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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How Can I Know Christianity Is The Right Religion? (Part 1) | February 10, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church of
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- Dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory" with
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- Dr. robert jeffress.
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- Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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- Again to "pathway to victory."
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- In our pluralistic society, people from all walks of life
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- Are invited to participate in mormonism, islam, buddhism,
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- Judaism, christianity, and everything in between.
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- And while we celebrate religious freedom and tolerance, not all
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- Religions are equally valid.
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- So why do so many people insist that there are multiple paths
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- To god?
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- And what are the implications of embracing that idea?
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- We're answering the question "how can i know christianity is
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- The right religion?"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- Male announcer: it's okay to have questions about your faith,
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- But you need answers you can trust.
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- In his book "how can i know?" dr. robert jeffress addresses
- 00:01:06.022 --> 00:01:09.559
- Seven of life's most important questions.
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- If you've ever wondered how you can know the bible is true, or
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- How you can know if you're going to heaven, this book makes a
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- Compelling case for answers you can embrace with confidence.
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- Request your copy of "how can i know?"
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- When you give a generous gift to support the ministry of
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- Pathway to victory.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- Jeffress: we're in a series entitled "how can i know?
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- Answers to life's seven most important questions."
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- And last time we began by looking at the foundational
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- Question: "how can i know there is a god?"
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- And we said you can't prove the existence of god, the atheists
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- Can't prove the non-existence of god, but the real question is:
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- Where does the best evidence lead?
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- And when we look at the evidence, we see god's
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- Fingerprints all over this universe: the existence of
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- Matter, the design in the universe, the existence of man,
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- And the experiential argument; if god doesn't exist, why do so
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- Many people find him anyway?
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- But even if you can see there is a god somewhere, who is
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- Responsible for everything we see, the question is: which god
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- Do we worship?
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- There are thousands of different gods, who is the right god?
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- And if you settle on who the right god is, what is the right
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- Way to worship him?
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- That's what religion is all about.
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- It answers the question: how can i have a right relationship
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- With god?
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- There are a lot of different ideas.
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- So out of thousands of gods and thousands of world religions,
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- How can i know christianity is the right religion?
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- That's what we're going to talk about today.
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- Now, some people even bristle at the idea of a right religion.
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- They say that leads to intolerance.
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- They think religion is a matter of opinion, like the
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- Best temperature.
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- If you ask people, what is the right temperature?
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- Some will say 72, some will say 68, some will say 76, everybody
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- Has a different idea.
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- But there's a difference between asking what temperature do you
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- Like best, to what is the temperature?
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- There's one answer to that, it's whatever the thermometer says.
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- When it comes to religion, people wanna say it's a matter
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- Of opinion.
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- But no, it's more in the realm of mathematics; two and
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- Two--two plus two isn't whatever you wish it were.
- 00:03:44.047 --> 00:03:48.017
- Water doesn't freeze at whatever temperature you say, there is a
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- Precise answer, and that is true in the world of spiritual things
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- As well.
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- What is the right way to worship god?
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- It's not whatever you think is the right way, there's an
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- Objective answer to that question.
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- Some people say to preach exclusivity--that any religion
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- Is the right religion--is, first of all, leading to intolerance.
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- You know, that word "tolerance" is something that has changed
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- Its meaning over the years.
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- It used to be tolerance referred to respect for others people to
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- Embrace whatever belief system they had; we respect their right
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- To be wrong.
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- That's what real tolerance is, respecting somebody's right to
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- Be wrong.
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- But that idea has morphed in recent years to be that all
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- Ideas are equally valid.
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- Whatever you think to be true is true, and of course, that's a
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- False idea.
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- Other people say that exclusivity, saying there's one
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- Religion, is unnecessary.
- 00:04:58.521 --> 00:05:01.224
- Because after all, they say, all the world religions teach
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- Basically the same thing.
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- Anybody who says that has never studied the world religions
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- Because, in fact, they don't say the same thing.
- 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:13.002
- That's why there are thousands of different religions, because
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- Of different beliefs, not because of unanimity of belief.
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- And then thirdly, some people find the idea of christianity
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- Being the right religion as troubling.
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- They say: don't you realize, pastor jeffress, there are 8
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- Billion people who live on planet earth.
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- Only 2.2 billion can even be categorized as christian, and
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- That's more because of nationality, where they're born,
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- Than any personal decision.
- 00:05:40.863 --> 00:05:42.965
- But let's be generous, let's say there are 2.2 billion people who
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- Are christians, that means there are 5.8 billion people who
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- Are wrong.
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- How can so many people be wrong?
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- We'll talk about that in a moment.
