Why Jesus Beats Every Counterfeit
Month 5: What About Other Religions? · Why We Believe
Today's Scripture
Read together: Colossians 2:8-10
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10 And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Memory Verse
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”— 1 Timothy 2:5 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Joshua 1-4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Joshua crosses the Jordan and Israel enters the Promised Land.)The Heart of It
Paul warns us not to be "cheated through philosophy and empty deceit" (). He means fancy-sounding ideas that don't actually deliver. Then he gives the reason Jesus stands above every other belief. "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (v.9). That means Jesus isn't just a wise teacher. He isn't just a prophet. He isn't one good option among many. He is God Himself in a real human body. Every other religion offers a great human teacher, a set of rules, or a path to follow. Christianity offers the actual Maker of the universe stepping into His own world to rescue us.
Think about money. A counterfeit twenty-dollar bill looks a lot like the real thing. That's the whole point of a fake. But it can't do what real money does. Other religions can copy some good things from the Bible. They say to be kind, be honest, and care for the poor. That's why parts of them sound nice. But only Jesus offers what no counterfeit can. He lived a perfect life. He died for our sin. He rose from the dead, and hundreds of people saw Him. No other founder of any religion did that. And Paul says that when you have Jesus, "you are complete in Him" (v.10). You're not missing anything. So you don't need to go shopping for a better god. The real thing makes the fakes easy to spot.
Around the Table
A fake toy might look real, but it won't work the same. Jesus isn't a fake. He's the real, true God who loves you!
Let's do it: Find two of something (a real apple and a pretend one, or a toy phone and a real one). Which is real? Cheer, "Jesus is the REAL one!"
Lots of beliefs copy good ideas from the Bible. But only Jesus is God who came to rescue us. And only He rose from the dead.
Let's talk: What's one thing Jesus did that no other religious leader ever did?
"All the fullness of the Godhead bodily" is a claim no other religious founder ever made about himself. That's the real dividing line. It isn't about better teaching. It's about who Jesus actually is.
Let's go deeper: Why does the resurrection make Jesus' claims testable in a way other religions' claims aren't? Think about it. It's a real event in history, with witnesses, not just a private feeling.
💬 Conversation Starter
How can you tell if something is real or a knock-off? Think of a sneaker, a video game, or a dollar bill. What's the test?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says "Jesus was just a good teacher like all the others," you can kindly point something out. A merely good teacher doesn't claim to be God, forgive people's sins, and then rise from the grave. Jesus did all three (). So either those claims are true, or He wasn't a "good teacher" at all. There's no middle option. Share it gently and confidently (). Invite questions rather than picking a fight.
For Dad · Go Deeper
C. S. Lewis's famous trilemma fits right here. If Jesus claimed to be God, then He was either lying, or deluded, or telling the truth. Lewis called it "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord." The one option not open to us is "great moral teacher who was mistaken about being God." Teach your older kids to spot this move in conversation. People love to demote Jesus to harmless-teacher status, precisely because His real claims demand a response. But here's the gut-check for you, Dad. Is Jesus really just a "good teacher" in your own week, someone you admire from a distance? Colossians says you are complete in Him. Lead your family as a man who needs nothing the world is selling, because he already has the fullness of God.
Draws on: Frank Turek, Stealing from God; C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus is the real, true God. He is not a copy or a counterfeit. He came to save us. Keep our family from being fooled by empty ideas. Make us complete in Him. In Jesus' name, amen."
Every other path offers a teacher. Only Jesus is God who came to save. The real thing makes the fakes obvious.