Let me first clear the air by saying that Christianity is not the only religion or ideology that makes exclusive truth claims. Every religion claims to be true. Anyone who has studied logic knows that a truth claim is an implicit rejection of everything that contradicts that truth claim. For instance a Hindu believes Hinduism to be true and therefore regards anything that directly contradicts Hinduism to be false. In another example a secular humanist believes that humans evolved from apelike creatures. The secularist rejects creationism not because he's a "spiritual bigot" but simply because he affirms secularism.

Any truth claim is by definition an exclusive truth claim!

Getting back to our Hindu example, Hinduism teaches that people die and are reincarnated over and over until they live righteously and then enter paradise. Hinduism in its purest form teaches that everyone, no matter what their religion is now, will eventually be reincarnated as a good Hindu in a future life and then enter paradise. Hindus therefore believe that Hinduism is the only way to paradise.

The central truth claim of Christianity regarding personal salvation is that Jesus died for our sins. Jesus said that He came "to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28 NAS). In this passage Jesus is saying that He came to give His life as a ransom which means He came to die in our place. Paul the apostle wrote "if righteousness comes through the Law,[i.e., if we could qualify for heaven by our own lawkeeping] then Christ died needlessly" (Galatians 2:21 NAS). Peter the apostle wrote that Jesus "bore our sins in His body on the cross" (I Peter 2:24 NAS).

Buddha did not claim to die for anyone's sins. Zoroaster didn't die for our sins. Neither did Mohammed or Confucius. The Christian truth claim is quite unique. Indeed, Jesus made the oft quoted statement: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6 NAS).

The boldness of the Christian truth claim is backed up by supernatural witness. The miracles that Jesus performed and the miracles of the apostles that followed Him gave witness to the truth of the Christian salvation message. Eyewitnesses recorded the miracles in the written record of the New Testament. Miracles performed in the name of Jesus have continued down through the centuries and even occur in our own times.

Another aspect of the supernatural witness to the truth of the Gospel is the hundreds of predictive prophecies and fulfillments contained in the Bible. Jesus' life and ministry was prophesied centuries before He came. Other historical events in the affairs of nations were predictively prophesied in the Bible centuries before they came to pass. Books have been written showing how Bible prophecies have been fulfilled down to the most minute detail. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel and Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell are two such books.

No other sacred or scholarly writing such as the Koran, the Hindu Vedas, the Upanishads or The Origin of Species can make anything like the Bible's claim of predictive prophecy and fulfillment. Prophetic fulfillment is like the microprinting on a hundred dollar bill that proves it's genuine. Prophetic fulfillment is a sort of divine signature on the Bible that proves that it is inspired by God. It is eminently logical to take the Bible at face value because it is true. It is also eminently logical to reject the sacred writings of other faiths because they are not true.

In the 19th century, in the early days of the modernist controversy, certain people objected to the Gospel and regarded it as primitive that God would pour out His wrath on His beloved Son and cause His Son to suffer in our place. In other words they just didn't like it. They just didn't like the Christian salvation message! I would hasten to point out that the important thing is not whether or not you like the Gospel message. The important thing to consider is whether or not it is true!!!

I happen to regard the message of Jesus' self sacrifice on our behalf to be a thing of great beauty but that's not why I believe it. I believe it because it's true! The Gospel message is vindicated by more supernatural miraculous phenomena than any other message in the history of the world!!! I urge you therefore to receive the free gift of salvation that Jesus provided for us through His death and resurrection on our behalf.

The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.  

Steps to salvation: Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)

1. Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
2. Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
3. Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
4. Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
5. Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)

"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)

To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:

"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!

Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA

(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given

DEFENDING THE FAITH APOLOGETIC ARTICLES Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world. The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel. All Defending the Faith articles are © 2009 William P. Nugent, permission is granted to email or republish if credit given. To receive these articles which are sent out once per month fill in your email address below and click the SUBMIT button. *Security: Write the characters in the image above (Case sensitive)