Is it possible there is a wide range of diverse religions that may equally have the joyous result of bringing their adherents to the heavenly city and eternal life? Apparently there are a lot of Americans [and other people throughout the world] who think so.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life conducted a U.S. Religious survey in which more than 35,000 Americans participated in 2007. After crunching the numbers, the results were published in June 2008. The organization found that “Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions—not just their own—can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life.” (Quotation taken from summary of results at http://religions.pewforum.org/reports#).
If there is just one world religion in addition to Christianity that can effectively lead men, women and young people to eternal life, then Jesus died for our sins needlessly. If God uses other means to save, there was no need for the blood of Christ to be shed. He then could have saved us like He intended to save others apart from Christ and the cleansing His blood provides.
If there is just one world religion in addition to Christianity that can effectively lead men, women and young people to eternal life, then God wasted the time and effort He invested in providing us with the Holy Bible. Jesus is the centerpiece of all the Scripture. If God uses other means, there never should have been a Bible because its message is irrelevant, because there would be another message out there that can supplant the Bible.
If there is just one world religion in addition to Christianity that can effectively lead men, women and young people to eternal life, then there is actually a plurality of gods men may worship. Most of the world religions set themselves apart from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It then follows there are other true gods who are equally able to deliver their subjects and give them eternal life. We can’t have it both ways; we can’t say we believe the Bible is truly the Word of God and at the same time say that other world religions provide eternal life.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16-17 NKJV). “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV).
