Muslim, Buddhist, or Catholic. But when we stand before God on
Judgment Day, each person must give account for himself—whether he
believed in God's truth. But among so many religions, what is the
truth? "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).
True Christians are followers of Jesus. How could Jesus claim to be
the one and only way to God the Father? Let's find out in the
Scripture, the Bible.
Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
The Bible records how Jesus fulfilled prophecy when He was born to the
virgin Mary. He grew up unique from any other human because He never
sinned (1 Peter 2:22). Crowds flocked to hear His teaching and marvel
at His miracles. Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and walked on
water.
Of all people, Jesus did not deserve to die. Yet Jesus prophesied that
He would be crucified and raised from the dead (Matthew 20:18-19). His
words came to pass. Soldiers beat Jesus and put a crown of thorns on
His head; people mocked and spit on Him; nails pierced His hands and
feet into a wooden cross. Jesus had the power to save Himself, but He
gave Himself, willingly dying on the cross (John 19:30). Three days
later, Jesus rose from the grave!
Why the cross?
As a Muslim, you may ask, "Why would Allah allow His Prophet Isa to be
mistreated and killed?" Jesus' death was essential because . . .
• Every person is a sinner: "For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Whether dishonoring parents, telling a
lie, failing to love God best, or disbelieving God's Word, we each
have sinned against the holy God.
• The punishment for sin is death: "For the wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23a). God pours out His wrath against unbelieving sinners by
separating them forever in hell (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9). As the just
Judge, God will not overlook sin.
• We cannot save ourselves by good works: "For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This
is a key difference between Christianity and Islam. Islam teaches that
a person can earn paradise by keeping the Five Pillars. Even if
possible to outweigh bad deeds with good deeds, the Bible teaches that
"all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6b). Even one
single sin makes a person guilty of breaking all God's law (James
2:10). Sinful humans can do nothing to merit heaven.
• God sacrificed His Son for sinners: "For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God knew mankind's sin kept
them from heaven. God knew the only way the sin debt could be paid was
by a perfect One paying the price of death. God knew He alone could
pay such an infinite price. So God's eternal plan was to send His Son
Jesus to die in the believing sinner's place.
Becoming a Christian
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31b).
As a Muslim, you may say, "Oh, I believe in Jesus. I believe Isa was a
true teacher, a great prophet, and a good man."
But you cannot say Jesus was a true teacher and yet deny His teaching
that He is the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6). You cannot
believe Jesus was a great prophet and yet reject His prophecy that He
would die and rise again in three days (Luke 18:31-33). You cannot
admit Jesus is a good man yet disbelieve His claim to be the Son of
God (Luke 22:70; John 5:18-47).
You cannot consider becoming a Christian without realizing that
Christianity excludes all other religions (Acts 4:12). The inescapable
conclusion of Christianity is this: either Jesus bears your sin on the
cross or you bear your sin in hell. "Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's
wrath remains on him" (John 3:36).
As you search the Bible, may God awaken your heart to turn from your
sin and trust in Jesus. You may respond with a prayer like the one
below. Remember, the prayer does not save you. God alone can save! But
the prayer may be your expression of the faith God gives you in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
"Dear God, I grieve that I have sinned against You. As a sinner, I'm
worthy of death in hell. But I believe You sent Your Son, Jesus, to
die on the cross for sin and rise from the dead in victory. I now turn
from following my own sinful desires and from trying to reach heaven
through my own works. I trust in the Lord Jesus alone as my Savior
from sin. I love You, Lord, and submit myself to follow You by Your
Word, the Bible. Amen!"
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