Is Christianity the Only Right Religion?

IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION?

BY DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

ADAPTED FROM HOW CAN I KNOW? ANSWERS TO LIFE’S 7 MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY ROBERT JEFFRESS. Published by Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc., 134 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Brentwood, TN 37027.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Italics added to Scripture quotations reflect the author’s own emphasis. IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

t a recent social with the staff at I have flown I have never experienced a AFirst Baptist Dallas, I recounted situation so serious that it was a matter an email I had just received from of life and death. But I can guarantee American Airlines outlining my you, if ever a pilot came over the traveling statistics over the past year. intercom and ordered me to brace for I have an unusually heavy travel an emergency landing, he would have schedule, compared to the average my undivided attention. And if ever person—just ask my wife, Amy—but I am in a plane crash, with the lights I had no idea that I have become a out and smoke filling the cabin, and a world traveler, not because I often flight attendant waves an emergency go to exotic places but because of the flashlight yelling, “Follow me to the number of miles I clocked. According exit. There’s only one way out,” she to American Airlines, in 2018, I spent won’t have to yell at me twice. And over 100 hours in the air. Think about I suspect that’s the truth for most that—that’s two and a half workweeks people. sitting in a flying tube. And I covered But isn’t it interesting that what so many miles I could have flown we would do without debate or around the earth twice. hesitation in the event of a plane When you travel as much as I do crash—follow the flight attendant to it’s easy to ignore the safety procedures save our temporal lives—we do not flight attendants go through before do when it comes to the salvation of every flight. As some say, “Been there, our eternal lives. The flight attendant done that”—thousands of times. I isn’t considered intolerant in insisting probably could stand up and from that there may be only one way out of memory give the briefing about where a burning jetliner. And you wouldn’t the exits are located, how to operate consider me narrow-minded or bigoted the overhead oxygen mask, and where if I grabbed your hand and persuaded to find your flotation device. I am you to follow me as I follow the flight grateful that in all the hours and miles attendant to that one exit. In fact, you

4 5 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS would thank me for saving your life. uninformed religious people.2 To those And yet, when Christians insist there who do not believe in any God, all is only one way to heaven, we are often religions are simply variations of the tagged with the labels “Intolerant,” same myths. But those who believe “Narrow-minded,” and “Bigoted.” that all religions make the same truth claims are ignorant of the teachings of In my many years of ministry, the major world religions. whether in the pulpit or in public interviews, I am often reminded that In this last group, there are even the single greatest stumbling block many Christians who are confused to saving faith for many people is about the exclusive claims of Christ. the exclusive claim that trust in Jesus A 2008 poll from the Pew Research Christ is the only way to heaven. Center, surveying thirty-five thousand You can explain Christianity with Americans, revealed “57 percent of clear logic and reason, like waving a evangelical church attenders said flashlight in a dark cabin, pointing to they believe that many religions can the one exit available for salvation, but lead to eternal life.”3 Though that many will simply refuse to listen if you poll is dated, trend lines do not show insist that Christianity is the only right improvement, leading me to conclude religion. that a significant number of Christians do not accept the proposition that That has always seemed there is only one right religion. odd—and heartbreaking—to me, because exclusivity should not be a What Makes Christianity controversial position. According to Unique? Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, “Every religion at its core is exclusive.”1 Obviously, any religion or And in the opinion of author Dinesh philosophy or worldview can claim D’Souza, only two groups of people exclusivity—to being the one right allege that all religions are the same: way to truth and eternal life. So, what atheists and well-meaning but makes Christianity unique? How can

6 7 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS we know that Christianity is indeed be more—much more—than that. In the right religion? The answer is found fact, no other philosopher or religious in three distinct areas. leader before or since Jesus has ever made the claims that Jesus made. The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ Jesus claimed to be God. Few historians doubt that Jesus Although many religious leaders and actually existed. Even the deist Thomas philosophers have attempted to point Paine, who believed the Bible was people toward God, none of them have filled with errors and inconsistencies, ever claimed to be God. For example, accepted the historicity of Jesus. the prophet Muhammad, the founder However, Paine embraced the view of Islam, said, “Surely I am no more of Jesus that the majority of non- than a human apostle.”5 Muhammad’s Christians have today: confession is not unique. Moses (the founder of Judaism), Confucius (the He [Jesus Christ] was a virtuous founder of Confucianism), the Buddha and an amiable man. The morality (the founder of Buddhism), Joseph that he preached and practiced Smith (the founder of Mormonism), was of the most benevolent kind; and Leo Tse (the founder of Taoism) and though similar systems of never portrayed themselves to be morality have been preached by anything more than sinful men.6 Confucius, and by some of the Greek philosophers, many years However, Jesus claimed to be equal before; by the Quakers since; and to God Himself. In John 10:30, Jesus by many good men in all ages, it declared, “I and the Father are one.” has not been exceeded by any.4 When Philip begged Jesus to “show us the Father, and it is enough for us” But the problem with believing (John 14:8), Jesus responded to his that Jesus was only a great moral request by saying, “Have I been so teacher like others who preceded and long with you, and yet you have not succeeded Him, is that He claimed to come to know Me, Philip? He who has

