Sermon: “Exploring What Other Religious Groups and Cults Teach about Jesus Christ and Our Biblical Response.”

by | May 15, 2022 | Sermon

Series: “A Comparison between Christianity, and Other Religions and Cults!”

Sermon: “Exploring What Other Religious Groups and Cults Teach about Jesus Christ and Our Biblical Response.”

May 15, 2022

Praise the Lord Saints! Last week we covered a lot of material laying a Biblical foundation upon which we will stand in ministering to members of other religions and cults. Our foundational scripture 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “Be ready to give an answer [a ready defense] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. To be ready to give an answer, means that you have to prepare and that is what this series is going to do.

Today, as the message title says: We are “Exploring What Other Groups Teach about Jesus Christ and Our Biblical Response.” However, before we start exploring the other groups, I want to make sure we are on a firm footing as to what we believe as Christians, then we can look at what other groups are teaching and what our Biblical response should be.

Each religion or cult will be examined later using the following eight characteristics of Christian beliefs.   Christianity is presented first and the characteristics are: Founder, Writings, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Death, and other Beliefs.

CHRISTIANITY

Founder:

Jesus Christ. Founded about 30-33 AD in the Judean province of Israel under the Roman Empire. Followers are known as Christians.

Writings:

The Bible, was written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament), and Greek (New Testament).

God:

The one God is Triune (He is not three Gods but one God in three Persons): Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When one says the title “God” it designates the first person, God the Father. God is a spirit and as such, doesn’t have a physical body. God interacts with people and is a personal God. We learned in Genesis that He created everything out of nothing. His attributes are that He is eternal, holy, loving, changeless, and perfect.

Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. He is God the Son. He was not created. He always existed. He is fully God and fully man. His two natures were joined. He was co-equal with God and the Holy Spirit, as the second person of the Trinity. He became a man by being begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, salvation and eternal life. According to God’s plan, Jesus Christ died on the cross as full payment for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day, spiritually and immortal. For the next forty days, he was seen by more than 500 eyewitnesses. He ate meals and His wounds were touched. He ascended to heaven physically and likewise will return again at the end of the world, visibly and physically to establish God’s kingdom and judge the world.

Holy Spirit:

The third person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person and not a force, nor an energy field. He comforts, grieves, reproves, convicts, guides, teaches, and fills Christians. He is not God nor is He the Son, Jesus Christ.

Salvation:

Salvation is not by an individual’s good works, but by God’s grace. Salvation must be received by faith. God’s loving plan to forgive sinful people is that people must believe in their hearts that Jesus Christ died for their sins and physically rose again. This belief is the assurance of their forgiveness of sins, the healing of their bodies and the resurrection of their bodies.

Death:

Believers go to be with Jesus Christ. After death, all people await the final judgment and all people, both saved and unsaved people, will be resurrected. Those who are saved will live with Jesus Christ in heaven. Moreover, Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection guarantees believers that they too will be resurrected and receive new immortal bodies. While those who are lost, will suffer the torment of eternal separation from God (hell) and the Lake of Fire forever.

Other Beliefs:

Group worship is held usually in churches. There are no secret rites. Baptism and Lord’s Supper (Communion) are held. Active voluntary missionary efforts are conducted. Aid is given to those in need: the poor, widows, orphans and down- trodden. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah promised to Israel in the Old Testament (Tanak). Jesus Christ said that His followers would be known by their love for one another.

Now, that we have covered our Christian beliefs, we are ready to examine 13 major false teachings of other religious groups and cults about Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible’s response to them.

MAJOR FALSE TEACHINGS

  1. Jesus Christ is not God.

 The Biblical response should be:  John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” Another,

Colossians 1:15-20: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Or, John 1:16-18; John 8:56-58; and 1 Timothy 3:16.

  1. Jesus Christ was created by God.

The Biblical response should be:  John 10:30-38: “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him saying: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in me and I in him.”  Another

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Or, Matthew 1:18; John 17:5 and *Colossians 1:15-20, (See No. 1).

  1. There are three separate gods: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not one God in three persons.

 The Biblical response should be:  Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.”  Another,

Matthew 28:18-19: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Or, Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:6-8; John 10:30-38 (See No. 2); Matthew 1:18.

  1. Jesus is not necessary because there is no sin.

The Biblical response should be:  Romans 3:23-30: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.” Another,

I John 1:8-10: “If, we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Or, John 3:14-17; Rom. 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

  1. Jesus was not raised bodily from the dead.

Your Biblical response is Luke 24:36-53: “And as they thus spake, Jesus Christ himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath

not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”

Or, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

  1. Jesus was a great prophet but not God.

Your Biblical response should be John 5:17-18: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hither to and I work. Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” Another,

Colossians 2:9-10: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Or, John 10:30-38, (See No. 2); Isaiah 7:14 (See No. 2); Matthew 1:8; John 5:23; Phil. 2:9-11.

  1. There are many ways to God, not just one.

Your Biblical response should be John 14:6-7: “Jesus Christ saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” Another,

I Timothy 2:5-6: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”  Or, John 3:14-17 (See No. 4).

  1. Jesus is not necessary because people must pay for their own sins.

Your Biblical response should be: Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Another,

Romans 10:3-10: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) Or, who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  

Or, Rom 6:23, (See No. 4).

  1. Jesus died for sins, but people can’t be saved unless they obey all of the teachings of the church.

Your Biblical response should be: 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.”

Or, John 14:6-7, (See No. 7); Romans 10:3-10 (See No. 8).

  1. Jesus is God, but less than God the Father.

Your Biblical response should be: John 5:17-18: “But Jesus Christ answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

Or, John 5:23, (See No. 6); John 14:6-7, (See No. 7); Colossians 2:9-10, (See No. 6).

  1. Jesus was just a man.

Your Biblical response should be Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Another,

John 2:18-22: “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus Christ answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”

Or, John 10:30-38, (See No. 2); Matthew 1:18, (See No. 2).

  1. Jesus is not the only son of God.

Your Biblical response should be Hebrews 1:1-14: “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doeth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Another, John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Or, John 3:14-17, (See No. 4);

  1. Jesus will never come again.

Your Biblical response should be Acts 1:11: “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  

Another, I Thessalonians 4:13-18: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus Christ died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.”

In conclusion, we examined the eight characteristics of Christian beliefs of Christianity that will be used to compare the beliefs of other religious groups and cults. These characteristics were: “Founders, Writings, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Death and other Beliefs.” We are using these Christian characteristics to be sure that we are comparing apples to apples.

 I am sure that some of the major false teachings being taught by other religions and cults surprised you. Since these false teachings are what they have been taught, it is very likely that you will hear them again. This is why, I stressed and used our foundational scripture of 1 Peter 3:15: “Be ready to give an answer [a “ready defense] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” As you can see, you need to memorize some of these scripture references, so you can show it to them.  Remember, “faith cometh by hearing and hearing the Word of God.”  Glory be to God! You will be prepared to give them your personal testimony, as well as, answer their questions biblically and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work.

You can find this sermon on line with all of the scripture references for your convenience. Let’s give the Lord a praise offering for His teaching today on The Eight Characteristics of Christian Beliefs of Christianity and The Major False Teachings of other Religious Groups and Cults and the Biblical response to them.