesus are ONE

Jesus Christ is GOD Himself!

Jesus Christ is The Lord!

He is GOD! He Is Alife!

God is REAL, He Exists!
 
Member
I dont understand. Most religions claim their prophecies have come true, as well. Most religions have miracles and events that are specific to its religion. And the thing i dont understand the most, is that the resurrection was done as the greatest miracle because there were other false prophets around the world doing miracles infront of people, and therefore Jesus had to do the greatest miracle of them all. Meaning that all the claims about how there were many eyewitnesses to these miracles, is meaningless, because this necessarily means that there were many eyewitnesses to many miracles, some done by false prophets, and therefore the truth of this religion doesnt rely on the miracles or their eyewitnesses anymore than the truth of the false prophets claims rely on their miracles. What exactly is christianity presenting that no other religion can present, here?
 
Moderator
Staff Member
I dont understand. Most religions claim their prophecies have come true, as well. Most religions have miracles and events that are specific to its religion. And the thing i dont understand the most, is that the resurrection was done as the greatest miracle because there were other false prophets around the world doing miracles infront of people, and therefore Jesus had to do the greatest miracle of them all. Meaning that all the claims about how there were many eyewitnesses to these miracles, is meaningless, because this necessarily means that there were many eyewitnesses to many miracles, some done by false prophets, and therefore the truth of this religion doesnt rely on the miracles or their eyewitnesses anymore than the truth of the false prophets claims rely on their miracles. What exactly is christianity presenting that no other religion can present, here?

Wow! Where to start.
To answer your question at the end of your post. I guess the succinct yet not totally inclusive answer would be, that the bible teaches that none of us is capable of saving ourselves or making ourselves acceptable to God by our own efforts.

Just as atheism and Christianity are two beliefs which contradict each other. Logically they both can't be right. General concepts of God seem to suggest that one might find a commonality between each religion. However, Christianity seems to have thrown a wrench into the works, through Christ Jesus as part of the equation. Christ is what truly shows the difference between other world religions and Christianity.

If I may. Since you are an atheist I'm curious what it would require for you to believe that Christ Jesus, lived, died on the Cross, arose from the dead and that He did this for the World, which of cause would include both of us? This would suppose that you could allow yourself the assumption that there is a God.
C4E

Something to gnaw on and I pray might help to see where we as Christians in some small part are coming from.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
 
Member
Excellent! I have a book by Adrian Rogers, and his son, called, "What Every Christian Ought to Know", and it starts off with reasons the Bible is true in many different ways. I love learning how scientifically accurate The Bible is, it shows it is truly the Book of Ages.
 
Member
What exactly is christianity presenting that no other religion can present, here?

A God whose actions, though its hard to understand, are rooted in love. Other religions have deities that want to be flattered or appeased in some way.

Suggested reading: The Reason For God by Tim Keller

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)
 
Member
I dont understand. Most religions claim their prophecies have come true, as well. Most religions have miracles and events that are specific to its religion. And the thing i dont understand the most, is that the resurrection was done as the greatest miracle because there were other false prophets around the world doing miracles infront of people, and therefore Jesus had to do the greatest miracle of them all. Meaning that all the claims about how there were many eyewitnesses to these miracles, is meaningless, because this necessarily means that there were many eyewitnesses to many miracles, some done by false prophets, and therefore the truth of this religion doesnt rely on the miracles or their eyewitnesses anymore than the truth of the false prophets claims rely on their miracles. What exactly is christianity presenting that no other religion can present, here?
First, let me speak of the subject of prophecy. If you study carefully enough you would discover that in fact very few, if any other religions, have any prophetic aspect to their faith. Sure, there were such as Nostrodamus and others, but they were individuals claiming to have a certain knowledge and insight into the future. Their prophecies so called are not specific to time or event, but generalisations that can be interpreted to meet many different times and events. The Bible is totally unique in that time and event are specific and exclusive, and also, more than simply 'claiming' to be true, a thorough investigation on your part would reveal that those claims to truth are founded on the rock solid foundation of historical fact.
As for miracles, they are not the basis for faith. Never were, never will be. For the very reason that you mentioned. That there are many false prophets, fales religions, false leaders and they are often accompanied by what can only be described as miracles because they are outside of the natural order of things. So yes, there must be a certain amount of discernment when judging whether miracles are of God, or an enemy. The devil can heal too. And he can manipulate events of nature to make them appear to be 'miraculous.'

So, what does Christianity offer you that no other religion can offer? At this stage I would repeat what I said in an earlier post. It isn't a system of religion that you need. It is a person. A God who became a man that He might die in your place. It isn't therefore what Christianity is offering, it is what Jesus Christ offers you, right here, right now. Forgiveness.
 
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