8 9 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS seen Me has seen the Father; how can During one of the trials prior to you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (14:9). Jesus’ crucifixion, the Jewish high priest Caiaphas asked Jesus point- Eighty-two times in the Gospels, blank: “Are you the Christ, the Son of Jesus refers to Himself as “the Son of the Blessed One?” (Mark 14:61). Jesus Man.” Many readers wrongly assume answered, “I am” and then He added that this title refers to the humanity of the quote from Daniel 7:13: “and you Christ. However, those Jews who were shall see the Son of Man sitting at the listening to Jesus knew exactly what right hand of Power and coming with He was saying by using that phrase to the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). describe Himself. The Old Testament prophet Daniel used the term “Son Caiaphas and the members of the of Man” to refer to the Messiah who Sanhedrin (the ruling council of the would one day rule over all of the Jews) understood perfectly what Jesus earth: was declaring Himself to be: the long- awaited Son of God. If there is any I kept looking in the night visions, doubt as to what Jesus was claiming and behold, with the clouds of for Himself, notice Caiaphas’ response heaven One like a Son of Man was to Jesus’ words: coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented Tearing his clothes, the high priest before Him. And to Him was given said, “What further need do we dominion, glory and a kingdom, have of witnesses? You have heard that all the peoples, nations and the blasphemy; how does it seem men of every language might to you?” And they all condemned serve Him. His dominion is an Him to be deserving of death. everlasting dominion which will (Mark 14:63–64) not pass away; and His kingdom One more example. In John 8 the is one which will not be destroyed. Jewish religious leaders engaged Jesus (Daniel 7:13–14) in a discussion about His relationship

10 11 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS with Abraham, the revered patriarch ever claimed the ability to forgive of Judaism. Jesus flabbergasted His people of their sins and grant them audience by declaring, “Your father eternal life. For example, the Buddha Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and said, “in reality there are no living he saw it and was glad. . . . Truly, truly, beings to whom the Lord Buddha can I say to you, before Abraham was bring salvation.”7 Yet Jesus believed born, I am” (John 8:56, 58). that He had the authority to forgive people of their sins. If Jesus had only been referring to His eternal existence, He would Mark 2 records a group of disciples have said, “Before Abraham was bringing a paralytic man to Jesus. born, I was.” However, the term “I “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the am” had great significance to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” religious leaders. They knew the word (Mark 2:5). The religious leaders, “I AM” represented the most holy influenced by Jesus’ declaration, asked, name of God (Yahweh) in the Old “Why does this man speak that way? Testament. It was the name God used He is blaspheming; who can forgive for Himself when speaking to Moses sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7). Jesus at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). answered their question with a visual By using the words “I am”, Jesus was demonstration of His authority: not just claiming to be a prophet of “But so that you may know that God or some lesser version of God. the Son of Man has authority on He was declaring that He was God earth to forgive sins”—He said to Himself. The Jewish leaders were so the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, enraged by what they perceived to be pick up your pallet and go home.” Jesus’ blasphemous statement that they And he got up and immediately “picked up stones to throw at Him” picked up the pallet and went out (John 8:59). in the sight of everyone, so that Jesus claimed to forgive sins. No they were all amazed and were other religious leader or philosopher glorifying God, saying, “We have

12 13 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

never seen anything like this.” he who believes in Me will live (Mark 2:10–12) even if he dies” (John 11:25).

