All Religions Cannot Be True

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Some people say, “All religions lead to God.” But that statement collapses under the weight of logic and truth. Let’s consider the three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

Judaism teaches that Jesus was just a man who died by crucifixion and was not raised from the dead. Islam claims Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God, and that He wasn’t crucified at all.

Christianity proclaims that Jesus is God the Son, who was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead, and who boldly stated in John 14:6,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

These views contradict each other. They cannot all be true. If one is right, the others must be wrong. It is intellectually dishonest—and spiritually dangerous—to pretend otherwise.

What makes Christianity unique is its Founder. Jesus didn’t merely teach moral truths or point to a path. He claimed to be the Truth—God in the flesh. No founder of any other religion dared make such claims:

• Muhammad said he was a prophet.

• Moses spoke on behalf of God.

• Buddha rejected the idea of a personal God altogether.

  
  

But Jesus claimed to forgive sins (Mark 2:5–7), to give eternal life (John 10:28), and to be one with the Father (John 10:30). Either He was telling the truth, or He was the greatest deceiver in history.

I appreciate an illustration originally shared by Professor John Lennox, and I’ve adapted it using my own marriage as the example: Imagine if, 23 years ago, I had told my wife, “You can be my wife if you cook, clean, and make my favorite meals for 20 years. Then I might accept you.” That would be outrageous. No real relationship is built on those terms. And yet, that’s exactly how many religions approach God—work for a lifetime through rituals and rule-keeping, and maybe you’ll be accepted in the end.

Christianity is different. Jesus doesn’t say, “Work your way to Me.” He says, “Come to Me." 'I’ve already done the work.' Salvation is a gift, not a reward. It’s based on grace, not merit (Luke 18:10-14; Ephesians 2:8–9). He also offers a relationship, not just a set of rules—“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

In the end, you must choose. All religions can’t be true. And if Jesus really rose from the dead—as the evidence and eyewitnesses testify—then His words are not just opinion. They are truth.

And the truth demands a response.