Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
2 26 2025

Audio Version

How is Our God Different from Buddha and the Rest?

The biblical prophets called people back to God, not to themselves, and never for personal gain. In contrast, modern clairvoyants often seek recognition or financial gain. Unlike them, biblical prophecy is precise and verifiable, testifying to its divine inspiration.

A friend of mine, raised evangelical but now drawn to Eastern enlightenment, frequently discusses truth and faith with me. That is what led me to research this piece today. The Enlightenment movement led many from Deism to atheism, prioritizing reason over divine revelation. However, Christianity uniquely reveals a personal, loving God actively engaged in human history.

The Difference in Religious Claims

Some claim all people are divine, believing figures like Jesus and Buddha achieved enlightenment through personal effort. However, Jesus stands apart. While Buddha attained enlightenment through meditation, Jesus eternally existed as God and entered the world to save humanity. The Bible uniquely teaches that God came to us, while other religions present humanity’s efforts to reach God. Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Bible, with one-third of its content being prophecy, inspires confidence in its divine origin. Second Peter 1:21 affirms, “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The Bible’s accuracy surpasses chance or coincidence, as demonstrated by specific prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ life.

The Reliability of Biblical Prophecy

Centuries before crucifixion was invented, King David and Zechariah foretold the Messiah’s execution, describing His pierced hands and feet, dehydration, and the casting of lots for His garments (Psalm 22; Zechariah 12:10). The probability of such fulfillment by chance is 1 in 100 trillion. Jesus personally fulfilled over 300 prophecies, solidifying the Bible’s divine authenticity.

The Enlightenment placed human reason above divine revelation. However, trusting solely in human intellect disregards Scripture’s historical reliability and prophetic accuracy. The Bible serves as God’s instruction manual, emphasizing selfless service to a holy and loving God.

Christianity’s Unique Claims

Unlike religious figures who began their existence at birth, Jesus existed eternally (John 1:1-3). Christianity alone teaches that God took human form to redeem mankind. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In contrast, Eastern religions emphasize self-enlightenment apart from divine grace.

  • Christianity teaches that Jesus is truth, while Eastern religions rely on intuition.
  • Jesus’ death provides forgiveness, unlike belief systems that advocate self-purification.
  • Jesus taught service to others rather than detachment from the world.

Religious pluralism asserts that all paths lead to God. However, sincerity does not equal truth. Even the most virtuous non-Christian cannot atone for sin apart from Christ’s sacrifice. Many hesitate to judge other religions, fearing arrogance, but religious pluralism itself claims exclusive truth—namely, that all paths are valid. This stance, ironically, is just as dogmatic as exclusive Christianity.

The Gospel’s Distinctiveness

Jesus did not merely preach morality; He took the punishment for our rebellion. Unlike religious leaders who prescribe paths to enlightenment, Jesus bore our sins and endured the cross. Either we face God’s judgment, or we turn to Jesus, who was rejected in our place. This is the heart of the gospel: Christ died for sinners, offering salvation to all who believe.

Where we place our faith is crucial. Will we trust Jesus, the truth, or embrace religious pluralism? As Leslie Newbigin observed, “Doubt is not autonomous.” Every doubt rests on an alternative belief. Will we doubt Jesus and trust pluralism, or doubt pluralism and trust Jesus?

The Verified Evidence of Christ’s Resurrection

Fulfilled prophecy underscores the Bible’s reliability. These include:

  • Specificity: Biblical prophecies are detailed, reducing the likelihood of chance fulfillment.
  • Historical Context: Many were written centuries before their fulfillment.
  • Independent Verification: Historical records confirm their accuracy.

For example, Micah 5:2 predicted Christ’s birthplace in Bethlehem centuries before His birth. The apostle Paul emphasized the divine inspiration of Scripture, asserting in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” Jesus confirmed that even the smallest letter of Scripture would be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18).

The Bible’s Evolution and Integrity

Biblical scholarship has evolved:

  1. Translation Phase (4th–16th centuries): Scholars translated Greek texts into languages people could understand.
  2. Criticism and Verification (16th–19th centuries): Methods such as textual, historical, and literary criticism validated Scripture’s integrity.
  3. Holistic Narrative (Modern era): Scholars now view the New Testament as one cohesive, divinely inspired story rather than isolated texts.

Conclusion

The Bible is an astoundingly reliable document. Its fulfilled prophecies, historical accuracy, and unwavering message of salvation affirm its divine origin. Christianity stands apart because Jesus is not merely a wise teacher—He is God in the flesh. His resurrection, foretold and historically verified, is the ultimate proof of His divinity. Will we place our faith in shifting human reasoning or in the unchanging truth of Christ? The choice is clear: Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

If you would like to pass this lesson and future devotions to someone, send them this Signup link: http://eepurl.com/gKlklD   
Be careful with the “unsubscribe” link below. If you click it, you will have to personally resubscribe again.
My website to view past devotions is https://fearlesslycourageous.com

Excerpts taken from Hugh Ross and Jonathon Dodson The Gospel Project

Marvin Sapp  Thank you for it all