Jesus consistently taught that His Jesus claimed to conquer death. Jesus primary purpose in leaving heaven and repeatedly prophesied that His enemies coming into the world was not just to would kill Him but He would rise point people to the path of forgiveness from the dead three days later. from God, but through His death to From that time Jesus began to be the means by which people can be show His disciples that He must forgiven by God. go to Jerusalem, and suffer many • “Just as the Son of Man did not things from the elders and chief come to be served, but to serve, priests and scribes, and be killed, and to give His life as a ransom for and be raised up on the third day. many” (Matthew 20:28). (Matthew 16:21)

• “For the Son of Man has come to And Jesus said to them, “You will seek and to save that which was all fall away, because it is written, lost” (Luke 19:10). ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ • “As Moses lifted up the serpent But after I have been raised, I in the wilderness, even so must will go ahead of you to Galilee.” the Son of Man be lifted up; (Mark 14:27–28) so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God Furthermore, Jesus taught that His so loved the world, that He gave resurrection from the dead would be His only begotten Son, that the signal proof that He was the Son of whoever believes in Him shall God. not perish, but have eternal life” Then some of the scribes and (John 3:14–16). Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, • “I am the resurrection and the life; we want to see a sign from You.”

14 15 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

But He answered and said to priests and the Pharisees gathered them, “An evil and adulterous together with Pilate, and said, generation craves for a sign; and “Sir, we remember that when He yet no sign will be given to it but was still alive that deceiver said, the sign of Jonah the prophet; ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ for just as Jonah was three days Therefore, give orders for the grave and three nights in the belly of to be made secure until the third the sea monster, so will the Son day, otherwise His disciples may of Man be three days and three come and steal Him away and say nights in the heart of the earth.” to the people, ‘He is risen from (Matthew 12:38–40) the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” In other words, just as Jonah (Matthew 27:62–64) remained in the belly of the great fish only three days and nights, Jesus was Pilate acquiesced to their request to predicting that His stay in the grave provide a guard unit because he, too, would be only temporary. If you think understood the severe ramifications of that it is too much of a stretch to read an empty tomb. Neither Pilate nor the a resurrection into Jesus’ above words, religious leaders actually believed Jesus remember that Jesus’ enemies clearly could conquer death, but they knew He understood what He was predicting. had unequivocally claimed He would. On the Saturday after Christ’s If the disciples faked Jesus’ crucifixion, the Jewish religious leaders resurrection by stealing His body, met with the Roman procurator Pilate and the Jewish leaders knew Pontius Pilate requesting help to what would happen next. All of Jesus’ secure Jesus’ tomb. Why were they so followers would boast that He had desperate to make sure Jesus’ tomb was fulfilled His own prophecy about the sealed and guarded? resurrection, which would prove Him Now on the next day, the day to be the long-awaited Son of God. after the preparation, the chief The Roman procurator and the Jewish

16 17 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS religious leaders were determined to in His glory, and all the angels make sure that didn’t happen. with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations Of course, Jesus’ resurrection did will be gathered before Him; and happen and is proved by a mountain He will separate them from one of evidence.8 What is relevant to another, as the shepherd separates our current discussion is how Jesus’ the sheep from the goats; and prophesied and actualized resurrection He will put the sheep on His differentiates Him from any other right, and the goats on the left.” religious leader or philosopher. No (Matthew 25:31–33) other religious leader or philosopher died in public, was buried in a guarded “Do not marvel at this; for an hour tomb, and rose again from the dead. is coming, in which all who are in And even if you are not sure that the tombs will hear His voice, and such a resurrection actually occurred, will come forth; those who did understand that no religious leader the good deeds to a resurrection or philosopher even claimed he could of life, those who committed the conquer death, again demonstrating evil deeds to a resurrection of Jesus Christ’s uniqueness. judgment.” (John 5:28–29)

Jesus claimed he would return to Here is another notable distinction judge the world. Jesus also taught between Jesus and other religious His followers that He would one leaders. Some other faiths teach day return to the earth to reward that worshipping the founder’s the righteous and to judge the god or obeying the founder’s unrighteous. No other religious leader edicts determines a person’s eternal or philosopher made such a grandiose destination. But Jesus taught that claim. But Jesus did—frequently. In people’s eternal destiny depended upon reference to Himself, Jesus said: their acceptance or rejection of Jesus Himself as the Son of God. “But when the Son of Man comes