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- And yet, the bible is clear, christianity offers the one true
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- Way to god.
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- What is the evidence for that?
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- Today i'd like you to consider four pieces of evidence that
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- Lead to the conclusion christianity is the
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- Right religion.
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- First of all, the uniqueness of jesus christ.
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- The uniqueness of jesus christ.
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- It's interesting, few historians doubt that jesus existed.
- 00:06:22.805 --> 00:06:27.543
- Even thomas paine, a well known deist, believed that, even
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- Though the bible was filled with errors, paine believed that
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- Jesus was a historical figure.
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- The problem is thomas paine believed what most people
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- Believe today: they believed he was a good, moral teacher, he
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- Was a religious person, he was a great example, but he wasn't
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- Much more than that.
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- And yet, jesus claimed a lot more for himself than being a
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- Good moral teacher.
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- In fact, jesus made four specific claims during his 33
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- Years here on earth.
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- He--first of all, jesus claimed to be god.
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- Jesus claimed to be god.
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- No religious leader, no founder of a religion ever claimed to be
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- God himself, they simply claim to point people to whatever god
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- They believed was the real god.
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- For example, muhammad, the founder of islam, said: "surely
- 00:07:22.865 --> 00:07:27.169
- I am no more than a human apostle."
- 00:07:27.169 --> 00:07:30.506
- And what was true of muhammad was true of moses and confucius
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- And the lord buddha; they didn't claim to be god, they claimed to
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- Point people to god.
- 00:07:39.949 --> 00:07:41.751
- However, jesus said in john 10:30: "i and the father are
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- One," he claimed to be the same as god.
- 00:07:46.889 --> 00:07:50.426
- Remember in john 14 when philip begged jesus to show him god?
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- Jesus responded by saying in john 14:9: "have i been so long
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- With you, and yet you've not come to know me?
- 00:08:00.770 --> 00:08:04.006
- He who has seen me has seen the father; how then can you say,
- 00:08:04.006 --> 00:08:08.878
- 'show us the father?'"
- 00:08:08.878 --> 00:08:10.746
- You remember that after jesus was arrested in the garden of
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- Gethsemane, he went through six trials in a short period of time
- 00:08:14.650 --> 00:08:19.455
- Before he was executed on friday.
- 00:08:19.455 --> 00:08:22.191
- The first trial was before the high priest caiaphas.
- 00:08:22.191 --> 00:08:25.895
- In mark 14, it was in the middle of the night, caiaphas
- 00:08:25.895 --> 00:08:29.298
- Was tired.
- 00:08:29.298 --> 00:08:30.666
- He said, "jesus, let's just cut to the chase, are you the son of
- 00:08:30.666 --> 00:08:33.836
- The living god or what?"
- 00:08:33.836 --> 00:08:35.905
- And what did jesus say?
- 00:08:35.905 --> 00:08:37.773
- In mark 14:62, he answered very clearly, "i am."
- 00:08:37.773 --> 00:08:43.279
- "are you the son of god?"
- 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.614
- "i am," jesus said.
- 00:08:44.614 --> 00:08:47.850
- That dispels the common idea that's popularized in many tv
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- Shows or books that jesus never claimed to be god.
- 00:08:52.221 --> 00:08:56.192
- Have you heard that before?
- 00:08:56.192 --> 00:08:57.560
- "that's just something his followers made up about him
- 00:08:57.560 --> 00:09:00.463
- After he died to make a good story even better."
- 00:09:00.463 --> 00:09:04.200
- No, jesus said, "i am god."
- 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.069
- Caiaphas understood that when jesus said, "i am."
- 00:09:07.069 --> 00:09:11.073
- "the high priest caiaphas tore his clothes," mark 14 said, "and
- 00:09:11.073 --> 00:09:15.778
- He said, 'what further need have we have witnesses?
- 00:09:15.778 --> 00:09:18.447
- You have heard this blasphemy; how does it seem to you?'
- 00:09:18.447 --> 00:09:22.284
- And everyone there condemned jesus to be deserving of death."
- 00:09:22.284 --> 00:09:27.123
- He didn't go to the cross--he wasn't crucified for saying,
- 00:09:27.123 --> 00:09:30.760
- Turn the other cheek, nobody was offended by that, he was
- 00:09:30.760 --> 00:09:34.997
- Crucified for claiming to be god.
- 00:09:34.997 --> 00:09:38.100
- Secondly, jesus claimed to forgive sins.
- 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:41.637
- No other religious leader ever claimed the ability to forgive a
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- Person of their sins.
- 00:09:45.508 --> 00:09:47.510
- For example, buddha said: "in reality there are no living
- 00:09:47.510 --> 00:09:52.181
- Beings to whom the lord buddha can bring salvation."
