Jesus Among Other godsLife Academy Epicenter Church

Earl J. Pearce, Facilitator

Jesus Among Other GodsThe Absolute Claims of the Christian Message

• The Book's Purpose:– Prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God

– Defend the Christian message by showing how it stands the test of truth in an age of pluralism

– Analyze Jesus' treatment of six key questions and compare His responses with those

espoused by world religions

– Demonstrate the importance of establishing open, friendly dialogue with those who hold opposing views

Six Main Questions

Where Do You Live

What Sign Will You Show Us

How Can We Accept Such A Hard Saying

Is God the Author of Pain and Suffering

Aren’t You Going to Answer

Who Is It You Are Looking For

Intolerant

Adjective:1. not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one's own, as in political or religious matters; bigoted. 2. unable or unwilling to tolerate or endure (usually followed by of ):

Is Christianity Intolerant?

• John 14:6– Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the

life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. • Acts 4:12

– And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

• John 17:3– This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only

true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. • Luke 10:22

– All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Is Christianity Intolerant?

• Intolerant– Of Hypocrisy – Matt. 23:25-26 – Of Greed – John 2:13-16– Of Hatred – Luke 6:27– Of Ignorance – Matt. 5– Of Prejudice – Luke 10:30-37

Is Christianity Intolerant?

• Short Answer -Yes

• Why is it so intolerant?– Because it is shaped after Jesus. – Intolerant of false gods and false gospels.

• It is intolerant because there is a hell and Jesus, who is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), who died for our sins (1 Pet. 2:24), has made the only way to forgiveness a reality:  through Him alone (John 14:6).

Is Christianity Tolerant?

• Christianity is very tolerant. • It teaches

– to be very forgiving (Matt. 18:21-22) – to be patient and kind (Gal. 5:22-23)– to be honest and wholesome (Phil. 4:6-8).– Jesus taught us to love and to heal and to be

examples of kindness and truth in the world.

Is Christianity Tolerant?

• Christ was intolerant of:– pride, rebellion, sin, covetousness, adultery,

lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, and murder. – husbands treating their wives poorly – pain and suffering – Yet, at the same time He demonstrated the

greatest love and patience with those who were guilty of all these things.

– Why? •Because He is God in the flesh, incarnate love,

incarnate righteousness, incarnate humility.

So…

• The whole issue of whether or not Christianity is intolerant lies in who Jesus is, what He claimed, and what He did. If what Jesus said and did is true, then Christianity isn't intolerant. It is simply true and…

• …it is the world that is intolerant of that truth.

And…

• Either it is all true or it is not. 

• Either Jesus performed miracles or He did not. 

• Either Jesus rose from the dead or He did not. 

• Based solely and completely on who Jesus is and what He did, Christianity is the truth and by necessity all other religions that disagree with Jesus are wrong.