18 19 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

“For God did not send the Son Christ’s identity, brilliantly into the world to judge the world, summarized by C. S. Lewis: but that the world might be saved I am trying here to prevent through Him. He who believes anyone saying the really foolish in Him is not judged; he who thing that people often say about does not believe has been judged Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus already, because he has not believed as a great moral teacher, but I in the name of the only begotten don’t accept his claim to be God.” Son of God.” (John 3:17–18) That is the one thing we must “Therefore I said to you that you not say. A man who was merely will die in your sins; for unless a man and said the sort of things you believe that I am He, you will Jesus said would not be a great die in your sins.” (John 8:24) moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with In his book The World’s Living the man who says he is a poached Religions, Robert Hume notes that all egg—or else he would be the nine founders of the most popular Devil of Hell. You must make non-Christian religions went through your choice. Either this man was, a period of uncertainty of their own and is, the Son of God: or else identity or searching for spiritual light. a madman or something worse. But beginning at age twelve, Jesus You can shut him up for a fool, evidenced a clear understanding of His you can spit at him and kill him identity and His life mission. Instead of as a demon; or you can fall at his searching for spiritual light like other feet and call him Lord and God. leaders, Jesus claimed to be the Light of But let us not come with any the World Himself (John 8:12). patronizing nonsense about his These unique claims of Jesus being a great human teacher. He present what some have termed a has not left that open to us. He “trilemma” for people regarding did not intend to.9

20 21 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

The Teaching of Jesus Christ destination. Jesus warned:

If you are not ready to label Jesus as a “Enter through the narrow gate; lunatic or a liar, then the only other for the gate is wide and the way possibility is that He was who He is broad that leads to destruction, claimed to be: God in the flesh. If we and there are many who enter conclude that Jesus is God, then we through it. For the gate is small must also believe that everything Jesus and the way is narrow that leads said is true since God is incapable of to life, and there are few who deception (James 1:17; Hebrews 6:18). find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14) So, the natural question would be, did Carefully consider how different Jesus believe there are multiple paths Jesus’ words are from the popular idea to God? If Jesus is truly God, then He that everyone is on the same path, en is obviously the most qualified Person route to the same spiritual destination, in history to answer that question. or the notion that various religions What did Jesus have to say about this represent different paths up the same issue of exclusivity? mountain of truth. According to First, Jesus believed and taught Jesus, there are only two spiritual that there are two possible eternal paths: one leading to eternal life and destinations for people after they die: another leading to eternal destruction. heaven and hell. He said, “These [the Alarming, among the “many” who are unrighteous] will go away into eternal on the wide road leading to hell are punishment, but the righteous into religious people—some of whom claim eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). to be followers of Christ.

Not only did Jesus teach that there “Not everyone who says to are two possible destinations for people Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the when they die, but Jesus also observed kingdom of heaven, but he who that the majority of humanity chooses does the will of My Father who the wrong path that leads to the wrong is in heaven will enter. Many will

22 23 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, who sent Me, has eternal life, and does Lord, did we not prophesy in not come into judgment, but has passed Your name, and in Your name out of death into life” (John 5:24). cast out demons, and in Your Sincere followers of other religions are name perform many miracles?’ not exempt from the requirement to And then I will declare to trust in Christ alone for salvation. them, ‘I never knew you; depart I don’t think it is accidental that from Me, you who practice Jesus chose to give His most detailed lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21–23) explanation about how to enter into Finally, Jesus believed that He heaven to a devout Jew rather than offered the exclusive way for people to a hardened atheist. Nicodemus is to escape the horrors of hell and described as a “ruler of the Jews” (John experience eternal life. When people 3:1), meaning that he was a member of accuse me of intolerance for suggesting the elite group of elders in Israel known that faith in Jesus Christ is the only as the Sanhedrin. He had spent his way to experience heaven, I remind life trying to obey the Mosaic Law in them that I am simply voicing what order to please the one true God. If any the Founder of our faith, Jesus, said: religious belief system could have been “I am the way, and the truth, and the an acceptable, alternate path leading to life; no one comes to the Father but God, it should have been Judaism. through Me” (John 14:6). I’ve never Yet Jesus said even Judaism was had anyone offer an effective rebuttal incapable of offering eternal life to to Jesus’ words—because there is none. Nicodemus. In order to experience He could not have been clearer. eternal life, Nicodemus had to be As we have seen, Jesus taught that a “born again” (John 3:3). Jesus then person’s eternal destiny depends on his explained the only means by which a decision to embrace or reject Christ’s person could be spiritually reborn: salvation: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he “As Moses lifted up the serpent who hears My word, and believes Him

