World Religions

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World Religions
There are 19 major world religions which are
subdivided into a total of 270 large religious
groups, and many smaller ones.

• World Christian Encyclopedia A comparative
  survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200
  David Barrett et al, editors

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World Religions
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USA Religious Stats

• Polling data from 2001 indicate that

• 76.5 (159 million) of Americans identify
  themselves as Christian.
• This is a major slide from 86.2 in 1990.
  Identification with Christianity has suffered a
  loss of 9.7 percentage points in 11 years.

World Christian Encyclopedia David Barrett et
al, editors
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USA Religious Stats
Polling data from 2001 indicate that

• 52 of Americans identify themselves as
  Protestant.
• 24.5 are Roman Catholic.
• 14.1 do not follow any organized religion. This
  is an unusually rapid increase from only 8 in
  1990.

World Christian Encyclopedia David Barrett et
al, editors
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USA Religious Stats
Polling data from 2001 indicate that

• 1.3 are Jewish.
• 0.5 are Muslim, followers of Islam.
• The fastest growing religion (in terms of
  percentage) is Wicca (witchcraft). It went from
  8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001.

World Christian Encyclopedia David Barrett et
al, editors
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USA Religious Stats
There are over 1,000 Christian religious
organizations in North America alone. Each has
their own set of beliefs, policies and practices.
When discussing such topics as the divinity of
Christ, salvation, heaven, etc., it would be
hopelessly unwieldy to explain the beliefs of
each faith group.

• World Christian Encyclopedia David Barrett et
  al, editors

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Families Of Christian Denominations
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Families Of Christian Denominations
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Families Of Christian Denominations
To which might be added a numberof additional
faith groups and secular systems, some of which
have only a loose connection to Christianity
if at all.
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Prevailing Attitudes

• All churches (belief systems) are basically OK.
• You should choose the church (belief system) that
  makes you comfortable.
• By all means do not be critical of somebody
  elses church (belief system).

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Legitimate Questions

• How can all of these churches use the same Bible
  and yet come out with so many completely
  different, contrasting and contradictory belief
  systems (faiths)?
• How can all of these churches and contradictory
  belief systems be OK when Jesus claimed to be THE
  TRUTH?
• Dont we have the most confusing religious book
  that has ever existed?
• Can we really be sure that Jesus is the Son of
  God?

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John 1717-21

• Sanctify them in the truth Your word is truth.
• As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent
  them into the world.
• For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they
  themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
• I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for
  those also who believe in Me through their word
• that they may all be one even as You,
  Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also
  may be in Us, so that the world may believe that
  You sent Me.

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Three Plain Truths From John 1717-21

• Only the truth (word of God) sets us apart for
  Gods service (sanctifies).
• On the basis of truth, we can and must be one
  (perfected in unity).
• Our unity (or lack thereof) will affect the
  worlds belief in Jesus.

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1 Corinthians 110-13

• Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our
  Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that
  there be no divisions among you, but that you be
  made complete in the same mind and in the same
  judgment. 
• For I have been informed concerning you, my
  brethren, by Chloes people, that there are
  quarrels among you. 
• Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying,
  I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of
  Cephas, and I of Christ.
• Is Christ divided? Paul was not crucified for
  you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of
  Paul?

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Three Plain Truths From 1 Corinthians 110-13

• They were arguing because they were following
  different teachers.
• As a result, they were dividing into clearly
  identifiable groups.
• Paul commanded them not to divide because Christ
  is NOT DIVIDED.
• Gal. 520 divisions are a work of the flesh.

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Matthew 1615-18

• He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
• Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the
  Son of the living God.
• And Jesus said to him, Blessed are you, Simon
  Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal
  this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
• I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon
  this rock I will build My church and the gates
  of Hades will not overpower it. 

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Four Plain Truths From Matthew 1618

• There would be only one church.
• The one church had not yet been built.
• The one church would belong to Jesus.
• Death would not prevail against the one church.

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Ephesians 122-23

• And He put all things in subjection under His
  feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the
  church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
  who fills all in all.

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Four Plain Truths From Ephesians 122-23

• There is only one church.
• The one church is now in existence.
• Jesus is the head of the one church.
• The one church is Jesus body.
• Colossians 118 He is also head of the body,
  the church.

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Ephesians 43-6

• being diligent to preserve the unity of the
  Spirit in the bond of peace.
• There is one body and one Spirit, just as also
  you were called in one hope of your calling 
• one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
• one God and Father of all who is over all and
  through all and in all.

