20B.1 How is the Christian Religion as classified by
religious scholars?
Religious scholars may classify the Christian religion in various
ways with consideration as to Churches, sects and religious
denominations. To illustrate, there are those who classify Christianity
into three main branches, namely, Catholicism, Greek Orthodoxy and
Protestantism. Protestantism is further classified to Lutheranism,
Presbyterianism, Anglicanism and Independents. Further classification
may include Christian denomination which are well known in
your locality.
20B.2
How did our Lord Jesus Christ classified religion?
Christ classified religion into two,
that is by distinguishing between the
religion that is of God and that which is not. In Matthew 7:13, He said:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide
is the gate and broad is the road that lead to destruction, and many
enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road
that leads to life, and only few find it." (Mt. 7:13, New
International Version)
Christ mentions about the
wide and narrow gates in reference to religions.
The True Religion -- The small gate and the narrow
road that leads to life. This is the religion that leads man to God
and attain eternal life.
The False Religion -- The wide gate and the broad
road refers to religion that separates man from God and lead him to
destruction.
Unfortunately, "only a few", according
to the Lord Himself, find the way to God.
20B.3
How can anyone determine the False Religions—the religions that is not of God and will lead
man to destruction?
In I Timothy 6:3-4, this is written:
This is what
you are to teach and urge. Anyone who teaches anything different and
does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, is
proud and has no understanding, but rather a weakness for questioning
everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is
jealousy, contention, abuse and evil mistrust; (New Jerusalem Bible)
The False Religions are
those who teaches anything different and does not keep to the sound
teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ—the doctrines which are in accordance
with the true religion. These False Religions will lead man to
destruction instead of leading man to God.
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True Religion is
to serve God on the basis of His
commandments and on the sound teachings of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
False Religion is serving God based on anything
different from God's commandments and does not
keep to the sound teachings of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
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