24 25 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

in the wilderness, even so must In great anguish Jesus cried out, the Son of Man be lifted up; so “Father, if You are willing, remove that whoever believes will in Him this cup from Me; yet not My will, have eternal life. For God so loved but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). But the world, that He gave His only heaven was silent. God provided no begotten son, that whoever believes other way to absolve humanity of sin, in Him shall not perish, but have because there was no other way. That is eternal life.” (John 3:14–16) why Jesus insisted that He offered not just one path to God but the only path Some people argue that Jesus’ to God. death on the cross provides salvation for everyone, including those who The Teaching of the New Testament embrace different religions. Yet notice the repetition in these verses of the My friend Josh McDowell imagines phrase “whoever believes.” Jesus a group of people traveling into a never separated eternal salvation from dense forest. As they get deeper into personal belief. the forest they realize that they are lost. The group becomes fearful, A few years ago I took a group to understanding that their mistake the Holy Land. Many who have made may cost them their lives. However, that journey will say that one of the as they peer into the distance, they most moving experiences is to sit in see a fork in the trail and two human the Garden of Gethsemane and pray, forms at the fork in the road. The just as Jesus did immediately before group runs toward these two people. His arrest and crucifixion. He pleaded When they arrive, they notice that with God to allow Him to escape one has on a park uniform and is the horror of bearing the sins of the standing there perfectly healthy and entire world and thereby experience alive. The other person is lying face- something He had never experienced down, dead. Which person would for one second of eternity past: you ask for directions to get out of the separation from His heavenly Father.

26 27 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS forest? Obviously, the one who is alive! that Jesus Christ claimed He was the McDowell writes, “When it comes to only way to find salvation. “And Jesus eternal matters, we are going to ask was not a Southern Baptist evangelist, the one who is alive the way out of the but a Jewish rabbi,” I reminded my predicament. This is not Mohammed, friend. In addition to Jesus, other not Confucius, but Jesus Christ. Jesus devout followers of Judaism suddenly is unique. He came back from the changed their belief system, embraced dead.”10 Christianity, and proclaimed that faith in Christ was the only path leading Jesus’ clear teaching that He to salvation. The apostle Paul was a provides the only way to heaven self-described “Hebrew of Hebrews” should be enough to settle the issue (Philippians 3:5) and a Pharisee, the of exclusivity since He is the only strictest sect of Judaism, known for religious leader who has conquered its observance of the Mosaic Law. the problem of death. However, the Paul’s zeal for his Jewish faith led him New Testament writers affirm—both to devote his life to stamping out the by teaching and illustrations—Jesus’ heresy claiming that Jesus of Nazareth declaration that faith in Him is the was the long-awaited Messiah. only means by which to escape eternal death. But while on his way to arrest a group of Christians in Damascus, Paul Recently, I was talking with a encountered the resurrected Jesus (Acts Jewish businessman in our city who 9) and was suddenly transformed from laughed and said, “I’m surprised the greatest antagonist of Christianity you are even talking with me since to the greatest evangelist for the you Baptists think all of us Jews are Christian faith. After his experience going to hell because we don’t accept with Christ, Paul longed to see his Jesus.” Smiling, I responded, “Well, fellow Jews also embrace Christ as we got that idea from the Jews!” His Savior. In his letter to the Christians in demeanor changed as he asked, “What Rome, Paul writes: do you mean?” I went on to explain

28 29 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

Brethren, my heart’s desire and group of other disciples for preaching my prayer to God for them that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and [Israel] is for their salvation. . . for healing a lame man by invoking For not knowing about God’s the name of Jesus. “By what power, or righteousness and seeking to in what name, have you done this?” establish their own, they did the religious leaders demanded to not subject themselves to the know (Acts 4:7). righteousness of God. For Peter didn’t waver in his response: Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who “Let it be known to all of you believes. (Romans 10:1, 3–4) and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Paul clearly believed that Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you Christ was the only hope of salvation crucified, whom God raised from for all humanity, including his own the dead—by this name this man people the Israelites. And he wasn’t stands here before you in good timid about making such a claim. “For health.” (Acts 4:10) I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to Peter could have qualified his everyone who believes, to the Jew first statement by saying, “For this lame and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). man, Jesus was the source of healing, but followers of other religions might Similarly, the apostle Peter had call on a different name.” But political been a devout follower of Judaism correctness was not a concern for Peter. until he became a disciple of Jesus Instead, the apostle made it clear that Christ. After Christ’s resurrection faith in Jesus Christ provided the only and ascension into heaven, Peter was means by which a person can escape willing to experience imprisonment, the wrath of God. beatings, and ultimately execution for his faith in Christ. On one occasion, “There is salvation in no one the Jewish leaders arrested Peter and a else; for there is no other name

