Monday, July 25, 2011
about osuji simon: Do all religions lead to God?
about osuji simon: Do all religions lead to God?: "Many people think this is the case, because they assume that all religions are essentially the same when you get right down to it. But ..."
Saturday, July 2, 2011
The Triumphal Entry
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!’”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Jesus Clears the Temple
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ?
But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’’”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, they went out of the city.
Notes:
vv. 8-10 – Many people in Jerusalem had heard about Jesus’ miracles, and some probably
thought He was the long-awaited Messiah. They welcomed Him like a king.
vv. 13-14 – However, Jesus knew that the city had not repented. They were not really
ready to participate with Him in the battle for righteousness. The Old Testament prophets often used the fig tree as a symbol for a prosperous and blessed Israel. For Jesus too, this fig tree was a symbol of the nation that was not producing the righteousness that He and the prophets before Him had expected in response to God’s call.
vv.15-17 – In a grander symbolic action, Jesus took His battle for righteousness directly
into the Temple premises. This buying and selling of animals for the temple sacrifices was taking place in the outermost court. This is the court where the Gentiles had to stand if they wanted to worship. They were not allowed to enter any further. How could they worship, though, with all the yelling and bartering and disturbances that were going on?
Because the animals sold for sacrifice in the Temple courts had been approved by the priests, the charge for these animals was many times higher than in the general market. The traders and the priests made a huge profit, especially to the burden of the poor.
Jesus demonstrated God’s long-standing anger with this mistreatment of the Gentiles and the poor. He overturned their tables and stopped their trading in the Temple courts. Jesus once again quoted from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah in showing that God’s anger at this practice had been there for a long time: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers.” (v. 17)
thought He was the long-awaited Messiah. They welcomed Him like a king.
vv. 13-14 – However, Jesus knew that the city had not repented. They were not really
ready to participate with Him in the battle for righteousness. The Old Testament prophets often used the fig tree as a symbol for a prosperous and blessed Israel. For Jesus too, this fig tree was a symbol of the nation that was not producing the righteousness that He and the prophets before Him had expected in response to God’s call.
vv.15-17 – In a grander symbolic action, Jesus took His battle for righteousness directly
into the Temple premises. This buying and selling of animals for the temple sacrifices was taking place in the outermost court. This is the court where the Gentiles had to stand if they wanted to worship. They were not allowed to enter any further. How could they worship, though, with all the yelling and bartering and disturbances that were going on?
Because the animals sold for sacrifice in the Temple courts had been approved by the priests, the charge for these animals was many times higher than in the general market. The traders and the priests made a huge profit, especially to the burden of the poor.
Jesus demonstrated God’s long-standing anger with this mistreatment of the Gentiles and the poor. He overturned their tables and stopped their trading in the Temple courts. Jesus once again quoted from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah in showing that God’s anger at this practice had been there for a long time: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers.” (v. 17)
Are there unjust and disrespectful religious practices that you would like to “overturn” as part of Jesus’ battle for righteousness today?
The Master Taught in Parables
Mt. 13:34 -“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; He did not say anything to them without using a parable.”
What is a parable? Why did Jesus use them? How does one understand them?
A. What Kind of “Ground” Are You?
Read Mathew 13:1-23
The point of a parable usually comes in the last lines. The end of the parable is the climax, the important point.
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear.”
10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.13This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The point of a parable usually comes in the last lines. The end of the parable is the climax, the important point. What is the last verse of this “Parable of the Sower” (v. 8)? What, then, is the major point of the parable?
In this parable, Jesus is teaching that the seed of His teaching will produce results, tremendous results.
Note the refrain that we will often hear at the end of Jesus’ parables: v. 9
What do you think Jesus means by this? What does “ears to hear” mean? Why would one not want to hear?
Jesus quotes the Old Testament prophet Isaiah as he speaks with deep disappointment and sarcasm about the people of Israel. Why weren’t these Old Testament people willing to hear the prophet’s message?: vv. 13-15.
What does it mean that a person’s “heart has become callused?” Another expression for this in the Bible is that people have a “hard heart.”
God’s Word cannot get in and produce results. Remember the Sermon on the Mount? People don’t want to lead a life that makes a difference: people who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt. 5:6), people who are “peacemakers” (5:9), who are the “salt of the world” and the “light of the world” (5:13-14), and so forth. They know they will stick out; they will face opposition, they will be “persecuted because of righteousness” (5:10). They don’t want to be a disciple of the Master so they make their heart to His call.
Jesus gives several examples of this hardness of heart in the parable. Note Jesus’ explanations in vv. 18-23. What is the reason for the hardness of heart:
in v. 19? –
in vv. 20-21? –
in v. 22? –
Why could the seed produce such marvelous results in v. 23?
Can you think of times in your life when you were like each of these examples? Give an example when your heart was hardened to God’s call:
Give an example of when your heart was open to God’s call:
If people are open to receive God’s call in their life, they will have true life (remember Mt. 10:23). They will make a difference with their life “30-, 60-, and 100-fold.”
