It’s a good question, an important question, because if all religions lead to God, it doesn’t really matter which one we follow, we’ll get to Heaven one way or another. The problem is different religions don’t agree with each other. The idea there are many paths leading to God is a lie.
If all religions lead to God, I’m not sure I want to know the God who created them.
Christianity is completely unique – and we can explain why by looking at just one verse. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me”. (John 14:6)
Every other religion teaches we must try to “earn” our way to Heaven by what we do, by being good, by being religious, by doing more good things than bad things. They all teach getting to Heaven depends on us.
Jesus taught and claimed something completely different. He said:
“I am the way” – there is only one way to Heaven. There is no other way. You don’t earn it; you can’t earn it – I am the only way to become friends with God again. I am the only way to be forgiven. All other paths lead to death and judgement. I have done everything needed for you to be accepted by God, but you must believe in me, and live for me. Read Ephesians 2v1-10.
“I am the truth” – there is only one truth. There aren’t “many truths”. All other ways are lies, only I am being honest with you about how you can be forgiven, about how you can enter Heaven, even though you are sinful and unclean. In John 17:17 Jesus prayed about the truthfulness of God’s word.
“I am the life” – you won’t find eternal life anywhere else. You are spiritually dead, and nothing can bring you back to life other than me. Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life”. Our only hope of undoing the damage caused by sin is through Jesus. Read John 11 to see Jesus’ power over death.
“No one comes to the father except through me”. God the father, is someone we are separated from by our sin. Without Jesus, God is not our father, he is only our righteous judge. He is holy, a consuming fire (a fire that burns everything up). If we want God as our loving, forgiving father, we must come to Him through Jesus, because Jesus died in our place to pay for our sins. Without the cross we come before God covered in our guilt and sin, and He will destroy us. It is only through Jesus and His cross we are acceptable to God. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 where we learn about how God fixed the broken relationship with Him caused by our sins.
So, every other religion is telling you there is some hope of heaven if you do all the things you need to do. But how can anything we do cancel out a single sin? Even the good things we do are spoiled by pride. So, the bible is honest and says that “all our righteousness is as filthy rags”. In other words, if we try to cover ourselves to get into Heaven, we will arrive clothed in filthy, hole-filled rags and will not get in. Even repentance (turning our backs on sin) only stops us from committing new sins – it can’t pay for our past sins. That’s why we must turn away from sin and turn to Jesus, because He is the only way of being made clean.
If we trust in Jesus, He does it all for us. He pays the price. He takes the punishment. He died for us, so we don’t have to die. He suffered Hell for us, so we don’t have to suffer Hell. He took our sins so that we are clothed in his beautiful white clothes, and not our sins.
So, not all religions lead to God. Only turning to Jesus will lead you to God and eternity with him. If you give your life to Jesus, and live your life for Jesus, you will quickly grow to understand and believe what He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life”. You will know that Heaven is yours only because of Him.
