Of all the doctrines of the organized churches, the doctrine of salvation is the most widely heard. It is taught from many different angles but is always the central theme around which a church’s doctrinal system is built. This subject relates to all church denominations - both pagan and Christian - as “salvation” is the theme of all churches.
Yes, the pagan churches have their version of “salvation” too. The great importance of this book centers around the question that is probably forming in your mind as you read this - namely, “What is the difference between a Christian salvation and a Pagan salvation?” Correspondingly, the tragedy is that the majority of professing Christians, today, have never before even considered the possibility of various “salvations.”
Since the Bible tells of only ONE Jesus, the Savior of Israel… and only ONE salvation… then it follows that all other “saviors” and “salvations” are counterfeits. We should not be surprised, then, to find that the other “sav-iors” are patterned, to some extent, after Jesus. Thus, the challenge is to distinguish between the genuine and the many counterfeits, And, sadly, it appears that the churches of the last several centuries have given us counterfeits more than the genuine article.
Since salvation is a fundamental doctrine, proper understanding of it is essential to understanding other doctrines of Scripture. If you fail to lay this foundational stone correctly, the entire structure will be faulty.
Therefore, thus saith Yahweh the Lord, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: — Isaiah 28:16
From Scripture and history we already know that there are many different “christs” in the world (2 Corinthians 4:5). Jesus the Christ is only one of the many “christs” which are being preached in the world. Many of these false “christs” are promoted with biblical terminology, thereby confusing Christians. All religions have a “christ” of one sort or another. However, they are NOT the Christ of Scripture. We know there are many different gods and lords in the world.
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father… and one Lord Jesus Christ… — I Corinthians 8:5-6