There is no question that the world’s religions have many similarities. For example, most religions recognize there is Ultimate Reality; many religions acknowledge that humans are sinful. And all religions explain what must be done if an individual wishes to avoid punishment and achieve some kind of eternal peace.
However, there is at least one great difference between the religions of the world. Christianity is unique in saying that God has sacrificed His Son as a heaven-sent substitute to save humanity from sin and death. Every other religion of the world says their people have to do something—a lot of somethings—to reach God or work off their sins. Sadly, those religions can never tell their faithful when they’ve done enough to finish the job.
In contrast, Christianity, having acknowledged humankind’s inability to save itself, proudly proclaims Jesus has done the job for us. To assure us of salvation Jesus came into this world, fulfilled the law we’ve broken, resisted the temptations which trapped us and even defeated death. It is a difference that makes all the difference.
Check the Book
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (The Bible, Ephesians 2: 8).
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth… And they made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, and there was no deceit in His mouth” (The Bible, Isaiah 53: 4-9, excerpts).
