There is a popular view that the God of the universe will accept all religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, etc. as long as a person sincerely believes in the God of his/her culture and is a good person. I recently had someone tell me that. My answer to him was that, if that view is true, then Jesus died “needlessly”. Galatians 2:²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” In that context, Paul is saying that one cannot achieve saving righteousness through keeping the Law of Moses (or any law of any religion) b/c no one can keep whatever law he/she is under perfectly. So when one breaks whatever law he/she is under, they sin, but the law (any law) cannot save from sin; it can only condemn, not save. If it was possible for someone to be saved by law keeping, then Jesus suffered and died in vain.

If someone can be saved by being a devout Hindu or Buddhist, then Jesus suffered and died needlessly. Why would God allow His Son to suffer and die a horrible death on the cross if someone could be saved without believing in Jesus. Someone might say, “Jesus did have to die to save sinners, but his death would save a Hindu even if he doesn’t believe in Jesus. But that contradicts what Jesus said in John 8:²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.” One must believe in Jesus or else die in one’s sins. John 3:16 “whosoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life”. Belief in Jesus is not optional. BTW universalism teaches that the death of Jesus covers all religions and all sinners whether they believe in Jesus or not. I wish that were true, but the Bible refutes that clearly.

The resurrection of Jesus confirms what I am saying in this article. In Acts 17, Paul came to Athens, Greece and walked among their many idols dedicate to their many Greek gods and goddesses. He even came to an altar to “the unknown god” (in case they missed one), and told them about Yahweh, the God of Israel, the one and only true God. He then preached to them that Jesus would be the judge of all men, “having furnished proof by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Why would the pagans reject the religoin of their culture (the worship of Greek gods and goddesses) just b/c this foreigner came telling them that they are worshipping in “ignorance” (Acts 17:23)? The resurrection of Jesus was the “proof” that belief in Jesus was the only true religion that pleases God. God does not expect us to just believe that Jesus is the only way for salvation based on blind faith and flimsy evidence. He gave an irrefutable proof by raising Jesus who had been dead for 3 days. So what happened after his sermon? Acts 17:³² Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you again concerning this.” ³³ So Paul went out from among them. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Hinduism would be a parallel to the paganism, idolatry, and worship of many gods of the Athenians.

I close with John 17:³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” That just about says it all, doesn’t it? Let’s take this one step. further. If someone rejects Jesus and continues to live in sin, then Jesus died needlessly. If someone thinks that being a good moral person can save, then Jesus died needlessly. Have you believed in the one true God, Yahweh, and Jesus His Son?