- 00:09:52.181 --> 00:09:56.385
- But jesus claimed he had that authority, he claimed the
- 00:09:56.385 --> 00:10:00.423
- Ability to forgive sins.
- 00:10:00.423 --> 00:10:02.324
- Remember when the disciples brought the paralytic man to
- 00:10:02.324 --> 00:10:05.695
- Jesus to be healed?
- 00:10:05.695 --> 00:10:07.430
- Mark 2:5 says: "and jesus seeing their faith said to the
- 00:10:07.430 --> 00:10:11.100
- Paralytic, 'son, your sins are forgiven.'"
- 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:15.071
- That incensed the religious leaders, and they asked, "why
- 00:10:15.071 --> 00:10:18.541
- Does this man speak in this way?
- 00:10:18.541 --> 00:10:20.976
- He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but god?"
- 00:10:20.976 --> 00:10:27.049
- Jesus consistently taught that his primary purpose in leaving
- 00:10:27.049 --> 00:10:31.454
- Heaven and coming to the world was to provide a way of the
- 00:10:31.454 --> 00:10:35.391
- Forgiveness of sins.
- 00:10:35.391 --> 00:10:37.293
- In luke 19:10, he said: "for the son of man has come to seek and
- 00:10:37.293 --> 00:10:42.064
- To save those who are lost."
- 00:10:42.064 --> 00:10:44.700
- Jesus claimed to be god; he claimed to forgive sins;
- 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:48.604
- Thirdly, he claimed to conquer death.
- 00:10:48.604 --> 00:10:52.708
- No other religious leader claimed the power to conquer
- 00:10:52.708 --> 00:10:56.746
- Death, but jesus did.
- 00:10:56.746 --> 00:10:58.481
- In fact, it was central to his teaching.
- 00:10:58.481 --> 00:11:01.016
- In matthew 16:21, matthew writes: "from that time, jesus
- 00:11:01.016 --> 00:11:06.589
- Began to show his disciples that he must go to jerusalem, and
- 00:11:06.589 --> 00:11:11.093
- Suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and
- 00:11:11.093 --> 00:11:14.130
- Scribes, and be killed, and raised up on the third day."
- 00:11:14.130 --> 00:11:18.868
- In fact, jesus taught that the signal proof that he was who he
- 00:11:18.868 --> 00:11:23.506
- Said he was would be his resurrection from the dead.
- 00:11:23.506 --> 00:11:28.177
- Remember matthew 12 verses 38 to 40?
- 00:11:28.177 --> 00:11:32.381
- "some of the scribes and pharisees said to jesus,
- 00:11:32.381 --> 00:11:35.084
- 'teacher, we want a sign from you.'"
- 00:11:35.084 --> 00:11:37.620
- You talk about this messiah stuff, we want a sign that you
- 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:41.724
- Are really the son of god.
- 00:11:41.724 --> 00:11:43.692
- "jesus answered and said to them, 'it's an evil and
- 00:11:43.692 --> 00:11:46.662
- Adulterous generation that craves for a sign; and yet no
- 00:11:46.662 --> 00:11:50.232
- Sign shall be given to you but the sign of jonah the prophet;
- 00:11:50.232 --> 00:11:54.069
- For just as jonah was three days and three nights in the
- 00:11:54.069 --> 00:11:57.840
- Belly of the sea monster, so shall the son of man be three
- 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:01.844
- Days and three nights in the heart of the earth.'"
- 00:12:01.844 --> 00:12:04.480
- In other words, "here's the sign you're looking for; jonah was in
- 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:08.551
- The belly of that great fish for three nights, i'm going to be
- 00:12:08.551 --> 00:12:13.088
- In the grave for three days and three nights before i arise
- 00:12:13.088 --> 00:12:17.726
- From the dead."
- 00:12:17.726 --> 00:12:19.061
- Now some of you may say, well, preacher, that certainly is
- 00:12:19.061 --> 00:12:21.363
- Reading a lot into what jesus was saying.
- 00:12:21.363 --> 00:12:24.633
- No, even his enemies understood that he claimed to have the
- 00:12:24.633 --> 00:12:29.205
- Ability to conquer death; that was going to be the proof of
- 00:12:29.205 --> 00:12:32.875
- Whether he was the son of god or not.
- 00:12:32.875 --> 00:12:36.478
- And that explains why on the saturday after he was crucified
- 00:12:36.478 --> 00:12:40.983
- On friday, when his body was placed in the tomb, the
- 00:12:40.983 --> 00:12:44.954
- Religious leaders went to pontius pilate with a request to
- 00:12:44.954 --> 00:12:49.491
- Keep the grave secure; keep jesus in that tomb, whatever
- 00:12:49.491 --> 00:12:55.431
- The cost.
