There is a collective thought of religious coexistence that is being promoted throughout our society today.
The premise is that we are all serving the same God, which makes all paths valid, therefore there is no 1 way to get to God, nor can anyone claim that their way is the right way.
With billions of people in the world and so many different religions, human logic has determined that there couldn’t possibly be only one way to God, and to make this claim is considered offensive.
However, Jesus said there is only one way:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
In contrast, this means anything and anyone outside of Jesus is not the way, not the truth, and not the life.
Jesus can make this statement because he is God (John 10:30; 1 John 1:1, John 1:14, John 8:57-57). His constant reiteration of this, while he was on the earth, is what incensed the religious leaders of his day and prompted their attempts to kill him (John 10:33; John 5:18).
Do we all serve the same God?
Now while it is true that many religions use the same terminology, i.e. God and Jesus, their definition of these terms can be quite different.
Take for instance, what the Mormons believe about God and Jesus:
Mormonism
God is not a Spirit but an evolved man
God is not eternal
God is not the creator of all things.
Jesus is a god (not the only God)
Jesus was not born of a virgin
Jesus was created and evolved into his godhood.
Biblical Christianity
God is a Spirit (John 4:24)
God is eternal (Psalm 145:13; Psalm 93:2; Isaiah 44:6)
God is Creator of all things (Genesis 1, Psalms 24:1-2, Psalm 90:2)
Jesus is God (Philippians 2:5-6; John 8:57-58)
Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23)
Jesus is God eternal (1 John 1:1-3)
This is just one example, however, if you research the religions of Hinduism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, and the like, you will find that they all have different views on the deity of Jesus and God.
Let’s be clear there is only one true God (John 17:3). He is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything belongs to him. He is eternal, and Almighty (Revelation 1:8). And he excludes the worship of any other god (Exodus 34:14, Matthew 6:24).
Interestingly, the fact that he is established as the only true God, means that there has to be a false god.
That false god is Satan who is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), he guides the course of this world (Ephesians 2:2), he is also called the prince of this world (Ephesians 2:2, John 12:31). He desires to be like God, but he is a counterfeit (Isaiah 14:13-14).
So the question is which God are you trying to get to? Because that will determine the path you take to get there.
By definition, the word path means: a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals. A narrow walk or way.
A path is often seen as a route not as wide as a road. It is a way for passing on foot; often along the side of a road, that is not constructed but beaten by feet. A beaten path is a path that has already been paved or made by someone else. You simply walk in the footsteps or follow the path that has been made.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Notice the comparison, between the narrow path and the broad way, specifically as it relates to the number of people on each path.
The narrow path is open to everyone, but not everyone is willing to walk its course. Those who take this path are willing to deny themselves (Matthew 16:24) and to crucify their passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). And they are willing to trust in the true God and the way he has established for them to connect with him (John 3:16).
The broad road is wide and many people are on it because it’s an easy path to follow. You don’t have to be disciplined, you don’t have to deny anything, and you can fulfill your every desire. This path was paved by the god of this world (1 John 2:16), those who follow it do not want to serve the true God they believe they are god, so they can choose whatever path they want (Genesis 3:5).
If Jesus is the only way to the true God then we have to follow his way to get there. That path to salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone, nothing else.
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.
We cannot add to our salvation because we have nothing to add (Romans 3:23). There are not enough good works we could do to pay for our sins, which is why Christ paid the penalty for us (Romans 5:18-21).
Every other religion believes that they can achieve Salvation or godhood by doing good works. I.e. paying temple fees and tithes, not drinking coffee or tea, going door to door to share their message, reincarnation, etc. This doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of some of what is required by some religions to secure their place in heaven.
It is sad, that many believe they have to work to earn their salvation when God only requires that we believe in his only begotten Son.
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.
It is a great deception of the enemy to make everyone believe you have an all-access pass to God, no matter what path you take, what you believe, or how you live, but don’t be deceived.
Neither be deceived into thinking that you can just coexist, because to validate a false religion, is to deny the true one.
The moral of the story is, all paths do lead somewhere, but all paths do not lead to the same God. There is only one true God and there is only one way to get to him and he has determined the way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Choose wisely.
Resource “Path.” 2021. In Dictionary.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021, from https://dictionary.com/path.
Weldon, J., Ankerberg, J., Burroughs, D. (2009). The Factors on the Mormon Church. United States: Harvest House Publishers.