30 31 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

under heaven that has been given the poor. And if those actions were among men by which we must not sufficient to merit entrance into be saved.” (Acts 4:12) heaven, Luke records that God actually communicated to Cornelius in a vision Think about it. The three (Acts 10:3). most prominent Jews in the New Testament—Jesus, the apostle Paul, But the message God communicated and the apostle Peter—declared to Cornelius was that his worship that no other religion (including of God and righteous deeds were Judaism) offered a road to heaven. insufficient for his salvation. Instead, Instead, the consistent message of the God commanded Cornelius to send New Testament is that every person, for the apostle Peter, who would regardless of his religious faith, is communicate to the Roman centurion required to exercise personal faith in the message he needed to embrace in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. order to be saved. God orchestrated a series of miraculous events to bring One of the greatest illustrations Peter to Cornelius (not least of which of the exclusivity of Christianity is was convincing Peter that non-Jews the conversion of a Roman centurion can be saved). When Peter finally met named Cornelius. Luke describes Cornelius, he wasted no time in telling Cornelius as “a devout man and him the details of Jesus’ life, death, one who feared God with all his and resurrection from the dead. In the household, and gave many alms to climax of his message to Cornelius, the Jewish people and prayed to God Peter declared: continually” (Acts 10:2). Cornelius met all the criteria that the majority “He [Jesus] ordered us to preach of people today believe qualify a to the people, and solemnly to person for heaven: he believed in testify that this is the One who God, he prayed to God regularly, and has been appointed by God as he possessed a healthy fear of God Judge of the living and the dead. that motivated him to give money to Of Him all the prophets bear

32 33 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

witness that through His name to believe that all the other religions everyone who believes in Him are simply wrong all through. . . . If receives forgiveness of sins.” you are a Christian, you are free to (Acts 10:42–43) think that all these religions, even the queerest ones, contain at least some Cornelius and those living in his hint of the truth.”11 One of these house embraced the message of Jesus truths about which many of the world Christ and were saved and baptized religions agree is that we are riddled that day (10:44–48). I am often asked with selfish and destructive desires by people, “What about those who that lead men and women away from have never heard the gospel of Jesus experiencing happiness in this life or in Christ? Do you really believe God the afterlife (if that particular religion is going to send them to hell?” This happens to believe in one). story of Cornelius reminds us that when God sees someone who truly However, all the major world wants a relationship with Himself, He religions, except for Christianity, posit will move heaven and earth to make that the solution to our dilemma sure that person hears the message of begins with each of us. For Eastern Jesus Christ. However, this story also religions such as Hinduism and illustrates the truth that a person must Buddhism, meditation is a solution hear and embrace the specific message that allows men and women to of Jesus Christ in order to receive the confront and conquer those destructive forgiveness of his or her sins. desires. Islam and Judaism are similar in that they require us to keep The Unique Solution to Our prescribed laws and follow religious Dilemma rituals to appease their respective deities. Although Islam and Judaism All religions are not all wrong. C.S. have different laws and rituals, found Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, “If in different religious books, in order you are a Christian you do not have to satisfy two different deities, they

34 35 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS both teach the importance of human Furthermore, Christianity does effort to satisfy their respective deity’s not allow for selective obedience to requirements. God’s requirements, as Paul reminds the Galatians who were trying to merit The impossibility of fulfilling eternal life by keeping the law: the multitude of requirements each religion demands has led many For as many as are of the works followers to give up on complete of the Law are under a curse; for obedience to their religions’ standards. it is written, “Cursed is everyone Reformed Jews and Muslims select who does not abide by all things those laws and rituals from their written in the book of the law, to respective faiths they think are perform them.” (Galatians 3:10) reasonable and possible to keep, and Remember when you were in discard the rest. Perhaps they are school and loved those classes that hoping that God grades on a curve. were “pass/fail”? As long as you met Like many other religions, the minimum requirements of the Christianity also teaches that our basic class, you were immune from the problem is internal. But the diagnosis pressure of striving for a better grade. of our affliction is much more serious The Bible has some good news and than other religions would have people bad news for all of us when it comes to believe. At the root of our problem our eternal destiny. The good news is is rebellion against our Creator. The that God utilizes the “pass/fail” system Bible labels our innate hatred of God when judging us. as “sin.” Because we are infected with But the bad news is that if in a this spiritual virus, we are incapable moment of weakness we fail to keep of keeping all or even most of God’s just one of God’s requirements, it is requirements. “For all have sinned and as if we have failed to keep any of fall short of the glory of God,” Paul God’s requirements. James wrote, “For declares in Romans 3:23. whoever keeps the whole law and yet

