There is an interesting common characteristic in all religion. It is found in all non-Christian religions; it is found in all cults claiming in some way to be Christian; and it is found in every deviant and misinterpreted concept of Christianity. It is found in every religious formulation, Christian or non-Christian with one notable exception: the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Lord and His apostles. I refer to the fact that every other religion except the true gospel teaches that we are saved by our own performance, our own obedience to commandments and laws, or our own good works.

Muslims teach it, Hindus teach it, Buddhists teach it, Jews teach it, Sikhs, Confucianists, Taoists (in a negative form), pagan and animistic religions and all other non-Christian religions. The laws and requirements differ, but ultimately whatever that religion defines as salvation or the goal and purpose of life is left up to people themselves.

Within the Christian cults we find Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and Christian Scientists teaching it. Pelagians certainly do; that is the basis of their whole theology. Within orthodox Christianity (groups that affirm the truth about the nature of Jesus Christ) we still find a works-righteousness doctrine among Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Arminians, and charismatics. Lutherans and Wesleyans have structurally modified the concept of grace to admit for more of man, a kind of synergistic salvation.

If majority vote counted, then we would have to say that works-righteousness has won the election. But if the Bible is to be believed and taken at face value, then “It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). The gospel of grace stands as unique among all the religions and various interpretations of Christianity. Praise God for his infinite and marvelous sovereign grace!