One of the often-unspoken differences between Christianity and its competitors is the way each of those spiritual methods views its adherents and, consequentially, the way each treats the individuals who make up their members.
IN OTHER WORDS, Christianity looks upon its members as human beings who are eternally lost and need, not only a savior, but the mercy of the One-who-created-all.
OF COURSE, part of that mercy was the providing of Jesus Christ as a savior.
All of the other major religions of the world focus on man as a ‘good’ being and–IF ONLY man will follow the basic tenets of that particular religion–who will get better.
God’s Word is NOT shy about letting the reader know that NO man is a good person.
“The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Psalm 14:2-3
“God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Psalm 53:2-3
“If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?”
–Ecclesiastes 6:3-4
“Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
–Isaiah 9:17
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Romans 3:10-12
It is VERY clear that God’s Word sees man as he is: a creature made from the dust and dirt of the earth.
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
–Genesis 3:19
Compare the Bible’s forthright declarations about the way man REALLY is with what the Buddhist and Hindu say of NIRVANA.
In Indian religions, nirvana is synonymous with moksha and mukti. All Indian religions assert it to be a state of perfect quietude, freedom, highest happiness as well as the liberation from attachment and worldly suffering and the ending of samsara, the round of existence.
Man’s Creator (God) has a VERY clear-eyed view of the being He created.
There is none good. No, not one.
Which is one reason why man needs mercy from his Creator, NOT encouragement to ‘do better’ the steps taught by that religion to supposedly achieve eternal bliss.
[There is much more to say on this topic and, God willing, more that WILL be said in the very near future.]
DOES the reader believe that man is morally flawed?
THEN, how does the reader explain man doing the same wicked things over and over again?
It is not YET too late: there is still a LITTLE time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 22, 2022.]
MORE
- There is None Good: All Men Need a Savior
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash.com
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