What Makes Christianity Right?

By Evangelist Kent Prain

Hello, My Friend.

I would like to share with you the simple Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” And it is Good News to know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour from your sin.

One might ask, “What makes Christianity right and every other belief system wrong?”

You will notice that I did not say, “What makes Christianity right and every other ‘religion’ wrong?” I asked the question with out using the term “religion,” because Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with God which is individual and personal.

But still, how can I so boldly say that Christianity is the only way to heaven?

I could answer and say we have the Bible and the Bible says so, since it relates how God spoke the worlds into existence; created all things including the first man--Adam, and tells how Adam sinned by disobeying God. The Bible informs us of the world wide flood as judgment upon mankind for their continued rebellion against God.

But other “faiths” and “belief systems” have their creation stories and flood accounts. So what makes Christianity right?

I could say, “It is because we have a Saviour!”  But other Faiths have their leaders--their Saviours! Many of these leaders came into the world after the Jesus of the Bible. Take, for instance, Mohammed who was born in A.D. 570. Each of these leaders have claimed to be teaching the “Only Way” to God. So our question is still unanswered. What makes Christianity right and exclusively so? How can Jesus Christ claim to be “The way, The truth, and The life” as He does in the New Testament Book of John in chapter 14 and verse 6?

Is it not presumptuous to assert that there is only “one” way?! and that this “one, exclusive, way” is ONLY through Jesus Christ?

To most people it would seem presumptuous--especially to those who would listen to the world’s definition of what is “fair.” But when we realize there is only one True God in Heaven, and we also realize that He created all things and that He communicated to man through His Word--the Bible, we can figure out that He knows THE way of Salvation--the way to heaven.

But you say, “We are right back where we started--that we are going by the Bible and the God of the Bible.  Yet there are so many other religions and belief systems in the world--how can I know that Jesus is the only way to the exclusion of all the other “world religions?”

I desire not to bore you, but let me ask the same question one more time: What makes Christianity right and every, and I do mean EVERY, other “religion” and “belief system” wrong? The answer is very simple: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!!

The leader (or leaders) of every other religion or belief system is dead and still in the grave. All the Buddhist leaders, Shinto leaders, Hindu leaders, and, yes, even Mohammed, never resurrected from the dead,... but Jesus Christ did and He still lives today.

“Prove it,” you ask?! What is considered “Proof” will be in the mind of the examiner, but I can give you an example of a man who attempted to disprove the resurrection. I also can give you some facts to consider while making your choice of the truth concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the 1930’s, Frank Morison, a young British lawyer decided to do the world a favor and discount, once and for all, the resurrection of Jesus Christ as nothing more than fable and superstition. He knew that the keystone to Christianity was the resurrection; because it proved the claims of Christ. As a lawyer, he felt he had the training to only allow evidence that would stand up in a court of law. He soon came to realize that what he had set out to do was not as easy as he thought it would be. Studying the evidence, he became convinced, against his will, of the truth of the resurrection. He wrote a book entitled, Who Moved The Stone. The first chapter of his book is entitled, “The Book That Refused To Be Written,” where he recounts his attempt to discredit the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There are some important facts to consider:

1. The FACT of the Christian Church.

The Christian Church is worldwide in scope. Its beginning can be traced to AD 30. The disciples were first called “Christians” at Antioch and the disciples constantly referred to the resurrection as the basis of their preaching, teaching, living and, significantly, their dying.

2. The FACT of the Christian Day.

Again, the history of this fact can be traced to AD 30. The Christians met on the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What made this shift from the regular Sabbath worship so remarkable is the fact that the early Christians were Jews!

3. The FACT of the Christian Book--the New Testament.

The New Testament is composed of independent accounts and also eyewitness accounts.

The important question for you to answer is this: What caused all this if Jesus Christ did NOT raise from the dead?

Really, if you are to discount the resurrection, all you have to do is explain away only TWO things.

One--The empty tomb. In other words, what happened to the Body of Jesus.

And Two--The appearances of Jesus after He rose from the dead.

Christian writer Josh McDowell answers the following arguments that are used to try to explain away the EMPTY TOMB:

1. The disciples stole the body so that it would look like Jesus rose from the dead.

This is the argument the religious leaders in Jesus Christ’s day tried to put forth. You can read about it in Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 28, verses 11-15. But you will notice the guards, who knew differently, were told by the religious leaders to SAY the body was stolen WHILE WE SLEPT. Do you know what is going on while you sleep? It was a capital offense to be sleeping on the job. Did all the guards fall asleep so suddenly all at the same time? When you look at the disciples, they were really quite cowardly at this point. The Bible says they “all forsook Him and fled.” Did the disciples somehow overpower a number of trained, professional soldiers--soldiers that knew they would die if the one they were guarding got away? Do not forget they were guarding a “dead” body and only then because the religious leaders knew that everything else Jesus Christ spoke had come to pass just as He said. Each of the disciples were tortured and died for their belief in the resurrection. Men have died for a lie, but not when they KNEW it was a lie. This argument is not true, but even if it was true, how then do you account for the resurrection appearances? No, the friends of Jesus did not steal the body. Well, then some might say...

