"Then it cannot be hard to accept that many who do not believe that Jesus is God still recognize the power of his words and teachings. Spiritual leaders from Muhammed to Gandhi to Chopra today relied and rely heavily on the words and teachings of Jesus... and none of them is a Christian. It is interesting to note that they do not rely on the Epistles of Paul or John nearly to the degree many Christian doctrinal denominations do. Even today, the words and teachings of Jesus have the power to bring together peoples of various religious beliefs. This what Jesus meant when he said, "I come not to judge the world but to save the world."
As is the case with many unbelievers, they pick and choose what "teachings" of Jesus they want to use as some sort of evidence supporting their preconceived notions about the world. Scripture is clear that without the indwelling Holy Spirit you cannot discern the meaning of scripture. If this person knew the meaning of the scriptures they would not be using the above words of Jesus to back their claim.
"Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." John 12:44-47
This passage of scripture is not Jesus' way of "bringing together peoples of various religious beliefs." If it were He would not have said those who don't keep His words aren't judged. The reason people who don't keep His words aren't judged is because "whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him (John 3:36)." The wrath of God is already on the unbeliever because they reject Jesus! Nobody is saved by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Salvation is given as a free gift to those who come to faith in Jesus not those who come to "faith" in His words. In fact, Jesus had some harsh words for those that put faith in the Scriptures rather than in Him.
"And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:37-40
The Jews thought that eternal life could be found through studying, understanding and practicing the scriptures. Yet, they did not know their God or His Son. In fact, despite all their knowledge they rejected Jesus, God in the flesh, who was in their midst. This is no different than the "spiritual leaders" of the past and present. The Mohammed's and Gandhi's of the past all the way down to the Chopra's of today, at best, have put faith in the scriptures and not in God. They have a relationship with the scriptures, but not with God through faith in Jesus Christ. The fact remains that these three individuals, like all unbelievers, are spiritually dead to God in their sins for their refusal to come to Jesus Christ for life. Only Christ, God in the flesh, had a life to give as payment for the sins of mankind and, raised from the dead, is the only One who offers eternal life to those who accept God's gift. Mohammed can't give you life. Gandhi can't give you life. Chopra can't give you life. The scriptures can't give you life. The only life available is the restoration of the life of God which only comes through being born again of the spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us..." John 1:1-5,14
The scriptures testify about a Person and that Person is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God, the Creator of all things and the Savior of the world. Jesus claimed that He was God. Gandhi is quoted as saying, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Gandhi is correct. I am not like Christ. No Christian is like Christ. In fact, no human being will ever be like Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is God! The reason Christians put faith in Him is because of this fact. We recognize that our only hope rests in putting 100% faith in Christ who has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Jesus was put to death, as the Jews of the time said, "for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God (John 10:33)."You can deny Christ's deity in an effort to adhere to His teachings, but you do so at your own peril. Christ is God, and His teachings were designed to strip you of your self-reliance and point you towards Him for salvation. It is interesting to note how the author of the quote pridefully asserts how Mohammed, Gandhi and Chopra "do not rely on the Epistles of Paul or John." The reason they may not do this is because these letters fly in the face of what they claim about Christ.
Paul
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.." Colossians 2:9
Peter
"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours..." 2 Peter 1:1
John
"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." 1 John 4:15
In conclusion, I leave you with this quote from an unknown source. It should remind us that Salvation is found in Christ, not just in what He said, because what He said pointed everybody who listened to Himself.
"Buddha never claimed to be God. Moses never claimed to be Jehovah. Mohammed never claimed to be Allah. Yet Jesus Christ claimed to be the true and living God. Buddha simply said, “I am a teacher in search of the truth.” Jesus said, “I am the Truth.” Confucius said, “I never claimed to be holy.” Jesus said, “Who convicts me of sin?” Mohammed said, “Unless God throws his cloak of mercy over me, I have no hope.” Jesus said, “Unless you believe in me, you will die in your sins.”
Amen
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