- 00:12:55.431 --> 00:12:57.199
- Matthew said it this way in matthew 27, beginning with verse
- 00:12:57.199 --> 00:13:00.169
- 62: "now on the next day, that is the day after the
- 00:13:00.169 --> 00:13:04.406
- Preparation," that saturday after the crucifixion on friday,
- 00:13:04.406 --> 00:13:08.377
- "the chief priest and the pharisees gathered together with
- 00:13:08.377 --> 00:13:12.081
- Pilate," the roman procurator, "and they said, 'sir, we
- 00:13:12.081 --> 00:13:16.852
- Remember that when jesus was still alive, that deceiver said,
- 00:13:16.852 --> 00:13:21.991
- 'after three days, i'm going to rise again.'
- 00:13:21.991 --> 00:13:25.461
- Therefore, pilate, give orders for the grave to be made secure
- 00:13:25.461 --> 00:13:30.099
- Until the third day.
- 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:32.034
- Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and
- 00:13:32.034 --> 00:13:36.505
- Claim that he has risen from the dead, and the last deception
- 00:13:36.505 --> 00:13:41.243
- Will be worse than the first.'"
- 00:13:41.243 --> 00:13:43.679
- Pilate acquiesced.
- 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.481
- He realized what a tremendous blunder it would be if he
- 00:13:45.481 --> 00:13:49.018
- Allowed that body to be stolen, and then his disciples were to
- 00:13:49.018 --> 00:13:52.655
- Go around claiming, "see, he did what he said he would do."
- 00:13:52.655 --> 00:13:56.959
- So pilate gave the religious leaders a roman guard unit of 16
- 00:13:56.959 --> 00:14:01.363
- Men to keep that grave secure.
- 00:14:01.363 --> 00:14:05.434
- Now, whether you believe jesus really rose from the dead or not
- 00:14:05.434 --> 00:14:10.272
- Is a matter for another sermon.
- 00:14:10.272 --> 00:14:12.041
- There is ample evidence, lots of evidence, that jesus did rise
- 00:14:12.041 --> 00:14:16.912
- From the dead on the third day.
- 00:14:16.912 --> 00:14:18.781
- You know what the greatest piece of evidence is?
- 00:14:18.781 --> 00:14:23.118
- Nobody's found the body of jesus yet in 2,000 years.
- 00:14:23.118 --> 00:14:27.256
- I mean, he didn't die secretly, he died publicly.
- 00:14:27.256 --> 00:14:31.060
- He wasn't buried in an undisclosed location, everybody
- 00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:34.096
- Knew where he was.
- 00:14:34.096 --> 00:14:36.131
- And yet, jesus rose from the dead, that tomb was empty on
- 00:14:36.131 --> 00:14:40.769
- Easter sunday morning.
- 00:14:40.769 --> 00:14:42.638
- The fact is, if the romans had known where that body was, if
- 00:14:42.638 --> 00:14:47.977
- The jewish leaders had known where it was, they would have
- 00:14:47.977 --> 00:14:50.746
- Gone to get it as soon as they could.
- 00:14:50.746 --> 00:14:52.881
- They would have rolled it through the streets of
- 00:14:52.881 --> 00:14:54.650
- Jerusalem, and christianity would be dead at its outset.
- 00:14:54.650 --> 00:14:59.288
- But you know why they haven't found the body?
- 00:14:59.288 --> 00:15:01.557
- It's not there; he has risen from the dead just as he
- 00:15:01.557 --> 00:15:05.961
- Promised he would.
- 00:15:05.961 --> 00:15:09.064
- But even if you don't believe that, the point is jesus is
- 00:15:09.064 --> 00:15:14.670
- Still the only leader, the only founder of a religion who
- 00:15:14.670 --> 00:15:18.540
- Claimed the ability to conquer death.
- 00:15:18.540 --> 00:15:21.543
- That's what makes christianity unique.
- 00:15:21.543 --> 00:15:24.146
- And fourthly, jesus claimed that he would return to judge
- 00:15:24.146 --> 00:15:27.383
- The world.
- 00:15:27.383 --> 00:15:28.751
- No other religious leader made that grandiose claim that he
- 00:15:28.751 --> 00:15:32.755
- Would come after death, back to the earth, to judge the world.