36 37 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS stumbles in one point, he has become apostle Paul explained the greatest guilty of all” (James 2:10). The penalty exchange in history this way: for such a failure is eternal separation [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] from God. In demanding absolute who knew no sin to be sin on our perfection, the God of the Bible behalf, so that we might become raises the performance requirements the righteousness of God in Him. above that of any other religion or (2 Corinthians 5:21) philosophy. God offers to forgive us of every Our natural reaction to such a failure to keep His laws on the basis demand is, “No one can measure up of what Christ has done for us, not to that kind of standard!” Exactly. what we have done for Him. Unlike Although some of us have failed to every other religion in the world, keep more of God’s requirements than Christianity does not require that we others, we nevertheless have all failed earn God’s favor in exchange for His and are deserving of God’s retribution. forgiveness. It doesn’t even allow for us We are in a helpless and hopeless to try. situation from which we cannot escape. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of But a loving God was able to yourselves, it is the gift of God; do for us what we could never have not as a result of works, so that no done for ourselves. He formulated one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9) a plan by which He would endure the punishment we deserve for our Many years ago, during a British transgressions so that we might conference on world religions, experts experience an eternity in heaven with were discussing the similarities and Him. When Jesus Christ died on that contrasts between the most popular wooden cross two thousand years ago, faiths. Was there any concept truly He offered to take our sin so that we unique to Christianity? During the could receive His righteousness. The heated debate, C. S. Lewis walked

38 39 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS into the room. “What’s the rumpus “work.” Only Christianity answers, about?” the famous scholar asked. “grace.” They explained they were discussing if there was anything unique about the What Is Your Conclusion? Christian faith. “Oh, that’s easy,” Lewis You have heard my argument for replied. “It’s grace.”12 why you can know that Christianity Every other religion has a long list is the only right religion. But if all I of to-dos in order to merit whatever have done in this small booklet is to prize it may be offering. Only convince you intellectually, then I Christianity says that there are no to- have failed. Coming to the conclusion dos because everything required for us that Christianity is the right religion to receive God’s forgiveness of our sins is more than merely believing it as has been done by God Himself. All we an academic exercise, like believing must do is receive the gift that God that George Washington was the offers. Again, quoting Lewis: “Christ first President of the United States. offers us something for nothing. He It’s important, but not necessarily even offers everything for nothing. In a life-changing. But the very heart of sense the whole Christian life consists Christianity being the right religion in accepting that very remarkable is that it is life-changing—that it will offer.”13 lead to the forgiveness of your sins and to eternal life. The apostle John And perhaps that is the strongest was clear about this when he said argument for Christianity being the that the purpose of his gospel—his right religion. Christianity provides argument for the Christian faith— an exclusive answer to our greatest was about an eternal life-change. dilemma, expressed by Job when he John wrote: “These [things] have asked, “How can a man be in the right been written so that you may believe before God?” (Job 9:2). Every other that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of religion answers that question with God; and that believing you may

40 41 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS have life in His name” (John 20:31). Dear God, He restated the same purpose in Thank you for loving me. I know another letter: “These things I have that I have sinned. And I’m truly written to you who believe in the sorry for the bad things I’ve done. name of the Son of God, so that you But I believe that you sent Jesus to may know that you have eternal life” die on the cross for my sins. Right (1 John 5:13). now, I’m trusting in Jesus and what So, this is a good time to pause and He did for me to save me from my ask: What is your conclusion about sins. Thank you for forgiving me. the uniqueness of Christianity? What Please help me live the rest of my life do you really believe? All of heaven obeying you. In Jesus’ name I pray. is waiting for your answer, because Amen. your eternal destination hangs in the If you prayed that prayer you have balance. done the right thing, and I praise God Perhaps you are ready to concede with you for the eternal life that is now that Christianity is the right religion yours. I encourage you to start reading and that conclusion requires you God’s Word, making it a habit to speak to open your heart to receive God’s with God through prayer, and getting forgiveness through His Son, Jesus involved in a church that faithfully Christ. If so, I invite you to pray this teaches the Bible. As the days pass and prayer to God. you learn more about the Christian faith, I know you will become even There’s nothing magic about more convinced that Christianity is the the words. They are merely a way to only right religion. express your trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus as the only means to pay for your sin and receive God’s forgiveness.

42 43 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

ENDNOTES

1. Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: 9. C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (San The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001), 52. (Nashville: Word, 2000), 7. 10. Josh McDowell and Don Steward, “How 2. See Dinesh D’Souza, What’s So Great About Can You Say That Jesus Is the Only Way to Christianity (Washington, DC: Regnery Get to God?” Discipleship Journal, March/ Publishing, 2007), 278. April 1997, 49.

