Why Are There So Many Religions?

Why are there so many religions? Why do people worship many different gods? Is it possible that all religions lead to the same God or the same destination after we die?
To answer these questions we need to go back to the beginning of creation.

Before Religions Began
In Genesis Chapter 1 & 2, God created the heavens and the earth. He created the first man and the first woman (Adam & Eve) and God saw that all He had created was good (Genesis 1:31).
In all of God’s creation, it was only mankind who was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and man had the unique purpose given by God to subdue and have dominion over the earth.
Therefore since man was made in the image of God, it also means that man was created to have a unique relationship with God that was different from the rest of His creation. Of all the creatures that God had created, man is the only creation whom God breathed into and gave the “breath of life”.
Genesis 2:7 says “Then the Lord God formed man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature”.

So from the beginning, man was uniquely created to have a personal relationship with God because mankind was created in God’s image; God gave man a special purpose in the earth; God communicated with man and man communicated with God; God instructed man, and man was supposed to obey.

However in Genesis 3:1-24 everything goes wrong on the earth. Man disobeys God by eating from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and as a result of man’s sin and disobedience, there are 3 major things that changed in the life of mankind:

1. Man’s relationship with God changes (Genesis 3:9-11).
2. Man’s relationship with each other changes (Genesis 3:12)
3. Man’s relationship with the earth also changes (Genesis 3:17-19)

Therefore it is the problem of sin that affected everything that we know today. Mankind’s ability to perfectly relate with God and fulfill his purpose was affected because of sin.
Man’s ability to harmoniously relate with each other was also negatively affected as a result of sin.
Also because of sin – mankind has tried to directly or indirectly find meaning, purpose and a relationship with his/her Creator.

Why Are There So Many Religions?
It’s vital to understand this important aspect: Before sin existed, there was NO religion – there was ONLY relationship. Instead of religion – man had a relationship with God and that was it.
Therefore many religions exist because of the sin that exists in the world.
Religion is man’s attempt to seek God or seek a relationship with God. Religion is man’s attempt to seek meaning and purpose in life. Religion is man’s attempt to relate better with others and with the earth.
However – religion is man-made. Religion is man’s effort. This is why many religions exist and why there are many different gods that are worshipped.
Different religions will exalt different gods and different religions have different philosophies and beliefs. Many people have tried to discover their own way to seek God through their own ideas.

Is Christianity A Religion?
While religion is man’s attempt to seek God – Christianity is about God’s plan to reconcile with man.
Christianity is about God taking the form of man through Jesus Christ to die on the Cross and pay for the sins of the world.
Man cannot deal with the problem of sin by his own effort and man cannot pay for his own sins.
Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Therefore all of mankind has sinned because of the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12).
If the problem of sin is not dealt with – this will result in eternal spiritual separation from God because a just and Holy God cannot accept sin.
Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Therefore, whilst the wages of sin is death (eternal spiritual separation from God) – God in His love and grace offers salvation as a gift because of Christ’s death on the Cross who paid for the sins of man so that man can be redeemed and avoid hell.

John 3:16-17 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him”
Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus dealt with the issue of man’s sin through His crucifixion on the Cross. Therefore man’s salvation is not based on his own effort or religion – but man’s salvation is based on Jesus’ payment for sins on the Cross.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Many religions will emphasize man’s work and man’s effort to save himself. However Christianity emphasizes the love and grace of God and that God offers salvation to mankind as a gift of God.
Therefore salvation is obtained through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
True salvation is the result of the work of God through Jesus Christ. However for many religions – salvation is through man’s fruitless effort to seek God.
So whilst many religions may exist, God offers mankind a relationship for ALL sinners or for ALL mankind through believing and accepting Jesus Christ so that we may reconcile to a right relationship with God. There is only one way to Heaven and to God – it’s through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or TRUSTING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
Today I repent and have decided to follow you. Thank you for forgiving all my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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