- 00:15:32.755 --> 00:15:36.825
- But that's what jesus taught in matthew 25, beginning with verse
- 00:15:36.825 --> 00:15:40.129
- 31: "when the son of man comes in glory, and all the angels
- 00:15:40.129 --> 00:15:44.666
- With him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
- 00:15:44.666 --> 00:15:47.336
- All the nations will be gathered before him; and he will separate
- 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:50.906
- Them one for another, as the shepherd separates the sheep
- 00:15:50.906 --> 00:15:55.177
- From the goats."
- 00:15:55.177 --> 00:15:56.845
- Now, some religious leaders teach that their exception or
- 00:15:56.845 --> 00:16:01.116
- Rejection by god is dependent upon their rejection or
- 00:16:01.116 --> 00:16:07.322
- Acceptance by whatever god they believe in.
- 00:16:07.322 --> 00:16:11.160
- But jesus is the only founder of a religion who said a person's
- 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:15.664
- Eternal destiny depended on what people do about him.
- 00:16:15.664 --> 00:16:21.236
- Jesus said, "whether you go to heaven or hell is going to be
- 00:16:21.236 --> 00:16:24.807
- Judged by what you do with me.
- 00:16:24.807 --> 00:16:27.409
- Do you accept my claims or not?"
- 00:16:27.409 --> 00:16:29.878
- In john 3, verses 17 and 18, jesus said: "for god did not
- 00:16:29.878 --> 00:16:34.450
- Send the son into the world to judge the world, but that the
- 00:16:34.450 --> 00:16:38.153
- World might be saved through him."
- 00:16:38.153 --> 00:16:40.122
- That verse confuses people, oh, jesus doesn't judge; no, jesus
- 00:16:40.122 --> 00:16:45.094
- Does judge, but he doesn't judge us when we're dead--after we're
- 00:16:45.094 --> 00:16:49.731
- Dead--to say, oh, was he a good person or a bad person?
- 00:16:49.731 --> 00:16:53.135
- We've all been judged already.
- 00:16:53.135 --> 00:16:55.537
- We've all been judged as guilty before god: "for all have sinned
- 00:16:55.537 --> 00:16:59.675
- And fallen short of the glory of god;" that judgment has already
- 00:16:59.675 --> 00:17:03.345
- Been made.
- 00:17:03.345 --> 00:17:04.680
- The reason jesus came to earth the first time was to offer
- 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:07.483
- Salvation from that judgment, to offer the salvation, the
- 00:17:07.483 --> 00:17:11.587
- Forgiveness of sins.
- 00:17:11.587 --> 00:17:13.388
- Verse 18 says: "he who believes in jesus is not judged; but he
- 00:17:13.388 --> 00:17:18.360
- Who does not believe has been judged already, for he does not
- 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:22.131
- Believe in the name of the holy begotten son of god."
- 00:17:22.131 --> 00:17:25.367
- In john 18:24 jesus said: "therefore, i say to you that
- 00:17:25.367 --> 00:17:29.338
- You will die in your sins; for unless you believe that i am
- 00:17:29.338 --> 00:17:33.275
- He," the messiah, "you will die in your sins."
- 00:17:33.275 --> 00:17:37.579
- In his book "the world's living religions," robert hume notes
- 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:41.917
- That the nine founders of nine of the most popular
- 00:17:41.917 --> 00:17:45.387
- Non-christian religions, every one of those founders, went
- 00:17:45.387 --> 00:17:49.358
- Through a period of doubt in his life about who he was, he went
- 00:17:49.358 --> 00:17:53.295
- Through a time of seeking the light, the truth.
- 00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:57.466
- But not jesus.
- 00:17:57.466 --> 00:17:58.834
- From the time he was 12 years old, he understood and vocalized
- 00:17:58.834 --> 00:18:02.804
- Exactly who he was.
- 00:18:02.804 --> 00:18:04.573
- He didn't search for the light, he said, "i am the light!"
- 00:18:04.573 --> 00:18:08.777
- "i am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in
- 00:18:08.777 --> 00:18:12.681
- Darkness, but will have the light of life."
- 00:18:12.681 --> 00:18:16.418
- This is what makes jesus unique: his unique claims.
- 00:18:16.418 --> 00:18:21.557
- You can't say he was just a good man, because he claimed a lot
- 00:18:21.557 --> 00:18:25.827
- More than that, a whole lot more.
- 00:18:25.827 --> 00:18:28.096
- And that leads to what is known as c. s. lewis's
- 00:18:28.096 --> 00:18:31.133
- Famous trilemma.
- 00:18:31.133 --> 00:18:33.235
- C. s. lewis rightly pointed out that being a good, moral teacher
- 00:18:33.235 --> 00:18:37.639
- Is not an option because jesus claimed to be god, to forgive
- 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:41.710
- Sins, to conquer death, and to come back and judge the world.