3. Randy Alcorn, If God Is Good (Colorado 11. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 35. Springs, CO: Multnomah, 2009), 219. 12. C. S. Lewis as quoted in Philip Yancey, 4. Thomas Pain,The Age of Reason, in The What’s So Amazing About Grace? (Grand Works of Thomas Paine: A Hero in the Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), 45. American Revolution (Philadelphia: Moss Brothers & Co, 1858), 9. 13. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 147.

5. Sura, “The Night Journey,” in N. J. Dawood, trans. The Qur’an (Baltimore, MD: Penguin, 1972), 235.

6. See The Portable World Bible: A Comprehensive Selection from the Eight Great Sacred Scriptures of the World, ed. Robert O. Ballou (New York: The Viking Press, 1968), 134, 147, 151.

7. Buddha, as quoted in John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Handbook of Biblical Evidence: The Fact on Jesus, Creation, the Bible (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1997), 52.

8. See Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, Evidences That Demands a Verdict: Life- Changing Truth for a Skeptical World (New York: HarperCollins, 2017); and Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998).

44 45 IT’S OKAY TO HAVE QUESTIONS. BUT YOU NEED ANSWERS YOU CAN TRUST.

If we are honest, every one of us has questions about our faith. We ask ourselves things like: • Is the Bible true? • Why does God allow suffering? • Am I truly forgiven? • Will I really go to heaven when I die?

Dr. Jeffress answers these and other challenging questions facing Christians today. Drawing upon the best research available, How Can I Know presents logical and concise responses that anyone can understand and easily share VISIT PTV.ORG TO with others. In an age of information overload, simplicity is essential. Every REQUEST YOUR chapter is filled with illustrations and COPY TODAY! application that will appeal to the average reader, giving them a renewed hope and reassurance of their faith.

46 47 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS Dr. Jeffress is the author of 23 books is Senior Pastor of the 13,000-member including When Forgiveness Doesn’t First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas and Make Sense, Perfect Ending, a Fox News Contributor. He is also an Countdown to the Apocalypse, Not adjunct professor at Dallas Theological All Roads Lead To Heaven, A Place Seminary. Dr. Jeffress has made more Called Heaven, and Choosing The than 2,000 guest appearances on Extraordinary Life. Dr. Jeffress led various radio and television programs his congregation in the completion and regularly appears on major of a $135 million re-creation of its mainstream media outlets, such as Fox downtown campus. The project is the News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” largest in modern church history and “Hannity,” “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” and serves as a “spiritual oasis” covering six “Judge Jeanine,” as well as ABC’s “Good blocks of downtown Dallas. Dr. Jeffress Morning America,” and HBO’s “Real graduated from Southwestern Baptist Time with Bill Maher.” Theological Seminary with a D.Min., a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Dr. Jeffress hosts a daily radio program, Seminary, and a B.S. degree from Baylor Pathway to Victory, that is heard University. nationwide on over 900 stations in major markets such as New York City, In May 2010, he was awarded a Doctor Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, of Divinity degree from Dallas Baptist D.C., Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, University. In June 2011, Dr. Jeffress Portland, Denver and Seattle. His received the Distinguished Alumnus weekly television program can be seen in of the Year award from Southwestern 195 countries and on 11,283 cable and Baptist Theological Seminary. satellite systems throughout the world, Dr. Jeffress and his wife Amy have two including India, and on the Trinity daughters, Julia and Dorothy, and a Broadcasting Network, Daystar and son-in-law, Ryan Sadler as well as three The American Forces Network. grandchildren.

48 49 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS

50 51 IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY RIGHT RELIGION? DR. ROBERT JEFFRESS is Senior Pastor of the 13,000-member First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, and a Fox News Contributor. He is also an adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Jeffress has made more than 2,000 guest appearances on various radio and television programs and regularly appears on major mainstream media outlets, such as Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” “Hannity,” “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” “Varney & Co.,” and “Judge Jeanine,” as well as ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Dr. Jeffress hostsPathway to Victory, a daily radio program that is heard nationwide on over 900 stations in major markets such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

His weekly television program can be seen in 195 countries and on 11,295 cable and satellite systems throughout the world, including India, and on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Daystar and The American Forces Network.

PO Box 223609 | Dallas, TX 75222 214.969.2400 | ptv.org

BKICORRIND52