Jesus: The Truth That All Religions Can't Ignore

Good morning, church! I want to start by asking a question that’s probably popped up in your mind at some point: “Why do so many religions seem to talk about Jesus?”

It’s a fair question. You’ve probably heard of other religions that mention Him. You’ve got people like the Muslims who acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, the Hindus who sometimes treat Him as one of many gods, and even some Buddhists who recognize His wisdom. But here’s the thing we need to realize: Jesus isn’t just a mention, He’s the centerpiece of the story—and every religion, in some way or another, acknowledges Him.

But why? I mean, if we’re all on different spiritual paths, why does everyone keep mentioning Jesus? Here’s why: Satan knows that the best lies are rooted in truth. The enemy doesn’t create a lie that’s 100% false. No, he takes a little truth, and then he twists it just enough to get us off track. And when it comes to Jesus, the best lie of all is to make people think that there’s more than one way to God, or that Jesus is just “one of the options.”

But Christianity isn’t a religion—and let’s talk about why it’s not. Christianity is not a system of rules or rituals that help us "earn" our way to heaven. No, Christianity is a covenant. And in this covenant, Jesus guarantees your entrance into heaven. And the best part? Heaven starts the moment you accept Jesus. You don’t have to wait until you die. Heaven literally begins now, because God Himself, through the Holy Spirit, lives in you!

Now, I know, I know. That’s bold. That’s radical. And that’s what we’re here to talk about today. Jesus isn’t just a nice guy with a few good teachings who lived a couple thousand years ago. He is God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. And every other religion that mentions Jesus, but doesn’t accept Him as the Son of God, is sadly leading people down a road that ends in hell.

The Truth About All Religions and Jesus

Let’s start by taking a look at how every major religion incorporates some version of Jesus:

• Islam says Jesus was a prophet, a good man, but not divine. But, did you know that in Surah 4:157 of the Quran, it says that Jesus was never crucified, but someone else took His place? So, Islam acknowledges Jesus, but denies His ultimate sacrifice.

  
  

• Hinduism acknowledges Jesus as a wise man, sometimes even treating Him as a god, but not THE God. Hinduism has a pantheon of gods, and Jesus is just one of them in their eyes.

  
  

• Buddhism also has a kind of admiration for Jesus, but the Buddha's teachings are very different from the radical claims of Christ. Jesus is respected for His teachings, but no one would call Him the Savior.

  
  

And then there are all those “new age” beliefs that claim to be spiritual but are rooted in humanism, self-worship, and vague philosophies. They might say things like, "All paths lead to God" or “You can find your truth in everything.” But when you get down to it, they’re not acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and Savior. They’re either softening the truth, or skipping it altogether.

Here’s the thing: Every religion acknowledges Jesus because Satan wants to confuse the world. He wants you to think that all roads lead to the same place. But let me tell you—Jesus didn’t say, "I am one of the ways" or "I am a nice option." No, He said,

"I am THE way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

That’s a bold statement, and either it’s true, or it’s a lie. If it’s true, then all the other religions are wrong about how we get to heaven. I don’t care how much wisdom Buddha had, or how many followers Muhammad had—Jesus is the only way.

Why Christianity Isn’t a Religion

Now, I can hear someone thinking, “But Pastor, don’t Christians have a religion? Don’t they have to follow certain rules and rituals to get to heaven?”

No, no, no! Christianity is not a religion. It’s a relationship. And the difference is huge.

Religion says, “Here’s a list of things you have to do to be good enough for God.” But Christianity says, “You will never be good enough, but Jesus has done everything on your behalf.” We don’t earn our way to heaven, we accept the free gift Jesus offers.

Here’s a thought experiment for you: Imagine if there were a place where everyone who believes in Jesus gets to go. That place is called heaven. But the cool thing is, heaven isn’t just a place you go when you die. It’s something you step into the moment you receive Christ. Jesus promises in John 10:10 that He came so that we may have life, and have it to the full. So heaven isn’t just a destination—it’s a present reality in your life today. The moment you accept Jesus, you’re living in eternal life right now.

Religion says, “Maybe if you follow all the rules, you’ll be accepted by God.” But Christianity says, “You can’t do enough, so Jesus did it all for you. Just trust Him, and He’ll guarantee your entry into heaven, starting now.”

The Ultimate Deception: Satan’s Strategy

So why does Satan push so hard for us to be confused about Jesus? Why does he want to get everyone to say, “Hey, just be a good person, do some good works, and all religions are the same. It doesn’t matter what you believe—just believe in something.” Because the devil knows that the best lies are rooted in truth. Satan can get you to believe part of the truth, but not the whole truth.

Satan will gladly let you acknowledge Jesus as a wise teacher, a prophet, or even a good man—as long as you don’t acknowledge Him as Lord. And that’s the key difference.

Because only Jesus has the authority to forgive sin. Only Jesus has the power to redeem us. Only Jesus can offer the free gift of eternal life. And that’s why all other religions lead to hell—because they do not acknowledge Jesus as the one true Savior.

Conclusion: Christ is Lord, and There Is No Other Way

So here’s the bottom line: Every other religion will mention Jesus in some way, but they’re missing the most important truth. Jesus is the only way to God. He’s not just a wise teacher or a good guy—He is God Himself, the Savior of the world.

And the amazing thing is, you don’t have to work your way into heaven. You don’t have to go on some endless cycle of rituals, hoping you’re good enough. Jesus did it all. And the moment you accept Him, you’re not just waiting for heaven—you’ve already begun to live in it.

So I’ll ask you today, if you haven’t already, to make the most important decision of your life: Accept Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life, and step into eternal life. It’s the only way that guarantees your future, and it’s the only way that brings heaven to earth today.

Let’s pray,

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to be the only way, the truth, and the life. We acknowledge that Jesus is not just a prophet, a teacher, or a good man—He is Lord. Help us to live out the truth that we are saved not by our works, but by Your grace through faith in Jesus. Thank You for the gift of eternal life, both now and forevermore. In Jesus' name, Amen.