Is most of world unsaved?

The doctrine of salvation varies from religion-to-religion. Since there are over 4,000 religions on earth, we’ll address the four major religions whose adherents collectively comprise 76% of the world’s population—eight billion people. Christianity, which comprises 31% of world’s population, is based on the Old and New Testaments. Christianity subscribes to the Trinitarian concept of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Salvation is made possible by Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Since Jesus was sinless, one drop of His divine blood was sufficient to cover the sins of all sinners—those dead, those living, and those yet unborn. Salvation is based solely on faith in Christ … and not on good works. Ephesians 2:8 declares: “For by (God’s) grace you are saved, though faith (in Christ); it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” Islam, second at 25%, is centered in the Middle East. The prophet Muhammed (6th century) was its founder. Islam is “monotheistic” like Christianity. Its god is called Allah. Muhammed wrote Islam’s sacred scriptures called the Koran. Therein, Sura 4:3 states that men have authority over women—who are required to wear veils.   After Muhammed’s death, two factions emerged—the “Sunnis” (elected leaders) and ‘Shiites’ (leaders descended from Muhammed). These groups have been at constant war for centuries. Islam, which rejects the Holy Bible, believes that Jesus was a great prophet, but not the Son of God. The Islamic faith does not subscribe to “original sin.” Salvation is achieved by following Islam’s “Five Articles of Faith” and its “Five Pillars of Faith.” A Muslim who dies in a Jihad (holy war) is guaranteed eternal life in Paradise (e.g. Muslims piloting and manning the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 911). Hinduism (15%) is concentrated in India. Hinduism believes in multiple gods—its chief god being Brahman. Hindu holy scriptures are called the Vedas. Hindus believe in an endless cycle of deaths and rebirths. Persons who regress in life may be reborn as an animal whereas those living virtuous lives can climb up the scale to a higher state of existence. Escape from the endless cycle of death and rebirth is called “Nirvana.” Salvation is achievable through one of three ways: (1) religious duties, (2) denying oneself, or (3) devotion to a deity. Buddhism (5%), of Chinese origin, was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the 5th century B.C. Buddhism denies God’s existence and believes that man’s tenure on earth is short-lived and without a hereafter. Atheism and Agnosticism collectively comprise a whopping 16% of the world’s population.Three of the larger religions (Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism) do not recognize Jesus as Savior. Neither does Judaism, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament. Since there are so many religions throughout the world, it makes one wonder if the country in which one is born determines to a great degree the religion an individual will follow.Jesus forewarned: “Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way that leads to life and only a few find it.”

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