12/2/09

How is Christianity Any Different Than Other Religions?

How is Christianity Any Different Than Other Religions?
By Steven Halter
Staff Writer

CBN.com – A crucial distinctive about Christianity is that God cared enough about humankind to reach down and compassionately provide a way for us to be in a right relationship with Him. In other religions, people vainly attempt to reach God and earn their own salvation by doing good deeds and by refraining from bad behavior.

The problem for those people is that no one can ever be good enough to earn his own salvation. In other words, no one can ever reach God through his own efforts. That is why God made a way for us by sending His Son Jesus to live a holy and sinless life and suffer the payment for our sins. In this way, if we believe in Jesus and choose to follow Him, we are forgiven by God and given new life.

Another critical difference is that in Christianity people can truly have genuine assurance of their salvation. They can be certain that they are going to heaven because their salvation is anchored in what Jesus already did for them. As a result, Christians have peace in their hearts about where they will go when their lives on earth are finished.

In other faiths, people cannot be assured that they will go to heaven because they can never know if they have done enough good works to earn God’s favor or forgiveness. They have to continually try to earn their salvation—even until their last day and dying breath. They cannot experience the restful assurance that God gives those who trust in Jesus Christ.

Do You Want a Relationship with God?

If you want this kind of relationship with God, pray this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you took the pain of the cross to give me new life. I ask you to come into my life and to give me your peace and joy. I confess that I am a sinner -- that I have gone my own way and have done wrong. Please forgive me for my sins. I receive you now as my Lord and Savior. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow you and to serve you all my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, you are now a child of God. The things of your old life have passed away and He has made all things new.

We want to join you in celebrating your new life. Please send us an e-mail to let us know that you prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior. Or you can call our Prayer Counseling Center at (800) 759-0700. A caring friend is available to talk with you and send you some resources to help you begin your walk with the Lord.

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/churchandministry/evangelism/Halter_ChristianityDifferent.aspx?option=print

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

sorry, that's christianity narrative, not the bible because no where in the bible it lays out the plan of salvation in those exact words or explicitly states that that is the rationale or sequence of redemption.

Rad for Jesus said...

F Is For Forgiveness - Everyone has sinned and needs God's forgiveness (Romans 3:23); God's forgiveness is in Jesus only (Ephesians 1:7)

A Is For Available - God's forgiveness is available for all (John 3:16); But God's forgiveness is not automatic (Matthew 7:21).

I Is For Impossible - According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to Heaven on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9); So how can a sinful person have eternal life and enter Heaven?

T Is For Turn - If you were going down the road and someone asked you to turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? (Change direction); Turn means to repent (being sorry enough to not want to do it again and being committed to that); Turn away from sin and self (Luke 13:3); Turn to Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord (John 14:6); Here is the greatest news of all (Romans 10:9-10); What happens if a person is willing to repent of their sins and confess Christ?

H Is For Heaven - Heaven is a place where we will live with God forever (John 14:3); Eternal life begins now with Jesus (John 10:10)

H can also stand for how...How can a person have God's forgiveness, eternal life and Heaven? The Biblical answer is: repenting of your sins and trusting in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Trust in what He did and not on your own works. Good works comes as a result of your faith in God, not in order to get to Heaven. You can't save yourself. Only Jesus and what He did for us (by dying on the cross and rising from the dead) can save us. Make the commitment for Christ today. Don't push it off. He will meet you where you are at in life. He will take care of the rest. He loves you and wants you to be with Him forever.