The disciple of Jesus the Master will go from strength to strength. He “will be given more, and he will have in abundance (v. 12).
What is a parable? Why did Jesus use them? How does one understand them?
A. What Kind of “Ground” Are You?
Read Mathew 13:1-23
The point of a parable usually comes in the last lines. The end of the parable is the climax, the important point.
The Parable of the Sower
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9He who has ears, let him hear.”
10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.13This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The point of a parable usually comes in the last lines. The end of the parable is the climax, the important point. What is the last verse of this “Parable of the Sower” (v. 8)? What, then, is the major point of the parable?
In this parable, Jesus is teaching that the seed of His teaching will produce results, tremendous results.
Note the refrain that we will often hear at the end of Jesus’ parables: v. 9
What do you think Jesus means by this? What does “ears to hear” mean? Why would one not want to hear?
Jesus quotes the Old Testament prophet Isaiah as he speaks with deep disappointment and sarcasm about the people of Israel. Why weren’t these Old Testament people willing to hear the prophet’s message?: vv. 13-15.
What does it mean that a person’s “heart has become callused?” Another expression for this in the Bible is that people have a “hard heart.”
God’s Word cannot get in and produce results. Remember the Sermon on the Mount? People don’t want to lead a life that makes a difference: people who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt. 5:6), people who are “peacemakers” (5:9), who are the “salt of the world” and the “light of the world” (5:13-14), and so forth. They know they will stick out; they will face opposition, they will be “persecuted because of righteousness” (5:10). They don’t want to be a disciple of the Master so they make their heart to His call.
Jesus gives several examples of this hardness of heart in the parable. Note Jesus’ explanations in vv. 18-23. What is the reason for the hardness of heart:
in v. 19? –
in vv. 20-21? –
in v. 22? –
Why could the seed produce such marvelous results in v. 23?
Can you think of times in your life when you were like each of these examples? Give an example when your heart was hardened to God’s call:
Give an example of when your heart was open to God’s call:
If people are open to receive God’s call in their life, they will have true life (remember Mt. 10:23). They will make a difference with their life “30-, 60-, and 100-fold.”
The disciple of Jesus the Master will go from strength to strength. He “will be given more, and he will have in abundance (v. 12).
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue?
The “real presence” of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Lord’s Supper is a doctrine of Roman Catholicism (and some other Christian denominations) which teaches that, instead of being symbolic rites, communion and baptism are opportunities for the real presence of God to appear. In the case of communion, they believe once the priest has blessed the wine and the bread, the wine becomes Jesus’ blood and the bread becomes His flesh. They cannot explain how, but they believe this transformation (called transubstantiation) allows God to spiritually nourish the partaker to better serve Him and to be Christ to the lost world.
This concept is hard even for Roman Catholics to fully explain. They believe that Jesus instituted communion as a way of allowing believers to participate in the ongoing sacrifice of the cross. Once the bread and wine are blessed, Christ’s crucifixion is presented again to those in attendance. The ceremony somehow perpetuates the ever-present crucifixion. Even when the service (or mass) is completed, the leftover bread is kept and venerated in thanks to God for providing the transformation and the nourishment.
There are two major problems with this line of thought. First, there is no way that a ceremony can recreate Jesus’ crucifixion. Several places in the New Testament claim Jesus’ death was “once for all” (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18). There is no mention that the act of the crucifixion, which occurred within the confines of a linear timeline, is somehow free of that timeline to be as eternal as God Himself. The results of that act are certainly timeless, as it was that act that allowed even those before Jesus’ time to be saved. But we have no way of participating in an act that occurred nearly two-thousand years ago, except in the symbolic sense.
That is the great controversy of the belief of the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. But on a practical level, the bread does not become flesh. The wine does not become blood. And no amount of belief is going to make it so. The more urgent issue is the false belief that God’s blessing and nourishment come through that bread and wine. Roman Catholicism teaches that liturgy (taken from the Greek for “work”) is the conduit through which God provides blessing and salvation. Essentially, in addition to placing the priest between the congregants and God, they also place the bread and wine between themselves and God. They believe they are blessed because of their obedience in taking communion, and that blessing literally streams from God through the bread and wine and into their souls.
This is not what Jesus taught. He said, “I am the bread of life” and “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:48, 63). Jesus is the bread of life, but He is also the Word (John 1:1). The bread that nourishes is the Word of God (Matthew 4:4), not a wafer somehow transformed into the flesh of Jesus. The idea that we have to go through a human ceremony to receive that spiritual nourishment is the type of belief Jesus came to abolish. His death tore the veil in the temple, giving us the ability to have a direct relationship with God (Hebrews 4:16). That veil was not replaced by the act of blessing and eating bread and wine.
This concept is hard even for Roman Catholics to fully explain. They believe that Jesus instituted communion as a way of allowing believers to participate in the ongoing sacrifice of the cross. Once the bread and wine are blessed, Christ’s crucifixion is presented again to those in attendance. The ceremony somehow perpetuates the ever-present crucifixion. Even when the service (or mass) is completed, the leftover bread is kept and venerated in thanks to God for providing the transformation and the nourishment.
