Lesson 31

Do All Religions Lead to God?Apologetics

Students will learn why there are many religions and be able to defend why there is only one way to God.

One way is the only way

Proverbs 14:12

Religion: a group of people adhering to a particular organized system of beliefs

1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson.2. Bowling ball3. 2x4 or 2x6 cut 2 feet long4. A watch/stopwatch5. “Do All Religions Lead to God?” Video:

https://teachersource.wol.org/resource/SBS18/31-1/ (2:37).6. A plumb line7. The Chart of Religions

1. A Do all Religions Lead to God? https://teachersource.wol.org/resource/SBS18/31-1/

2. Ed Hinson & Ergun Caner, The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Harvest House Pub., Eugene, Oregon, 2008 pages 393-396

3. Dr. Henry Morris III, The Big Three: Major Events that Changed History Forever, Master Books, 2009 pages 29-46

4. Dean Halverson, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions, Bethany House Pub., Michigan, 2003 pages 103-153

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Scope and SequenceScope and Sequence

StickyStatement

Definitions

Resources

Scope and Sequence

Checklist

Scope and Sequence

Lesson Objective

Key Verse

Lesson Overview

I. Why are there so many religions?

Religion is defined as “a group of people adhering to a particular organized system of beliefs.”

The only way to really have trust and confidence in your belief system is to be sure your belief system is based on something that doesn’t change or someone that doesn’t fail.

II. Why can’t all of these religions lead to God?

● All the religions in the world can be broken down into three groups: the occult, the cults, and the non-cults.

● The law of non-contradiction states that two opposing statements cannot both be true.

● Biblical Christianity is the only religion that teaches that man can do nothing to save himself and that God provided salvation for man.

● Biblical Christianity is the only religion that teaches that the way to God is through God, not through man.

III. Why is there only one way to God?

One way is the only way.

Hook

Teacher’s Note: Start this lesson with a simple exercise. You will need a ball (bowling ball would work best), a 2x4 or 2x6 about 2 feet long, a chair, a watch/stopwatch, and a volunteer. Ask the volunteer to see how long they can stand on the wood board, placing it on top of the bowling ball. Time them. Stop their time once the board hits the floor. Have several students try to see how long they can balance on the board.

We need a volunteer who thinks they have great balance. Here is what we need you to do. We are going to see how long you can balance on this bowling ball while standing on this board. You can hold onto the back of this chair to balance yourself on the board that’s on the bowling ball. When you let go of the chair your time will start. Once you or the board touches the ground your time will stop. Are you ready? Let’s see how long you can balance.

Teacher’s Note: Let the volunteer try several times. If you have time, let some other students give it a try.

Give this volunteer a round of applause. Wait! Before you go sit down, let me ask you a couple questions.

Why was it difficult to balance on the board?

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Did you feel safe or secure on the board? Why?How would you feel if we put this board on the floor and then asked you to stand on it? What makes the difference?

Obviously, the floor is stable and doesn’t change or move because it’s anchored and secure.

Unfortunately, too many people build their life on something that isn’t secure, or even worse they bank their eternal life on something that isn’t sure.

This module we are going to study the next four weeks is called “Deconstruction.” Deconstruction is a building term. It means to pull something apart in order to change it or rebuild it. You deconstruct what is bad in order to reconstruct what it is good. We are going to deconstruct humanity’s answers to some tough questions so that we can reconstruct our view according to God’s answer to these questions. The questions we will deconstruct over the next four weeks are:

1. Do all religions lead to God?2. Is abortion sin?3. Is it wrong to defy your sexuality? (Part 1)4. Is it wrong to defy your sexuality? (Part 2)

Today we are going to tackle the first question, do all religions lead to God? How many of you have ever had someone say that they believe all religions lead to heaven, or has asked the question, “Do all religions lead to God?” How would you answer this question if your classmate in English class asked you?

The goal in this lesson is to arm you with a logical and biblical answer to this question: “Do all religions lead to God?” We want you to leave here tonight understanding that one way is the only way.

