All religions agree that mankind is in a mess. The Bible puts it this way: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6). Each religion sets out its own way of rescuing us from this desperate situation. Let us think of the problem as that of a man who has fallen down a deep well. The question is how to get him out.



First comes Mohammed who looks over the top of the well and says; "if you will only keep the five rules of Islam then you will be able to escape from the well. You must pray five times a day, eat no pork, drink no alcohol, keep the feast of Ramadan and make the pilgrimage to Mecca".

Contemporary Rabbinic Judaism is no different. They will pile on the man more rules and regulations based on the 10 commandments. “Keep the Law” and you will be accepted. But a man has only his own strength to keep these commandments, so after a few steps up he falls back again and cries out for help.

Then comes Buddha who looks over the top of the well and says: "I can see You are in a mess; the problem is due to pain and desire. If you follow the noble eightfold path you will escape from these ultimately into Nirvana." The man may find inner peace but he is still down the well.

Jesus comes to the top of the well and looks down and says: "I can see that you are in a mess; you will never get out by means of your own resources. As I said through one of my prophets: "Can the leopard change his spots or the Ethiopian his skin? No more can do good who are accustomed to do evil." Jeremiah 13: 23.
"I will have to let down a rope and come down into the well myself in order to rescue you. I will hold you firmly because you do not even have the strength to hold on to me yourself."



Only Christianity speaks about God becoming a human being to rescue us. In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd (10:11, 14), the Good shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep (10:15), who draws all true worshippers together into one fold (10:16).

On what evidence do Christians base this claim that Jesus is the only way? Mainly on Jesus' own words. Jesus claimed to be the only Saviour "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). From His own words, both Jesus' followers and his opponents recognized that He claimed to be God, the only one able to save us from sin and death (see also John 20:24-29; John 10:31-33).




What Makes Jesus Unique?

1. Uniquely in Qualification
Peter proclaimed him as the “Holy and Righteous one” (Acts 3:14) and the “author of life” (3:15), the one “the prophets foretold.” (3:18). The first Christians worshipped Jesus as God.
Predicted 300 x before he came.
Sinless Holy Life.
Taught with great wisdom.
Miracles of great power over creation, disease and death.
This sets Jesus apart from the other leaders of the worlds religious.


2. Unique in Achievement
As Peter asserts “salvation s found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given by men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Other religions say that we must work hard to deliver ourselves. They are all effort; Christianity is all grace.

Only Christianity says that the King of the Universe came into this world, became Jesus died horribly to atone for the guilt of his rebel subjects. Such a thought is not even found in the area of fiction and romance. Other religions are about people’s best efforts to reach God, Christianity is God's supreme effort to reach us. The difference between Christianity and other religions can be summed up in one world. It’s the difference between “do” and “done”. Religion - from the Latin word ‘religio’ is all about works - what I must do - present tense. Christianity is all about Grace - what Jesus has done - past tense. The Choice - Do or Done?


3. Unique in his Resurrection
Paul asserts “who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:4). The resurrection of Jesusis a unique event in the history of the world. The resurrection of Jesus lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus is alive today. You can know him. We cannot know Buddah or Muhammed. Jesus is the unique Son of God, validated by predictions made hundreds of years before he came, vindicated by a life of profound teaching and incredible miracles, who uniquely died for the sins of the world and in our place and uniquely rose again. Beat that.



http://extremelifechanger.com/index.php?p=1_39_35-Christianity-vs-Other-Religions

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your finished works on the cross and also for leaving us Your Holy Spirit.

Nice thread.
Insightful

Maybe if you did more reading around and become enlightened, you would realise that there is nothing unique about christianity as it a merger of ancient religions.

lepasharon:
Maybe if you did more reading around and become enlightened, you would realise that there is nothing unique about christianity as it a merger of ancient religions.

Please enlighten us and tell us the merged ancient religions aside Judaism through which the prophecy was spoken but was revealed or came into existence through Christianity.

I'll be glad if you can give us more insight. Thanks.

Christianity is not unique. It would've been unique if Christians actually follow Jesus as they claim. Christians are disciples of Paul and not Jesus

rexben:
Christianity is not unique.
It would've been unique if Christians actually follow Jesus as they claim.
Christians are disciples of Paul and not Jesus

Please why exactly did you say so?

Remember Christians were given the name because they behaved like Jesus. That's what is still expected of anyone who calls himself Christian. Christians are to emulate Jesus only. The life of a Christian should reflect Jesus to the world.

bennyann:


Please why exactly did you say so?

Remember Christians were given the name because they behaved like Jesus. That's what is still expected of anyone who calls himself Christian. Christians are to emulate Jesus only. The life of a Christian should reflect Jesus to the world.