There are two major problems with this line of thought. First, there is no way that a ceremony can recreate Jesus’ crucifixion. Several places in the New Testament claim Jesus’ death was “once for all” (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18). There is no mention that the act of the crucifixion, which occurred within the confines of a linear timeline, is somehow free of that timeline to be as eternal as God Himself. The results of that act are certainly timeless, as it was that act that allowed even those before Jesus’ time to be saved. But we have no way of participating in an act that occurred nearly two-thousand years ago, except in the symbolic sense.
That is the great controversy of the belief of the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. But on a practical level, the bread does not become flesh. The wine does not become blood. And no amount of belief is going to make it so. The more urgent issue is the false belief that God’s blessing and nourishment come through that bread and wine. Roman Catholicism teaches that liturgy (taken from the Greek for “work”) is the conduit through which God provides blessing and salvation. Essentially, in addition to placing the priest between the congregants and God, they also place the bread and wine between themselves and God. They believe they are blessed because of their obedience in taking communion, and that blessing literally streams from God through the bread and wine and into their souls.
This is not what Jesus taught. He said, “I am the bread of life” and “It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:48, 63). Jesus is the bread of life, but He is also the Word (John 1:1). The bread that nourishes is the Word of God (Matthew 4:4), not a wafer somehow transformed into the flesh of Jesus. The idea that we have to go through a human ceremony to receive that spiritual nourishment is the type of belief Jesus came to abolish. His death tore the veil in the temple, giving us the ability to have a direct relationship with God (Hebrews 4:16). That veil was not replaced by the act of blessing and eating bread and wine.
Do you have eternal life?
The Bible presents a clear path to eternal life. First, we must recognize that we have sinned against God: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We have all done things that are displeasing to God, which makes us deserving of punishment. Since all our sins are ultimately against an eternal God, only an eternal punishment is sufficient. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
However, Jesus Christ, the sinless (1 Peter 2:22), eternal Son of God became a man (John 1:1,14) and died to pay our penalty. "God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ died on the cross (John 19:31-42), taking the punishment that we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). Three days later He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), proving His victory over sin and death. "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
By faith, we must change our mindset regarding Christ - who He is, what He did, and why - for salvation (Acts 3:19). If we place our faith in Him, trusting His death on the cross to pay for our sins, we will be forgiven and receive the promise of eternal life in heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross is the only true path to eternal life! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and deserve punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
However, Jesus Christ, the sinless (1 Peter 2:22), eternal Son of God became a man (John 1:1,14) and died to pay our penalty. "God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ died on the cross (John 19:31-42), taking the punishment that we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). Three days later He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), proving His victory over sin and death. "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
By faith, we must change our mindset regarding Christ - who He is, what He did, and why - for salvation (Acts 3:19). If we place our faith in Him, trusting His death on the cross to pay for our sins, we will be forgiven and receive the promise of eternal life in heaven. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross is the only true path to eternal life! "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, here is a sample prayer. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. "God, I know that I have sinned against you and deserve punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
Why did God choose Israel to be His chosen people?
Speaking of the nation of Israel, Deuteronomy 7:7-9 tells us, “The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.”
God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born—the Savior from sin and death (John 3:16). God first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis chapter 3). God later confirmed that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why God chose Israel to be His special people. God did not need to have a chosen people, but He decided to do it that way. Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God chose Israel.
However, God’s reason for choosing the nation of Israel was not solely for the purpose of producing the Messiah. God’s desire for Israel was that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation who pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior. For the most part, Israel failed in this task. However, God’s ultimate purpose for Israel—that of bringing the Messiah into the world—was fulfilled perfectly in the Person of Jesus Christ.
God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born—the Savior from sin and death (John 3:16). God first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis chapter 3). God later confirmed that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why God chose Israel to be His special people. God did not need to have a chosen people, but He decided to do it that way. Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God chose Israel.
However, God’s reason for choosing the nation of Israel was not solely for the purpose of producing the Messiah. God’s desire for Israel was that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation who pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior. For the most part, Israel failed in this task. However, God’s ultimate purpose for Israel—that of bringing the Messiah into the world—was fulfilled perfectly in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Do all religions lead to God?
Many people think this is the case, because they assume that all religions are essentially the same when you get right down to it. But this just isn’t true. If you let each religion speak for itself, you find religions around the world differ greatly on the basic concepts-God, truth, reality, the basic human dilemma and the solution to that dilemma. They differ so much that many of their statements contradict one another. For example, God cannot be both personal, as Christians, Jews and Muslims believe, and impersonal, as Buddhists and Hindus believe. Those are contradictory statements. According to the rules of logic, contradictory statements cannot all be true. Therefore, all religions cannot possibly be true. It is a logical impossibility. And if they are not all true, then not all of them can lead to God.
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