In my estimation, there are two distinct differences between Christianity and other faiths. The first is this: Jesus Christ is alive! In all other faiths, the leader (or founder) of the religion is dead. Exceptions to this would be relatively new cults, such as that led by the Rev. Moon, who is still alive. Yet once a leader like the Rev. Moon dies (and he will), he will not rise again. The only one to ever rise from the dead, never to die again, is Jesus Christ. And there is plenty of historical evidence to the fact of His resurrection. (Note: One of the best books on this topic is Josh McDowell’s book Evidence that Demands a Verdict.)
The second distinct difference is that Christianity is the only faith-based, as opposed to works-based, system of belief. What I mean by this is that Christianity is the only faith that teaches that God reached down to man to save him. All other faiths teach that man can reach up to God, finally working his way to heaven or qualifying to go there.
The Bible, of course, teaches that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9, KJV). It also says in Ps. 14:1-3: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” And Eccl. 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”
Based on these verses and many others, it is quite clear that mankind is unable to lift himself to the point of being good enough to deserve heaven. Thankfully, God, understanding our hopeless condition, reached down in His indescribable mercy and grace to save us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
So, does it really matter what you believe, just as long as you are sincere? According to Jesus it does, for He said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Trusting in works or in any other savior is futile, according to the Scriptures, regardless of your level of sincerity. It will only lead to a life of restlessness, endless searching, hopelessness, and, ultimately, eternal separation from God. People who place there trust in their own works or someone other than Jesus, may be sincere, but in the end they will find themselves to be wrong—dead wrong!