CHRISTIANITY PART 1 AND 2

THIS LESSON WAS PRESENTED IN TWO SECTIONS. PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS TO ENJOY THIS AUDIO STUDY.

PART 1:

PART 2:


Christianity and World Religions
Galatians 1: 6 – 9
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
We live in a time when we are no more than 24 hours away from any city on the earth. Even in the South we encounter many different cultures and religions, among our neighbors, coworkers and peers in school. The question naturally arises as to whether or not Christianity is unique among world religions, or is it only one of many on a basic theme running through all religions? Does not the sincere Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Jew worship the same God as we do, but under a different name? Or, "Is Jesus Christ the only way to God"?
I. IS THERE ONE TRUTH?
Sincerely believing something does not make it true, as anyone knows who has ever brushed their teeth with Preparation H, or sprayed their hair with deodorant, no matter how sincere or how much faith you have, believing something doesn't make it true any more than failing to believe truth makes it false. Truth is truth, regardless of people's attitude or opinion toward it. In religious matters, the basic question is always, "Is it true?"

A. Genesis 37:32 – 34 Joseph’s brothers sent his coat of many colors soaked in blood back to their old father.
32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Jacob believed his son Joseph was dead, but he was not. Thinking it, accepting it, nor mourning for him did not change the truth that he was alive. Jacob believed with all his heart Joseph was dead.
B. Proverbs 14: 12 Solomon, inspired of God, says man can be wrong even when he thinks he is right.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
C. Isaiah 55: 8 – 9 God tells us our ways and thoughts are not necessarily His. NO, God says they are not His, for his ways and thoughts are higher.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
D. John 14: 6 Jesus told Thomas He was the Truth.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We either believe the Bible as the word of God or we do not. If we do we can come to the knowledge of the truth. If we do not believe the Bible we are without faith and unable to please God. We are lost without hope.
II. THE CONCEPT OF GOD:
Even the fundamental concept of God, on which there is a plea that we should agree, reveals wide division. To say that we can unite with all who believe in God, regardless of what this God is called, fails to recognize that the Bible says there is one God.
A. 1 Corinthians 8: 4 – 6 Paul teaches the brethren at Corinth there is one God to all christians.
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Paul says, But to us, Christians, there is one God.
B. The Hindu Concept of God is the God of pantheism. Pantheism is the belief that God is the world and the world is God'. It is not personal..and is incomplete without creation. He is dependent on the creation for a beginning. But the Bible presents a God distinct and separate from the Creation.
1. Hebrews 1: 10 – 12 The Hebrew writer says God was, and is, and always will be.
Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
God never changes and never fails. The world changes and fails so a world God is not true.
2. Genesis 1: 1 Moses wrote that God was in the beginning.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Hinduism began with man. Man was not in the beginning, so
the true is, God was before Hinduism.
3. Nehemiah 9: 6 Nehemiah the prophet wrote.
6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
4. Acts 17: 25 God is self sufficient.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
God gives everything and needs nothing. What god created by man can say that.
5. Matthew 5: 48 God is also perfect. No other god can say that.
B. THE BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF GOD IS AGNOSTIC: The founder did not believe in God. The 'Buddhist system'..the founder taught neither prayer nor praise; he offered neither redemption, nor forgiveness, nor heaven; he warned of no judgment and no final hell. He refused to speculate on ultimate reality or the First Cause..he was silent regarding any future life. Buddha, contrary to popular belief, never claimed to be deity. In fact, he was agnostic about the whole question of whether God even existed'. This presents a big problem with Hebrews 11:6. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
III. THE CONCEPT OF JESUS THE SON OF GOD.
The deity, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are affirmed by Christianity, this is what Christianity is ultimately based upon. This is the heart and soul of the gospel.
A. Galatians 1:6 - 9 No other gospel is to be preached.
B. The Koran denies Christ is the Son of God. The Koran makes the following statements:
1. “They are infidels, who say, Verily God is Christ the son of Mary”
(pg. 84)
2. “Christ, the son of Mary is no more than an apostle” (pg. 92)
3. “Christians say, Christ is the Son of God. This is their saying in their mouths, they imitate the saying of those who were unbelievers in former times. May God resist them” (pg. 152)
Many did not believe Jesus when he preached. Many did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. This is nothing new. This is the same disbelief the Hindu, Buddhist and orthodox Jew has today. Is it true? No. Unless you disbelieve the truth of the Bible and history its self you cannot believe the Koran. You can not believe the Buddhist.
Do you have faith in God and Christ? If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Will you obey him in baptism for the remission of your sins?
We have looked at the truth today. We have looked at the concept of God in the Bible, the Koran, and Buddhist thinking. We have looked at the concept of Christ by the Hindu. Tonight we will begin here and continue our study. I hope you will be back tonight.
Are you are a Christian, are you living as Christ would have you live? Do you need to return to Christ?
If you’re not a Christian, and you know whether you are today. You know your life. Have you been baptized for the remission of your sins? If not ,Christ has not added you to His church. The righteous are in Christ church. He will call the righteous home to be with him. Are you ready?
Will you come to Jesus?