Check my post on Who should name a child

rexben:
Check my post on Who should name a child

The name or tag 'Christians' is a name generally accepted by the world,it is a name accepted by a group of people who claim to follow Jesus.
The name Christian is said to mean 'christ-like' --- doing what Christ did.
The origin of the tag Christians
The first time the name surfaced was 46-48 AD. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26.
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of people. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:26 NET
The tag Christians was given to believers in Antioch by unbelievers[men,the world]. I wonder why people who supposedly follow Jesus adopt a name given by the world[those that hate(d) Jesus John 7:7;17:14].
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil.
John 7:7
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
John 17:14 NET
Who should name a child?
A child is named by his or her parents. The parents of a child is obliged to name their child. Let me ask a question here; can you bear a name given to you by people who hate your father?
Who should name a believer?
A believer is said to be a person that believes in Jesus. So, the person solely obliged to name a believer is Jesus[for all that belongs to God also belongs to Jesus John 17:10] and not the world [the world is controlled by the devil Matt 4:8-9]. How will the world[haters of Jesus and His Father John 17:14] name a believers and this believers joyfully accepted the name then and even now?
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. 9 And he said to him, "I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me."
Matt 4:8-9 NET
Jesus said His disciples are not of this world John 17:14. If they are not of this world, they will not associate themselves with the name given by the world. If any disciple of Jesus needs a tag, let him/her go to Jesus words and pick a name. Jesus used many names to qualify his disciples. He called them disciples Matt 10:24,branches John 15:1,sheep John 10:2,friends John 15:15,brothers John 20:17,little flock Luke 12:32,my ecclesia Matt 16:18.

https://www.nairaland.com/3272568/should-name-new-baby

Are you saying we shouldn't identify with the name Christians because it wasn't revealed first by believers?

rexben:
Christianity is not unique.
It would've been unique if Christians actually follow Jesus as they claim.
Christians are disciples of Paul and not Jesus

Even Paul was against anyone saying they were his disciples.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in Godʼs service; you are Godʼs field, Godʼs building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2-11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1co.3.2-11.NIV

bennyann:


Even Paul was against anyone saying they were his disciples.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in Godʼs service; you are Godʼs field, Godʼs building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2-11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1co.3.2-11.NIV

Paul had followers, he had children, he's a spiritual father. Paul severally equated himself to be Christ. He completed the suffering of Jesus. Paul is a crook and a thief

bennyann:




Are you saying we shouldn't identify with the name Christians because it wasn't revealed first by believers?

why nt stay with the name Jesus called his followers?

bennyann:




Are you saying we shouldn't identify with the name Christians because it wasn't revealed first by believers?

why nt stay with the name Jesus called his followers?
Is like you chose the name an outsider calls you over the name your parent named you

rexben:
Paul had followers, he had children, he's a spiritual father. Paul severally equated himself to be Christ . He completed the suffering of Jesus. Paul is a crook and a thief

Can you please give me instances to the bolded?

And I hope all is well with you or maybe you've been busy? Cos it took you a while to mention me.

bennyann:


Can you please give me instances to the bolded?

And I hope all is well with you or maybe you've been busy? Cos it took you a while to mention me.

You shouldn't be arguing with people like that. When you see that someone is on a mission to twist the truth, just ignore them, because your comments are keeping his senseless comments going.. Ignoring this kind of people is better.

When I saw his post at first, I thought it was something sensible. He doesn't even have any kind of knowledge about the issue he is raising, making claims out of the blues, out of his twisted understanding of the Bible. No Bible verses or quotes to buttress his claims, and you want to engage him?

I guess Paul was called Paul Christ.

bennyann:


Can you please give me instances to the bolded?

And I hope all is well with you or maybe you've been busy? Cos it took you a while to mention me.

Jesus said He will build his church, Paul also claims that he's a wise master builder.
Jesus said He's the sower according to the parable of the sower, Paul claims he plants also

bennyann:


Can you please give me instances to the bolded?

And I hope all is well with you or maybe you've been busy? Cos it took you a while to mention me.

Check his signature, then quit answering him.

rexben:
Jesus said He will build his church, Paul also claims that he's a wise master builder.
Jesus said He's the sower according to the parable of the sower, Paul claims he plants also

naijadeyhia:


Its indeed a compliment for the world to be able to see Christ in us and declare we are like Christ. This is a great approval as the Bible says we are living Epistles read of men and the ernest expectation of the creature is to see the manifestation of the sons of God.


If you are said to be LIKE CHRIST even by the world the question you should ask yourself is WHO WAS CHRIST? Was He a demon? Is He God? Remember in psalm 8 the Bible says YE ARE GODS AND ALL OF YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH! BUT YOU SHALL FALL DIE LIKE MEN AND FALL LIKE ONE OF THE PRINCES...YE KNOW NOT NEITHER DO YOU UNDERSTAND.


The unbelievers in antioch who also heard or saw Christ when he was here looked at the disciples and gave them an approval rating and that approval rating is called CHRISTIAN (LIKE CHRIST).


The disciples represented Christ extremely well hence that word Christian.


Any Atheist who is saying nonsense is only being used by the devil to sow doubt.


Remember when Jesus met the man possessed by legion the demons Knew who Christ was. When the seven sons of sceva attempted casting out demons the demon knew who Paul was and who Jesus was. The demons did not know them as one of their own but people of the light. People of God! So even a demon can speak truth when its undeniable same way it can speak lies when manipulative.


In the case of antioch the people spoke the truth as that was evident for all to see through the lives the disciples lived .


Shalom.

I see you've been replied already by naijadeyhia. So I'll end it here with you.

Very nice argument put forward by the Op which distinguishes the uniqueness of Christianity from world religions and especially from a fresh perspective.

Very well said, Bennyann

skeendyke:
Very nice argument put forward by the Op which distinguishes the uniqueness of Christianity from world religions and especially from a fresh perspective.

Very well said, Bennyann

Thank you skeendyke