- 00:18:41.710 --> 00:18:46.648
- So, given what jesus claimed, you can only come to one of
- 00:18:46.648 --> 00:18:50.419
- Three conclusions: one conclusion you can make about
- 00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:53.889
- Jesus is that he is a liar.
- 00:18:53.889 --> 00:18:57.059
- That is, he made all of these claims, but he knew they were
- 00:18:57.059 --> 00:19:00.429
- False, so jesus is a liar.
- 00:19:00.429 --> 00:19:04.633
- How many of you today would be willing to stand up and say
- 00:19:04.633 --> 00:19:08.203
- Jesus christ is a liar?
- 00:19:08.203 --> 00:19:11.740
- How many of you are certain enough about heaven and your
- 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:16.345
- Eternal destiny that you'd be willing to stand up and call him
- 00:19:16.345 --> 00:19:20.549
- A liar?
- 00:19:20.549 --> 00:19:22.684
- Do you think jesus is a liar?
- 00:19:22.684 --> 00:19:25.520
- Well, if he's not a liar, then lewis said another alternative
- 00:19:25.520 --> 00:19:28.957
- Is he's a lunatic.
- 00:19:28.957 --> 00:19:31.426
- He would have the mental ability of a poached egg, lewis said.
- 00:19:31.426 --> 00:19:35.731
- He made all these claims because he really thought they were
- 00:19:35.731 --> 00:19:38.900
- True, he was deluded.
- 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.669
- He thought he was the son of god, he thought he would
- 00:19:40.669 --> 00:19:43.038
- Conquer death.
- 00:19:43.038 --> 00:19:44.373
- Now, again, from what you know about jesus, do you believe
- 00:19:44.373 --> 00:19:48.076
- Jesus was a madman, a lunatic?
- 00:19:48.076 --> 00:19:52.281
- Well, if he's not a liar, he's not a lunatic, everybody knows
- 00:19:52.281 --> 00:19:57.052
- He lived and made these claims, the only other alternative is he
- 00:19:57.052 --> 00:20:02.257
- Is who he said he was; he is the lord, he said these things
- 00:20:02.257 --> 00:20:06.962
- Because they're true.
- 00:20:06.962 --> 00:20:08.864
- That's what makes christianity unique.
- 00:20:08.864 --> 00:20:13.368
- Now, that leads to the second distinguishing thing about
- 00:20:13.368 --> 00:20:16.905
- Christianity: the teaching of jesus.
- 00:20:16.905 --> 00:20:20.509
- Now, if jesus--will you follow me on this, if jesus is right
- 00:20:20.509 --> 00:20:24.613
- About who he is, then it means we better pay attention to what
- 00:20:24.613 --> 00:20:28.684
- He says about everything.
- 00:20:28.684 --> 00:20:30.686
- Because if he's telling the truth about his own identity,
- 00:20:30.686 --> 00:20:33.989
- Everything else he speaks about is true as well.
- 00:20:33.989 --> 00:20:36.692
- So what did jesus have to say about this idea of exclusivity?
- 00:20:36.692 --> 00:20:40.862
- Did jesus believe that there are many ways to heaven?
- 00:20:40.862 --> 00:20:44.966
- Did jesus believe all different world religions are kind of like
- 00:20:44.966 --> 00:20:48.704
- Different pathways up the same mountain that lead to the
- 00:20:48.704 --> 00:20:51.440
- Same truth?
- 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.808
- Or like others say, different religions are like different
- 00:20:52.808 --> 00:20:55.444
- Tributaries that flow into the same river and lead to truth?
- 00:20:55.444 --> 00:20:59.715
- What did jesus say about exclusivity, there being one way
- 00:20:59.715 --> 00:21:04.419
- To heaven?
- 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.754
- Well, first of all, jesus taught there are two possible eternal
- 00:21:05.754 --> 00:21:09.524
- Destinations for people.
- 00:21:09.524 --> 00:21:11.360
- There are two possible destinations, not one;
- 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:14.796
- Everybody's not going to the same place when they die.
- 00:21:14.796 --> 00:21:17.599
- Everybody's not going to heaven.
- 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.601
- Jesus said in matthew 25:46: "the unrighteous will go away
- 00:21:19.601 --> 00:21:24.606
- Into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
- 00:21:24.606 --> 00:21:30.278
- Jesus taught there is both a heaven and a hell.
- 00:21:30.278 --> 00:21:34.616
- If you get mad about hearing from me about hell, don't direct
- 00:21:34.616 --> 00:21:38.887
- Your anger toward me, send a letter to jesus about it, he's
- 00:21:38.887 --> 00:21:42.991
- The one who talked about hell.
