Man must not say: It is o.k. to believe any religion!
A. It is against the 1st and greatest commandment? Mark 12:28-32
1. One of the scribes asked Jesus: What commandment is the first of all?
Jesus said: The first is the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Mark 12:29
Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Mk.12:30
The scribe said to him: Of a truth, teacher, thou had well said that he is one;
and there is none other but he. Mk.12:32
2. If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them,
I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Deu.8:19
3. They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them,
gods they did not know, gods he had not given them.
Therefore the LORD's anger burned against this land,
so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book.
In furious anger and in great wrath the LORD uprooted them from their land
and thrust them into another land, as it is now." Deu.29:26-28
4. Even If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
The god of the world has blinded the minds of unbelievers,
so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Cor.4:3-4
5. I told you that you would die in your sins;
if you do not believe that I am, you will indeed die in your sins. John 8:24
6. Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Eph.1:7
B. Bible story for illustration! Acts 14:8-15
1. In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth
and had never walked. Acts 14:8
2. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him,
saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, "Stand up on your feet!
At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:9-10
3. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language,
"The gods have come down to us in human form! Acts 14:11
4. Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.
The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city,
brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates
because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Acts 14:12-13
5. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes
and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:
Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.
We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. Acts 14:14-15
C. Conclusion:1. You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form
of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
punishing the children for the sin of the fathers
to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
but showing love to a thousand of those who love me and keep my commandments. Ex.20:3-6
2. Satan said to Jesus: All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me. Matt.4:9
Jesus said to him: Away from me, Satan!
For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Matt.4:10
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Preach this on February 12, 2012.