Steven Garofalo
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WHY CHRISTIANITY IS THE TRUTH & ALL OTHER RELIGIONS FALSE
By Steven Garofalo, March 1, 2024 (Copyright 2024)
March 01, 2024

With the full shmorgisborg of religions in the world, what makes Christianity the Truth and all the other religions false?

Today, we are going to peel back some basic truths about the Bible and see that the uniqueness of Jesus Christ is unmatched as compared to any and all other gods and religions in the world. Let’s get started!

No other God outside of the biblical God can claim that their god or religious figure ever came into the world in human form, walked among us and is literally “love”.. No god outside of “I AM”-“YAHWEH”-“JESUS CHRIST” was made manifest among us so that we might live through Him. And no other religion or their god outside of the Biblical God “IS LOVE” in their essence or attributes. 1 John 4:9 stands out among other verses as to why this is.

1 John 4:9 says: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

This is just but one verse, but a very powerful and insightful one. What is 1 John 4:9 saying and how does this truth verse debunk and disqualify all other religions such as Buddhism, Islam/Mohammad, Mormonism and even Judaism which denies Jesus Christ (Son of God) as being the truth or true God? Let me explain.

Buddha, Mohammad, Mormonism, even Judaism lack the essential components which in turn disqualifies them as the truth of God while at the same time setting Christianity apart as the Truth of God.  Here, Christianity is clearly seen not only as THE TRUTH, but as the Truth “DESIRED” by all nations and all peoples. Let’s break down 1 John 4:9 and apply across the board.

FIRST: “LOVE OF GOD”: 1 John 4:9 opens with God telling us that it is HIS LOVE, the “love of God” that “was made manifest among us”. What does that mean? It means that His Son, Jesus Christ was born as 100% God and 100% man who dwelt “among us”. No other religion can even remotely make such a claim. No other religion ever said that God Himself made himself a human being and came to earth to walk among the people of the earth. Only Jesus Christ was born as fully man and fully God and dwelt among us in human flesh. That’s number one.

SECOND: “GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON”: Not only did God send His Son, but He sent His ONLY SON. This means that God so LOVED us that he sent his ONE AND ONLY Son in human form or “was made manifest among us”. According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word “MANIFEST” means:

“To “display" or show by one’s acts or appearance and implies an external display so evident that little or no inference or conclusion or opinion that is formed because of known facts or evidence is required as it implies presence of visible signs that lead one to a definite conclusion.

In other words, the actions and eyewitness accounts of JESUS were DISPLAYED and SHOWED the entire world by His ACTS and APPEARANCE that He is the Son of God. Furthermore, His actions were so evident as an EXTERNAL DISPLAY that no other evidence was necessary to prove him to be GOD HIMSELF-the SON OF GOD. The VISIBLE SIGNS of Jesus’ three short public ministry lead the world to the definite conclusion that He is the Son of God.

Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Hinduism and all other religions in the world are unable to make such a claim. The evidence is simply not there. Only the biblical Son of God, Jesus Christ fits this bill and He fits it to the tee.

WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT GOD SENDING HIS “ONLY” SON INTO THE WORLD TO DIE FOR YOU AND I?

Why is this so important? When I think about the military draft of the past, I think of the fact that in many cases, if one had only one son, they were often spared the draft or military service in an effort to maintain and preserve the family name in the case the drafted soldier parishes in war. God didn’t concern Himself as such; instead He intentionally sent His one and only Son Jesus into the world-purposely and sacrificially as an “atonement” for our sins-to die for you and I and all who would receive Him. We often gloss over this simple truth. The point is that God is extremely “LOVING”, “GIVING”, “CARING”, and “WANTING” the best for all humans which are created in His image. We should be eternally grateful that God did that for us. That’s number two.

THIRD AND LAST: God did all of this for the simple reason-“SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM”. What does it mean “that we might live through Him?  It means that "WE (including you and I) HAVE SEEN AND TESTIFY THAT THE FATHER HAS SENT HIS SON TO BE THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD”. It means the indwelling God, whose presence is manifested in the midst of a loving Christian community, thus becomes truly visible to the eye of faith. Though no one “HAS SEEN” (“tetheatai”meaning BEHELD) God (v.12) speaks to believers who abide in Him (v.13).

It speaks to those who “HAVE SEEN” the Son as He is manifested  “among loving Christians”. Hence, Christians who behold this manifestation have in fact have “SEEN” and can “TESTIFY” to the fundamental truth that “the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT this great truth can be put on display through the instrumentality of Christian LOVE-As GOD IS LOVE and we, as His children can and do POSSESS HIS LOVE.

IN SUMMARY CONCLUSION:  1 John 4:9 is part of a much larger passage which includes 1 John 4:7-21 in total. This is one of John’s greatest passages in that “GOD IS LOVE” (vs. 8, 16). LOVE is HIS supreme quality for us, but as an attribute or as His essence is NO GREATER than any of His other attributes.

So to answer the original question-with the full shmorgisborg of religions in the world, what makes Christianity the Truth and all the other religions false? The uniqueness of Jesus Christ is which is unmatched as compared to any and all other gods and religions in the world is the answer.

God can be known only by those who  “LIVE IN LOVE” (vs.16). Yet we could not know how nor be able, to love Him or others if He had not “FIRST LOVED US” (v.19) Furthermore, “IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER”, God abides in us and His love is perfect and matured in us (v.12).

Today we have learned in 1 John 4:9, that “THE LOVE OF GOD” for His children was visibly demonstrated through Jesus work on the Cross on our behalf. Furthermore, that He sent his “ONLY BEGOTTEN SON” expresses the sense of uniqueness, not a literal birth (Hebrew 11;17). Simply put-Jesus is the unique Son of God; no other person is God’s Son in the way He is.

Hence, Buddha (Buddhism), Mohammad (Islam), Mormonism, even Judaism lacks the essential components that disqualifies them from being the truth of God and sets Christianity apart on a separate level and dimension as “THE EXCLUSIVE TRUTH OF GOD”. In the END-Christianity is clearly seen not only as THE TRUTH, but as the Truth desired by all nations and all peoples . For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:19).

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When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
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Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

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A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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