Before we start, we need to watch this short video that illustrates the answer to this question: “Do all religions lead to God?”

Teacher’s Note: Show the video “Do All Religions Lead to God?” (2:37) https://teachersource.wol.org/resource/SBS18/31-1/

Before we can answer the question, “Do all religions lead to God?” we need to answer another question: “Why are there so many religions?”

Lesson Content

I. Why are there so many religions?

The simple reason why there are so many religions is because people have always sought for answers to life’s deepest questions. Questions such as:

1. Why are we here or why do we exist?2. Why do we suffer and what’s the solution?3. Is there a God and if so what is God like?4. What happens when a person dies?

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We have many religions because there are many ways in which people have tried to answer these questions. Man’s attempt to answer these questions, and make sense of this world, has produced many different answers producing many belief systems or religions. Listen to what Proverbs 14:12 says about man’s way.

Teacher’s Note: Have a student read Proverbs 14:12.

People throughout time have either discussed or written down their views of life, suffering, death, God, or how to get to God. Which view do you listen to? Is it many ways to God or just one way? Doesn’t it make sense that one way is the only way? Otherwise, which one of the many ways to God is the right way?

All religions are based on some type of belief system that attempts to answer questions about life and death. In fact, religion is defined as “a group of people adhering to a particular organized system of beliefs.” A belief is a state of mind where trust or confidence is placed in some person or something.

Everyone has a belief system which means everyone has trust or confidence in someone or something. The question is how confident are you in your belief system?

The only way to really have trust and confidence in your belief system is to be sure your belief system is based on something that doesn’t change or someone that doesn’t fail.

Let’s illustrate this point using a plumb line.

Teacher’s Note: If you have a plumb line, use it to visually demonstrate how it works for keeping something vertically straight.

The plumb line is used to make sure the walls of a building are vertically straight when it is being built. If you put a weight at the end of a string and you hold the string out away from your body, the weight will pull the string down. When it stops swinging, the string will be vertically straight because of gravity.

Gravity is a constant. No matter where you hold the string it will fall vertically straight. Builders use this plumb line to keep the wall vertically straight, or plumb. You can trust the plumb line because you can trust the unchanging law of gravity.

The many belief systems that make up the different religions all have some form of writings that state or explain their beliefs. The question is, which religious writings can be trusted as being true?

This brings us to our second major question, why can’t all these religions lead to God?

II. Why can’t all of these religions lead to God?

As we attempt to answer this question we need to observe this chart that will help us see the big picture of all religions.

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Teacher’s Note: Use the PowerPoint to display the Chart of Religions as a visual for the students. If you do not have the ability to use PowerPoint, then refer to it in the Student Notes.

All the religions in the world can be broken down into three groups: the occult, the cults, and the non-cults.

The occult refers to mysticism, superstition, and the supernatural. It is rooted in Satanism. This religion, or belief system, offers no hope and leads to Satan; therefore, we can move on to the next group.

A cult is a religious group that derives from a parent religion but in fact departs from the parent religion by denying one or more of the essential doctrines of that religion. It is also defined as a religion or religious order that is commonly considered to be false. Some examples would include Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons whose mother religion is Christianity, but deny the trinity and/or the deity of Christ. The Nation of Islam is a cult of Islam and Hare Krishna is a cult of Hinduism because they deny one or more essential beliefs. Since these are considered false religions we can set them aside as not being trustworthy to lead to God.

The third group of religions is the non-cults. This group can be broken into three categories based on their concept of god. These religions either believe in one god (monotheism), more than one god (polytheism), or no god at all (atheism).

The religions that believe in no god include ones such as atheist, secular humanism, Marxism, and Confucianism. Since these religions do not believe in God, they are not concerned with having any beliefs that lead to God.

The next category of religions believe in many gods. These religions include ones such as voodooism, tribalism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the New Age. Because these religions have belief systems that teach there are many gods, then which god is the true god? In Acts 17, we read about the people of Athens and how they worshipped many gods. They even made an altar used for worship with the inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD in fear that they would miss one. It’s not only difficult to know which of these many-god religions lead to God but even more difficult, which god?

