To listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Moody radio.
They don’t. Many people are generous and productive human beings who have been drawn into a false religion or cult that have kept them from knowing the Jesus of the Bible. No one has shared with them that all people from the beginning of time have sinned. The only way for all of us to get to Heaven is to have someone perfect to pay the price for our sins. Sinless Jesus did that for all of us through his death and resurrection.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
In what do some of the other religions believe?
Atheism: Atheists do not believe that there is a God. Therefore, there can be no Heaven. Most will tell you there is nothing after death believing they will turn into dirt. Without God, there is no hope; their future will be eternal torment.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God'” (Psalm 14:1).
Islam: Islam is a false religion. Muslims will use Christian words like salvation, Jesus, God and Paradise, but their meanings are different from the Christian faith. Muslims live under a works system of trying to do enough good deeds that will outweigh the bad deeds so that they can go to Paradise. They also recite extra prayers, fast, go on pilgrimages, and perform good works in the hope of tipping the scales. There is no assurance for the Muslim to go to Paradise. Even Muhammad was not sure that Allah would admit him to Paradise.
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:35,36).
Mormonism: Many Mormons say they are Christians and use Christian words, but they are not believers in the Jesus in the Bible. They rely on good works for their hope to go to their Heaven. To reach the highest Heaven, one must believe in god, repent of sins, be baptized in the church, be a member of the LDS church, receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, obey the Mormon “Word of Wisdom.” With works, the Mormon believes that can become a god. Although Mormons are usually family oriented, loving and kind people, they have been deceived by a false religion that distorts the truth of the biblical God, the person of Jesus Christ whom they do not believe in God, and the meaning of salvation.
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me” (Isaiah 43:10).
Christianity: Christianity is the only religion that teaches us that we can do nothing to earn or pay for our way into Heaven. Christians are saved by the grace of God when we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay the penalty for our sin.
Ephesians 2:8,9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Knowing that so many people have been misled and lied to by embracing false religions, we should all be motivated to reach out to our friends who need the true Jesus in their life!