2. The enemies of Christ stole the body.

If the enemies of Jesus Christ stole the body, then why did they beat the disciples and command them to quit preaching the resurrection of Christ? All the enemies had to do to quash Christianity for all time was to wheel the dead body of Jesus Christ through the streets of Jerusalem ONE TIME!  They could not do that because they did not have the body of Christ. No, the enemies of Jesus did not steal the body. Well, then some might say...

3. The distraught women went to the wrong tomb.

If this is true, then why didn’t the enemies of Jesus go to the right tomb and produce the body. They obviously knew where it was since they posted guards there. Did the disciples go to the wrong tomb also? Joseph of Arimathea was the owner of the tomb and he would have gone to the right one. No, people did not go to the wrong tomb.

Not being able to produce satisfactory answers as to what happened to the body of Jesus, some critics have come up with the proposal that Jesus never actually died. They claim He merely passed out or “swooned” upon the cross and that the coolness of the tomb revived Him. This is really an interesting “theory” since all the earliest records are emphatic about His death. The Romans, who were quite skilled in putting people to death, knew Jesus was dead. After all, they had pierced his side with a spear until blood and water came out. They also did not break His legs since He was already dead. If it were possible for Jesus to “fool” them and still be alive, could He have survived three days and three nights in a tomb without food, water, or medical attention? Could He have gotten Himself out of the burial wrapping which weighed 100 pounds, rolled back the heavy rock from the front of the tomb, overpowered all the guards, and walked miles on spike pierced feet to show His disciples that He was the “Prince of Life?” Even those that do not believe in the resurrection reject this proposal as nonsensical. Once again, if this theory is correct, then the disciples, AND EVEN JESUS HIMSELF, lied! And the disciples were tortured and died for a lie that they knew was a lie.

No, Friend, Jesus actually, physically, and literally died!!

Those who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ HAVE TO explain how the tomb became empty!

But just as Jesus actually, physically, and literally died, He also actually, physically, and literally rose from the dead!

He physically appeared at least 10 times after He arose from the grave. These appearances were distinct from one another. They were at different times, in different places, to different people and to different groups of people. (The Apostle Paul says in I Corinthians chapter 15 that Jesus appeared to over 500 people at one time and that if someone didn’t believe him they could go ask one of the 500 since most of them were still alive and they ALL saw Jesus after He arose).  Jesus did different things and said different things.

These people were not having hallucinations. Hallucinations generally occur in vividly imaginative or nervous people. They occur at particular times or places with some regularity. Often people WANT to see the object of their hallucinations. But none of this fits with the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ. Were His followers WANTING to see Him? Mary came to anoint the “DEAD” body of Jesus. This is the very opposite of expecting to see a resurrected body. His own disciples did not believe the news when they first heard it. Then when they did see Him, they thought they were seeing a ghost! Thomas would not believe until he saw and touched the nail prints in Jesus’ hands, and then put his hand into Jesus’ side where the spear had gone in. No, the friends of Jesus did not expect Him to raise from the dead, but He did! and appeared to them.

Jesus actually, physically, and literally died, was buried, and actually, physically, and literally rose again from the dead!!

Having established the truth that Jesus Christ arose from the dead--then we have to deal with WHY He died in the first place.

Man had sinned by refusing to obey God and choosing his own way. Remember Adam? This choice that man made brought guilt and judgment upon all men. The Bible states that death was the result of that disobedience. Adam died spiritually that day and began to die physically. The sin nature of Adam then passed upon all of us since Adam and Eve were our very first parents. God says in Romans 5:12--Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

We prove quite often that we are sinners by still refusing to obey God and by choosing to go our own way. God tells us in Isaiah 53:6--All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. He goes on to tell us in Romans 3:10--As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one and later in verse 23--For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

The result of our sin is judgment. Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death. We will get the exact “wages” we have earned. God is perfect and will render to every person exactly what is owed. Romans 2:6  tells us about God Who will render to every man according to his deeds.

Man cannot get himself “good enough” to get to heaven. God tells us in James 2:10--For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. What this means is that if a man could keep every part of God’s law, but broke it in one area, he is guilty as if he broke all the law. Does this sound unfair? Let me ask you a couple of questions: How many holes in a boat does it take to sink the boat? How many rocks does it take to break a window? What about if it is a “big” window? So, really all it takes is one sin to make us guilty of breaking it all and deserving the punishment. Let me put it this way: Say I needed a 20-foot chain. If I broke one link in the chain, would I have a 20-foot chain? I could break the link towards either end or in the middle, but I still would not have a 20-foot chain. For me to try to get good enough to go to heaven, I would need to be perfect. I could not have sinned ONE time. If I broke the law ONE time, early in my life, at the mid point or later in life--I still broke the law.

