Acts 25.19 describes several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

Herein lies the rub Christianity has with every other religion. The founders of every religion except Christianity are dead and their adherents agree those founders are dead. What separates Christianity from the rest is that it claims Jesus, it’s founder, is not dead but alive having risen from the dead after being crucified by men.

Originally, the Jews had a problem with this claim because if it is true then the fulfillment of their faith exists and they need to become Christians. Today Jews still wait for a Messiah though they have a mere shell remaining of their original religion. Muslims believe Mohammad to be the greatest prophet but they all agree he’s dead. If Jesus is alive He is certainly greater than Mohammad making the teaching of Mohammad irrelevant and incorrect since it refutes much of what Jesus said Who preceded Mohammad.

Hindus at best add Jesus to their cadre of gods but since He claims to be the One and Only God and the only means to heaven His teaching is in direct conflict with the beliefs of the Hindus. Buddhists agree Buddha is dead but deny the existence of God altogether making Jesus’ claims that He is God impossible for them to accept.

Christianity is dependent upon Jesus being alive for its legitimacy. If Jesus has not been raised from the dead then the religion is a lie and worthless. Christianity depends upon the eye witness account of more than 500 who saw Him after His resurrection as well as the commitment of those followers who willingly surrendered their lives refusing to deny this claim.

Since that founding Christianity depends upon the Holy Spirit, God in Spirit, Who convinces the heart and mind of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection confirming Jesus’ teaching that one must be born of the Spirit to enter into eternal life. The resurrection shouldn’t seem too difficult for God if indeed Jesus’ claim as Deity is true. We all believe God can do anything and rising from the dead is just one of those impossible for men but possible for God tasks.

We all too hope there is more to life than just living on this earth. Are we not all hoping for a resurrection into another world? God gives hope to us of this world by becoming the first to rise from the dead for the One True God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

If you want to live forever Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life no other religion, and no other person, will take you there.