The third category are the non-cult, one god, religions. There are three major religions who believe in one true God: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. So now the question is, which of these three remaining religions is true? To answer this question we will logically use the law of non-contradiction.

The law of non-contradiction states that two opposing statements cannot both be true. For example, you can’t say that a ball, such as this bowling ball, is both round and square. It can’t be both.

The same is true with all these religious belief systems. They can’t all be right. The three left on our chart can’t all be true either because they have opposing beliefs.

To determine which one is true, let’s use the deepest questions people have been trying to answer that have created all these religions.

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1. Why do we exist?

In all three (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) they believe that we all exist because God created us as part of His original creation. We are different in kind from the animals and we were all created in God’s image.

Teacher’s Note: Islam’s god is Allah but they still believe that their god created them.

2. Why is there evil in the world?

The reason why there is evil in the world is also basically the same though stated differently. There is evil because of sin whether it’s expressed in rebellion, disobedience, or ignorance.

3. How can a person be saved from sin?

All three have a different view of salvation. Judaism and Islam say salvation is found in obedience to God’s law or seeking God’s guidance, both based on man’s effort. Christianity, however, says salvation is found in the obedience of Jesus Christ who paid for man’s sin when He died on the cross. Is salvation based on man’s effort or on faith in Jesus Christ as Savior? Logically it can’t be both. All religions, whether categorized by the occult, cults, or non-cults, all have as part of their belief system man’s effort to save himself from the sinful wickedness of this world, except biblical Christianity. Biblical Christianity is the only religion that teaches that man can do nothing to save himself and that God provided salvation for man. In other words, Christianity teaches that one way is the only way.

Another way to look at this is, religion is man’s attempt to reach God, whereas biblical Christianity is God reaching down to sinful man. Logically all religions cannot lead to God otherwise how would anyone know if their way was indeed the right way? Again, one way is the only way. Let’s say you needed to get to Boston, MA but you can choose any route or any direction to get there. If you choose to go west and end up in California, you might be sincere, but you’d be lost and nowhere near Boston.

It’s just not logical to believe that all religions lead to God. All the different belief systems can’t all be right. Therefore, which belief system is the right one? Let’s go back to the plumb line.

Remember, you can trust the plumb line because of gravity. Gravity is your constant! It is the unchanging law of gravity that gives you confidence in using the plumb line to keep the structure vertically straight.

When you are talking with someone about their belief system, ask them how they know what they believe is true. Find out what their belief system is based on. Again, all religions base their beliefs on some type of religious writing. Ask them how much confidence they have that their religious writing is the truth.

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Then, when your friend questions you about your beliefs, you will be ready to give your answer as to why you believe your religious writing is the truth. The Christian plumb line is the Word of God. God is the constant who never changes and He has given us His Word so that we can know Him.

Teacher’s Note: Have three students each ready to read one of the verses describing God’s Word.

God’s Word is true (Psalm 119:160), eternal (Psalm 119:89), pure (Psalm 119:140), and it is the very words of God. It was written in 3 different languages, on three different continents, by 40 different writers over a 1500 year period of time and yet it has one author who is God. And it is accurate historically, mathematically, scientifically, archeologically, academically, and theologically. The Bible deconstructs the false religions while declaring the truth.

Biblical Christianity is the only religion that teaches that the way to God is through God, not through man. ALL other religions teach that man has to work or be good enough to earn their way to God. Is it one way or is it many ways to get to God? Listen, one way is the only way.

III. Why is there only one way to God?

The idea that there are many ways to God is actually driven by man’s innate desire to either know God, reach God, or become a god. Why? It is because man was created by God in the image of God. The problem is that sin separated man from God. God’s character and holiness wouldn’t allow Him to overlook man’s sin. Man’s relationship with God was broken and his fellowship with God was lost.

