The setting: Man has fallen from initial perfection into a state of total depravity. Redemption is necessary.
Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) proposed, “I will tell the people to meditate with great fervor. I will tell them to free themselves of all pain or pleasure. By doing this they will reach a state of Enlightenment”
Vishnu said, “I will tell the people to perform good deeds and live a righteous life to improve their karma. If they succeed, then they will be reincarnated into someone great”
Mohammed insisted, “I will tell the people to follow 5 pillars of faith. I will tell them to recite a creed, pray five times a day, give to the needy, fast, and make a pilgrimmage. By following these, they will enter Heaven”
Yet another stated, “These people only have one life. Why not tell them to enjoy it and live for themselves with their time?”
All these ideas were shown to Man, and Man followed all of them, but to no avail.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Then a man named Jesus came. He said, “These people are lost. How can they do anything good when they themselves are evil? I will go down to the earth and offer them salvation. I will impute my righteousness in them and carry the burden of their sins on my shoulders. That way, they can come to know God. All I require of them is to believe in me.”
These very Men whom Jesus came to save, killed him. And he cried, “It is finished…”
Three days later, his Father in Heaven replied, “It is finished, indeed.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxX3kEJT88g