CHRISTIANITY AND WORLD RELIGION 2
This morning we looked at the truth. Jesus says he is truth. We looked at the different beliefs in the concept of God and Christ. We want to begin again the statement that:
The Koran denies Christ is the Son of God. It calls believers infidels.
It says Christ is just an apostle. It ask God to resist Christians.
C. John 1: 1 – 2 The Bible says Jesus was with God and was God.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Christ who never lied and was known and seen by many reliable people proves the Koran to be false.
1. John 10: 37 – 38 Jesus told the Jews that were going to stone him.
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Jesus escaped that time and all that John said of Jesus was true.


2. Hebrews 1: 6 – 8 The Hebrew writer says of Jesus.
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
It really doesn't matter what one thinks of Muhammad, Buddha or Confucius as individuals. Their followers emphasize their teachings. Not so with Christ. He made Himself the focal point of his teaching.
D. Matthew 16: 15 – 16 Jesus ask his disciples who they thought he was.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus showed himself by how he lived. He did not just talk he did what he taught


.
1. John 8: 23 – 25 Jesus speaking to the Jews in the temple says;
23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
Jesus spoke boldly to them and they ask who he was.
2. Matthew 10: 32 – 33 Jesus says confess me.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
3. Romans 10: 9 – 10 What were they to confess?
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We must confess Jesus Christ as the son of God and believe that God raised him from the dead for us be saved. People say I believe so I am already saved.
4. Romans 6: 3 Paul wrote to be baptized as well as to confess Christ. Ro 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
The Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8: 30 – 39, is an example of one confessing Christ and being baptized.
IV. THE CONCEPT OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST:
A. ACCORDING TO ISLAM:
The Koran denies that Jesus died upon the cross:
"and have said, verily we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God; yet they slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was represented by one in his likeness, and verily they who disagree concerning him were in a doubt as to this matter, and had no sure knowledge thereof, but followed only an uncertain opinion. They did not really kill him" (Koran. pp. 78-79.
B. Matthew 16: 21 Jesus taught his disciples before he was taken.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
C. Luke 24: 46 – 48 Jesus told his disciples ye are witnesses.
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
1. Matthew 9: 13 The Need for a Savior:
Sin for the Hindu, is not the personal moral guilt it is for the Christian. It is a sin, in Hinduism, to call a man a sinner. Did Jesus then sin? For He called people 'sinners'. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.
2. John 8: 24 Jesus said; believe in Him.
Or you will die in your sins.
3. John 8: 34 Jesus said; Whosoever sins is a servant of sin.
Verse 36 If the Son makes you free, you are free.
D. Matthew 16: 21 Jesus taught and showed his disciples how he would suffer, die, and be raised the third day. He did this and was seen by many witnesses.
E. Luke 24: 48 Jesus said they were witnesses of these things.
F. The Hindu denial of Christ death leaves no need to believe in a resurrection.
1. John 5: 28 – 29 Jesus said there would be a resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2. Both the Buddhist and Hindu believe in reincarnation so they reject any form of a resurrection.
Both Hinduism and Buddhism, contain no need for a Saviour, for both are basically a "keep trying until you get it right" salvation system. In both of these religions man is taught to truly save himself; neither religion contains a need for a Savior. How does this compare with
John 3:16? 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.
The truth of the Bible and the consistency of the Bible gives us a plan that can be believed and trusted. We can have faith in God for God has fulfilled all his promises without failing even once. There is no conflict or error found in the Bible. This cannot truly be said of the Koran or any religion man has created.
We make our choice to believe God or man. Many reject God because of false teaching and family tradition. Sadly, many who profess to be Christians will be lost for the same reasons. One cannot obey God through false teaching or family tradition. One must believe and obey God by faith through obedient works. Faith alone will not save no more than works alone will save.
James 2: 14 – 26 teaches that faith and works are needed to obey God.
Do you need to obey God tonight? Will you?