God, however, desires to have a relationship with His creation. He desires to have fellowship with mankind. Therefore, God provided a way for this relationship and fellowship to be restored. God wants you to be with Him in heaven. God gave you His Word so that you could know the way to Him.

The way to God is not a secret, a scavenger hunt, a to-do list, or a guessing game. Getting to God is so important to Him that He made a way that is real, clear, and simple. God said the only way to Him is through His Son Jesus Christ (read John 14:6). Jesus is the sacrifice God provided for our sin so that we could be with Him (read Hebrews 9:26 and 10:12). One way is the only way.

Connection

Now let’s say a student in your English class tells you she believes all religions lead to God or she asks you the question, “Do all religions lead to God?” Do you know how to answer her? The simple answer is, “No, because not all religions can be right at the same time.” All religions teach, in some form, that in order to reach God or the afterlife you have to be good enough; your good works must outweigh your bad works. The only religious system that teaches the opposite is biblical Christianity, which states that you get to heaven by faith, not by works (read Ephesians 2:8-9).

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Here is a question to ask the student in English class, “Would it be better to have one way to God that is known, or have many ways to God but not know which way is actually the right way that leads to Him?” You see when there are many ways then no one can be totally sure that their way is the right way.

It’s kind of like trying to balance on the board on top of the bowling ball like (student name) tried at the beginning of this lesson. It was much safer to balance on the board when it was on the floor. The only way to have a sure way to God is to have one way. One way is the only way.

If two of you claim that your way is the right way to God then one of you must be wrong and one of you must be right. Which one is it? Does it not make sense to trust in the God who made Heaven to tell you how to get to Him in Heaven? Well He did. He wrote it down in His Word, the Bible. Just like you can trust the plumb line to always be vertically straight because of gravity you can always trust the Bible because it is God’s truth. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ and the only religion that proclaims this truth is biblical Christianity.

Remember, religion is a system of beliefs where trust and confidence can be placed in someone or something. The only religious belief system that puts trust and confidence in God rather than man is biblical Christianity. Biblical Christianity is based on God’s unchanging Word and on that you can build your life and bank on it for your eternal salvation. All other religions are like trying to balance on a bowling ball.

Decision

Sometime this week role play with a friend asking them to pretend to believe that all religions lead to God. Dialogue with your friend and use tonight’s lesson to defend your belief that there is only one way to God through Jesus Christ and try to persuade your friend that one way is the only way.

After you have practiced what you have learned from the lesson, tweet out “one way is the only way” and see if it leads to any conversations. Be ready to share that Jesus is the only way.

Sticky Statement

One way is the only way

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Small Group Discussion Questions

1. What sets biblical Christianity apart from ALL other religions? (Lead this discussion by having the students mention false religions that their classmates believe such as Mormonism or Hinduism. Ask your students if they know what these other religions believe about getting to God. Emphasize with your group that biblical Christianity is the ONLY religion that teaches that the way to God is through God, not through man. ALL other religions teach that man has to work or be good enough to earn their way to God. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God, whereas biblical Christianity is God reaching down to sinful man.)

2. What answer would you give your classmate who asks why you believe Jesus is the only way to God? (Do your best not to answer this question for your students even if there is an awkward silence. Prod them along so they learn to express in words why they believe Jesus is the only way to God.

God said the only way to Him is through His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus is the sacrifice God provided for our sin so that we could be with Him (Hebrews 9:26 and 10:12). One way is the only way.)

3. Why can you be confident that biblical Christianity is the only belief system that gives the right answers to life’s greatest questions? (The point of this question is to take your students back to the Word of God as our authority for what we believe. They need to understand that our belief system is not like balancing on a bowling ball but that it is firmly rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

The Christian plumb line is the Word of God. God is the constant who never changes and He has given us His Word so that we can know Him. God’s Word is true (Psalm 119:160), eternal (Psalm 119:89), pure (Psalm 119:140), and it is the very words of God.)

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THE CHART OF RELIGIONS

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