- 00:21:42.991 --> 00:21:44.459
- In fact, jesus had more to say about hell when he was on earth
- 00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:48.964
- Than he did about heaven.
- 00:21:48.964 --> 00:21:50.699
- Jesus taught there are two possible destinations, not one.
- 00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:54.669
- Secondly, jesus said--this will blow your mind--the majority of
- 00:21:54.669 --> 00:21:59.141
- Mankind will spend eternity in hell.
- 00:21:59.141 --> 00:22:02.844
- Jesus said there are only two roads: one leads to heaven, one
- 00:22:02.844 --> 00:22:06.748
- Leads to hell, and more people are on the road to hell than
- 00:22:06.748 --> 00:22:10.118
- Are on the road to heaven.
- 00:22:10.118 --> 00:22:11.653
- Where does he say that?
- 00:22:11.653 --> 00:22:13.021
- One place is matthew 7, verses 13 and 14: "enter through the
- 00:22:13.021 --> 00:22:17.993
- Narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that
- 00:22:17.993 --> 00:22:22.197
- Leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
- 00:22:22.197 --> 00:22:26.034
- But the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to
- 00:22:26.034 --> 00:22:29.304
- Life, and there are," what?
- 00:22:29.304 --> 00:22:31.973
- "few who find it."
- 00:22:31.973 --> 00:22:35.277
- Again, people ask: how could so many billions and billions of
- 00:22:35.277 --> 00:22:38.480
- People in the world be wrong about religion?
- 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.082
- It's troubling to think, and i acquiesce it is troubling to
- 00:22:41.082 --> 00:22:44.119
- Think, that the majority of people are on the road to
- 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:47.189
- Eternal destruction, but jesus said that's exactly the way it's
- 00:22:47.189 --> 00:22:50.892
- Going to be.
- 00:22:50.892 --> 00:22:52.260
- The way to heaven is a narrow way, few are those who will
- 00:22:52.260 --> 00:22:56.031
- Find it.
- 00:22:56.031 --> 00:22:57.399
- In matthew 7, verses 21 to 23, jesus said: "not everybody who
- 00:22:57.399 --> 00:23:02.003
- Says to me, 'lord, lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but
- 00:23:02.003 --> 00:23:05.941
- He who does the will of my father who is in heaven.
- 00:23:05.941 --> 00:23:09.678
- Many will say to me on that day," the judgment day, "'lord,
- 00:23:09.678 --> 00:23:13.415
- Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out
- 00:23:13.415 --> 00:23:16.618
- Demons, and in your name perform many miracles?'
- 00:23:16.618 --> 00:23:19.821
- And then i will say to them, 'i never knew you; depart from me,
- 00:23:19.821 --> 00:23:24.993
- Those of you who practice lawlessness.'"
- 00:23:24.993 --> 00:23:29.030
- Jesus said there are two possible destinations; there are
- 00:23:29.030 --> 00:23:32.634
- More people headed toward the wrong destination than the
- 00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:35.837
- Right one.
- 00:23:35.837 --> 00:23:37.205
- Thirdly, jesus offers the exclusive way to heaven.
- 00:23:37.205 --> 00:23:44.679
- Jeffress: the exclusivity of christ is not a popular message
- 00:23:45.847 --> 00:23:49.150
- In today's inclusive society, but jesus is the one who said:
- 00:23:49.150 --> 00:23:54.389
- "i am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to
- 00:23:54.389 --> 00:23:58.293
- The father except through me."
- 00:23:58.293 --> 00:24:01.530
- Before we wrap up today's program,
- 00:24:02.297 --> 00:24:04.366
- I want to share the incredible impact
- 00:24:04.366 --> 00:24:06.535
- Our faithful partners are making.
- 00:24:06.535 --> 00:24:08.803
- Through your ongoing support,
- 00:24:08.803 --> 00:24:10.705
- You're pointing others to jesus christ,
- 00:24:10.705 --> 00:24:13.642
- Like keith who lives in oklahoma.
- 00:24:13.642 --> 00:24:15.744
- He recently wrote and said,
- 00:24:15.744 --> 00:24:17.779
- "i've listened to 'pathway to victory' for a while now,
- 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:20.949
- And your teaching has helped me
- 00:24:20.949 --> 00:24:22.450
- Get through a lot of personal problems.
- 00:24:22.450 --> 00:24:25.020
- Your studies in the bible have shown me that jesus christ
- 00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:29.090
- Is the true lord and savior,
- 00:24:29.090 --> 00:24:31.293
- And that in him and through him, nothing is impossible."
