What makes one viewpoint different from another? Or, perhaps a better question would be, what makes one viewpoint correct and another incorrect? Especially in matters of religious belief, what makes one correct and worth embracing while others are incorrect and needful of exposing?

I realize an attempt to deal with this subject is dangerous, as it infringes on the demands of political correctness. Advocates of PC would argue that every religious system of thought and doctrine is of equal validity, so one cannot, indeed must not, say that one is correct while all others are incorrect. One can believe what he chooses, but must never impose his beliefs on others.

Now, if the premise of PC is correct, then that means no one can claim to know “the truth.” The reason for this is that there is no such thing as “the truth.” If all religions are of equal validity, then we must understand that none have validity. How can one religious system be valid if it is contradicted by another? If they are contradictory and mutually exclusive, then neither can be the truth. A system of belief cannot possibly be true if another system of belief, also embraced by some to be true, advocates a different set of “truths.” To use an overly simplistic illustration, a thing cannot be black and white at the same time in the same space. It is either white, or black, but not both. In the same way, a religious system of belief cannot be both true and false at the same time. It is either true or false, but not both.

A brief blog cannot possibly delve into all the multi-faceted intricacies of all the religious belief systems, even if we focused only on the major religions of the world. So I will deal with a simple, yet profound, claim of Jesus Christ that really makes all the difference in the world. In the Gospel of John we find this amazing statement:

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

Advocates of other religious belief systems would teach that there are other means of attaining entrance into heaven. Some would lead us to believe that through certain religious practices one could go to heaven. Others would teach that living moral lives would gain us entrance. Still others would lead us to believe that as long as my good deeds outweigh my bad I will be given entrance. Each of those are based in some form on the goodness of man.

But, the Bible teaches that there none who are good. Allow me to share just a few examples of verses from the Bible which would establish this as an absolute truth:

“There is none righteous, no, not one.”

Romans 3:10

“Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”

Psalm 53:3

“They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:12

These should suffice to make the point: no one is capable of earning entrance into heaven. So, let’s revisit the quote of Jesus cited above. He claims to be the only way for one to gain entrance into heaven. He states emphatically that the only way for one to go to heaven is through Him. Not through Him plus something else. Not through Him plus religious activity, good works, adhering flawlessly to a system of belief, behavior or practice. But through Him and Him alone. Jesus plus nothing.

Now, since two opposite and contradictory beliefs cannot be true at the same time, either Jesus’ statement is true, and He is the only means of gaining entrance into heaven, or He is a liar and not to be trusted. That statement makes all the difference in the world, as well as in the world to come. If I choose to deny His statement, and reject it as being false, that does not negate the truth of the statement, it simply means that I accept a different belief as being true.

So, it all comes down to what we believe. I can choose to believe that living a good life will gain me entrance into heaven. I can choose to believe that adhering to certain religious practices will get me in. I can choose to believe that certain ritual and ceremony is the means of getting in.

But, just for the sake of discussion, what if Jesus really IS the only way to gain entrance? Imagine for a moment you have passed from this life, and are not standing before the Judge of the universe. According to Scripture, you will not be asked to rehearse before the Judge all the good you have done, or all the religious ritual you have performed, or how upright and moral you were during your life. No, He will simply look in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If your name is there, then you are welcomed in. If not, you will hear the most anguishing and agonizing words you could possibly imagine: “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

What makes the difference? Jesus! He died to pay the penalty we all justly deserve. He suffered in our place. He bore the price of our sin: death, separation from the Father so that we might be welcomed into the presence of the Father.

If you would like more information about this amazing truth, and how you can personally experience His grace and forgiveness, then please send me a private message. I would love to speak with you further about the one thing that makes all the difference.