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Four Plain Truths From Ephesians 43-6

• The unity of the Spirit existed in Pauls day.
• This unity was based on seven revealed truths.
• People who did not teach correctly on these seven
  truths would destroy existing unity.
• I.e., Any teaching that advocated or accepted
  more than one body (church), one faith
  (belief system) or one baptism (entrance into
  Christ), etc, etc would destroy unity. E.g.,
  Gal. 16-8.

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Acts 2028-31

• Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock,
  among which the Holy Spirit has made you
  overseers (bishops), to shepherd (pastor) the
  church of God which He purchased with His own
  blood.
• I know that after my departure savage wolves will
  come in among you, not sparing the flock
• and from among your own selves men will arise,
  speaking perverse things, to draw away the
  disciples after them.
• Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night
  and day for a period of three years I did not
  cease to admonish each one with tears. 

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Four Plain Truths From Acts 2028-31

• Elders were also called bishops and pastors.
• Savage wolves must be protected against because
  their teaching destroys souls.
• From among the elders themselves men would arise
  and obtain a following.
• For 3 years Paul warned them with tears about
  these things.

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2 Peter 21-3

• But false prophets also arose among the people,
  just as there will also be false teachers among
  you, who will secretly introduce destructive
  heresies, even denying the Master who bought
  them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
• Many will follow their sensuality, and because of
  them the way of the truth will be blasphemed
• and in their greed they will exploit you with
  false words their judgment from long ago is not
  idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

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Four Plain Truths From 2 Peter 21-3

• There will be false teachers among us who destroy
  souls with their teachings.
• The way of the truth will be blasphemed because
  of them.
• They are motivated by their own selfish desires.
• They will speak false words to maintain a
  position of advantage.

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2 Thessalonians 23-5

• Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will
  not come unless the apostasy (falling away) comes
  first, and the man of lawlessness (sin) is
  revealed, the son of destruction,
• who opposes and exalts himself above every
  so-called god or object of worship, so that he
  takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying
  himself as being God.
• Do you not remember that while I was still with
  you, I was telling you these things? 

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Three Plain Truths From 2 Thessalonians 21-5

• The time would come when there would be a great
  falling away from the faith.
• The man of sin would exalt himself, take his
  seat in the temple of God, and display himself as
  being God.
• Paul warned them repeatedly about this.

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1 John 41-6

• Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
  the spirits to see whether they are from God,
  because many false prophets have gone out into
  the world.
• They are from the world therefore they speak as
  from the world, and the world listens to them.
• We are from God he who knows God listens to us
  he who is not from God does not listen to us. By
  this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit
  of error.

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Three Plain Truths From 1 John 41-6

• We must test the spirits because there are MANY
  false prophets.
• These false prophets obtain a following because
  they speak as from the world.
• Christians must listen only to the true apostles
  and prophets. That is how we will know the spirit
  of truth and error.
• 1 Pet. 411 If any man speak, let him speak
  as the oracles of God.

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Correct Answers

• How can all of these churches use the same Bible
  and yet come out with so many completely
  different, contrasting and contradictory belief
  systems (faiths)?
• Gods Answer
• I told you there would be many false teachers
  speaking arrogant words of vanity (2 Pet.
  218), and that people would listen to them
  because they would tell them things in
  accordance to their own desires (2 Tim. 43-4).

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Correct Answers

• How can all of these different churches and
  contradictory belief systems (faiths) be OK when
  Jesus claimed to be THE TRUTH?
• Gods Answer
• You are not far from the kingdom of heaven. They
  are NOT OK. I told you there is only one church
  and there is only one faith (Eph. 44-6). My word
  is TRUTH if you stay within it you will know the
  truth (John 831-32).

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Correct Answers

• Dont we have the most confusing religious book
  that has ever existed?
• Gods Answer
• Confusion is from sinful and arrogant man. I
  warned you about false teachers (2 Pet. 21-3)
  and I told you to be careful to stay within My
  word (2 John 9). When you read My word you can
  understand it (Eph. 33-4) and you can know the
  truth (John 831-32). In fact, I require you to
  understand what My will is (Eph. 517).

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Correct Answers

• Can we really be sure that Jesus is the Son of
  God?
• Gods Answer
• Do not be deceived by the divisiveness of sinful
  man. Unless you believe that Jesus is the Son of
  God you will die in your sins (John 824).
  Whoever does not obey My Son shall not inherit
  the kingdom of heaven (John 336 Matt. 721 2
  Thess. 17-9).

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Have You Obeyed The Gospel?
Hear The Word (Rom. 1017) Believe That Jesus
is the Son of God (Acts 837) Repent of Your
Sins (Acts 238) Confess That Jesus is the Son
of God (Acts 837) Be Baptized for the
Forgiveness of Sins (Acts 238) Having Become A
Christian, Live Faithfully Until You Die (Rev.
210)