- 00:24:31.293 --> 00:24:36.197
- Thanks for writing this encouraging note, keith,
- 00:24:36.197 --> 00:24:39.034
- And thanks to our faithful team of supporters
- 00:24:39.034 --> 00:24:41.369
- Who are helping us share the hope and truth of jesus christ
- 00:24:41.369 --> 00:24:45.140
- In a waiting world.
- 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.875
- Now stay right there.
- 00:24:46.875 --> 00:24:48.209
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
- 00:24:48.209 --> 00:24:50.912
- In just a moment.
- 00:24:50.912 --> 00:24:52.480
- [narrator] if a friend or one of your children
- 00:24:53.381 --> 00:24:55.283
- Came up to you and asked,
- 00:24:55.283 --> 00:24:56.718
- "how do you know christianity is the right religion?"
- 00:24:56.718 --> 00:24:59.621
- Could you give a clear and credible answer?
- 00:24:59.621 --> 00:25:02.357
- We'd like to send you a book from dr. robert jeffress
- 00:25:02.357 --> 00:25:05.193
- Containing answers to life's seven most important questions.
- 00:25:05.193 --> 00:25:09.064
- It's titled "how can i know?"
- 00:25:09.064 --> 00:25:11.266
- If we're honest, every one of us
- 00:25:11.266 --> 00:25:13.001
- Has questions about our faith, questions like,
- 00:25:13.001 --> 00:25:15.904
- "how can i know the bible is true?"
- 00:25:15.904 --> 00:25:18.206
- Or, "how can i know god exists?"
- 00:25:18.206 --> 00:25:20.942
- In my book, "how can i know?"
- 00:25:20.942 --> 00:25:22.944
- I tackle seven important questions
- 00:25:22.944 --> 00:25:25.580
- And provide biblically-based answers
- 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:28.183
- You can embrace with confidence.
- 00:25:28.183 --> 00:25:30.185
- [narrator] seven straightforward answers
- 00:25:30.185 --> 00:25:31.920
- To seven pressing questions.
- 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.922
- The book "how can i know" is yours today
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- When you give a generous gift
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- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory,"
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- Or when you sign up to become a pathway partner.
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- And when your gift is $75 or more,
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- 00:25:47.202 --> 00:25:49.404
- On dvd and audio disc with newly updated content for 2025.
- 00:25:49.404 --> 00:25:54.676
- It's not a sin to have doubts.
- 00:25:55.310 --> 00:25:57.646
- Sometimes doubt is a prerequisite to genuine faith.
- 00:25:57.646 --> 00:26:02.150
- [narrator] thank you for investing financially
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- In "pathway to victory."
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- Your partnership will help our ministry
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- Broadcast god's truth on television, on radio, and online,
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- 00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:15.163
- And transforming lives
- 00:26:15.163 --> 00:26:16.798
- Through the bold, biblical teaching of god's word.
- 00:26:16.798 --> 00:26:21.736
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:22.070 --> 00:26:23.505
- The bible is clear.
- 00:26:23.505 --> 00:26:25.140
- The only way to god is through his son jesus christ.
- 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:29.044
- Today we began looking at common objections
- 00:26:29.044 --> 00:26:31.946
- To the exclusivity of christ.
- 00:26:31.946 --> 00:26:34.449
- We also looked at the first of four distinguishing features
- 00:26:34.449 --> 00:26:38.186
- That make christianity different
- 00:26:38.186 --> 00:26:40.188
- From every other religion in the world.
- 00:26:40.188 --> 00:26:42.824
- And next time, we'll explore the teachings of jesus,
- 00:26:42.824 --> 00:26:45.794
- The teachings of the new testament,
- 00:26:45.794 --> 00:26:47.796
- And how jesus offers a unique solution to man's dilemma.
- 00:26:47.796 --> 00:26:53.068
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:54.002 --> 00:26:55.503
- In our series "how can i know."
- 00:26:55.503 --> 00:26:59.174
- It's grace, grace.
- 00:26:59.174 --> 00:27:02.210
- And when you think about it,
- 00:27:02.210 --> 00:27:03.344
- That is the distinguishing feature.
- 00:27:03.344 --> 00:27:06.014
- There are thousands of religions in the world,
- 00:27:06.014 --> 00:27:08.783
- Only christianity says it's my grace.
- 00:27:09.617 --> 00:27:13.588
- [narrator] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:13.588 --> 00:27:15.757
- For part two of the message
- 00:27:15.757 --> 00:27:17.525
- How can i know christianity is the right religion,
- 00:27:17.525 --> 00:27:20.662
- Here on "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:20.662 --> 00:27:20.662