Some people think that God has a sort of “Divine” balance scale and that He puts all the bad things I did on one side and all the good things I did on the other and whichever way it tips, I am either in heaven or out of heaven. God does not have a balance scale, but let’s just say He did. Then He would put everything I did, good and bad, into the one side and Jesus would step in the other side. Now, who would win? It certainly would not be me!

We cannot get to heaven by what we can do. God says in Ephesians 2:8-9--For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. And again in Titus 3:5--Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Since God is Holy and cannot tolerate sin, man is in a fix. We need some thing or some one to stand in our place. We need a sacrifice and a substitute. God only accepts perfect sacrifices. In order to sacrifice for man’s sins, God became a man. This is what we celebrate at Christmas time. We read about this in Matthew 1:21 where the Bible says And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Verse 23 goes on to tell us Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  Jesus experienced every temptation, trial, and tribulation yet without any sin whatsoever thereby proving He is God in the flesh. He was the perfect sin offering. He was our substitute by dying on the cross in our place. Isaiah 53:6--All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. We deserved the punishment because of our sins—Jesus did not, but He died in our place thereby providing THE way to heaven.

--We were the ones in the sin situation

--We were the sinners

--We deserved the punishment for our sin.

--We could not help ourselves

Even if it were possible to never sin again--what about the sins we have committed already. We stand guilty, condemned, and deserving of the punishment. But God loved us so much that Jesus died in our place. Romans 5:8--But God commendeth (He demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 6:23 tells us For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Since Jesus rose bodily from the dead--we need to listen to what He says! Talking to a very religious man, a very educated man, a very outwardly moral man, Jesus said in John 3:3--Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Please notice that it was Jesus Himself Who said “a man must be born again!”--Even if the man is religious, educated, and outwardly moral.

So, that brings us to the question as to how can a man be “born again,” “born spiritually,” “saved.” This question was asked by a prison guard recorded in Acts 16:30--Sirs, what must I do to be saved? The answer is given in the next verse, verse 31--And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

The Bible word, “believe” means to put your full weight upon; to trust fully. It means to just take God at His word. What God says He will do, He will do. He cannot lie because He is God--so it HAS TO BE TRUE!!

--You need to believe that God is ABLE to save you.

He created everything in the universe so He definitely has the ability to save a person from their sins.

--You need to believe that God is WILLING to save you.

God tells us in II Peter 3:9--The Lord is not slack (slow) concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

--You need to believe that God is WANTING to save you.

I may be willing to do something that I do not want to do (like clean the bathroom), but God WANTS to save you. He proved that by sending Jesus to die on the cross for you. Romans 5:8--But God commendeth (He demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

--You need to believe that you NEED to be saved.

The Bible clearly teaches this and any honest person will admit it. Again, God says in Romans 6:23--For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

--You need to believe God WILL SAVE you if you ask Him.

God says in Romans 10:13-- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  A couple of verses before this one, God says, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

When you call upon Jesus to save you, you receive Him as your Saviour. John 1:12 tells us But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right or the authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

The instant you receive Jesus, you have eternal life. God says so. Listen to these verses:

I John 5:12--He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Verse 13 says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.

Jesus says in John 5:24--Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 3:16--For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus again says, in John 10:27-28-- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Friend, all you have to do is talk to God like you would talk to anyone else. Tell Him that you are a sinner and deserve the punishment for your sins. Tell Him that your sins are not anyone else’s fault, but yours. Tell Him that you believe He died for your sins and that you now want Him to forgive your sins and save you. Ask Him to save you and thank Him for saving you.

Once you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will need to find a good, Bible-believing, Bible preaching Church--maybe the one that gave you this recording--where you can fellowship and grow in the Christian faith. You will learn about the privileges of being in God’s family. You need to be baptized as a testimony that you have been born again. You need to be daily reading your Bible to be strong in the faith and to be able to recognize the tricks of the devil as he tries to get you down. (The devil can never get your soul again, but he will try to keep you from living a vibrant Christian life. Memorize this verse I John 4:4--Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.) You need to daily pray to God, thanking Him for saving you, asking Him to help you to be a good testimony for Him and to enable you to reach others with the Gospel--the Good News.

Well, if you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then, Amen!! You just made the most important decision you will ever make in this life.

Listen to this recording again. It will help confirm your decision for Jesus Christ.

May the Lord bless you and use you to the fullest for His glory!