I was going to title this article, RELIGION: A wrong view of the nature and character. But I decided not to, even though that is true. Calvinist have a terrible opinion of God and his Son Jesus Christ. The Catholic religion is not much better. It appears to me that all religions have a perverted view of the nature and the character of God. I guess that is why they are religions.
God has revealed himself to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, Romans 3:21. God so loves the world (humanity) that he gives his only begotten Son for the sins of the world, John 3:16. All that God asks of us is that we believe on his Son Jesus Christ. He doesn't asks us to do any kind of works, nor does he asks us to join or become part of some kind of a cult or religion.
Religion on the other hand has many, many conditions and regulations that you must adhere to. The Catholic religion has so many things that you must do that it is not possible to list all of them. And if you don't do those things you are anathema. kicked out of the Catholic church. This is very serious, because Catholics believe that if you are not a member of the Catholic church you are lost.
We are justified (made pleasing to God) by faith and by faith alone, Romans 5:1. It is by faith alone because it is by Christ alone. Jesus is the one that does the work of justification, Romans 3:26. We are the justified and he is the justifier. How are we justified? God only requires two things for the salvation of fallen man.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
The scripture says, "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. This means that before we were born salvation had already been provided for everyone by Jesus Christ, Hebrews 2:9. All that God asks us to do is to accept what has already been provided by his Son Jesus Christ. We don't bring about our salvation by what we do. It has already been provided by Jesus Christ. Religion wants you to believe that you must bring about your salvation by what you do.
Many are offended by the simplicity of the Gospel. People like to believe that they must earn their salvation by what they do or by what they have become. Nothing is further from the truth. This is why Paul wrote, "But to him that does no works, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" Romans 4:5. Did you get that?
Faith, not works, is what justifies and counts for righteousness. This should be the end of your religion, whatever it is. Paul wrote, "The Just Shall Live By Faith" Romans 1:17. Religion says, "The just shall live by works and religion". God does not accept the works or the obedience of sinners, of which we are all one of. God only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are only accepted in him. Jesus said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in your name?" Matthew 7:22. and Jesus will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you" Matthew 7:23. These people were trusting in their works and their religion to save them.
When I was with Christians in Action, we would stop people on the streets and ask them, "How do you know that you are saved and have eternal life?" 90% would say, "Because I go to church". The other 10% would say, "Because Christ died for me" which is the correct answer. I guess that is why Jesus said, "Few there be that find it" Matthew 7:14. People are determined that they will be saved by what they do or by what they have become, which is the devils lie.
God has revealed himself to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, Romans 3:21. God so loves the world (humanity) that he gives his only begotten Son for the sins of the world, John 3:16. All that God asks of us is that we believe on his Son Jesus Christ. He doesn't asks us to do any kind of works, nor does he asks us to join or become part of some kind of a cult or religion.
Religion on the other hand has many, many conditions and regulations that you must adhere to. The Catholic religion has so many things that you must do that it is not possible to list all of them. And if you don't do those things you are anathema. kicked out of the Catholic church. This is very serious, because Catholics believe that if you are not a member of the Catholic church you are lost.
We are justified (made pleasing to God) by faith and by faith alone, Romans 5:1. It is by faith alone because it is by Christ alone. Jesus is the one that does the work of justification, Romans 3:26. We are the justified and he is the justifier. How are we justified? God only requires two things for the salvation of fallen man.
1. A life of perfect obedience according to God's Holy Law.
2. A perfect atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
The scripture says, "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. This means that before we were born salvation had already been provided for everyone by Jesus Christ, Hebrews 2:9. All that God asks us to do is to accept what has already been provided by his Son Jesus Christ. We don't bring about our salvation by what we do. It has already been provided by Jesus Christ. Religion wants you to believe that you must bring about your salvation by what you do.
Many are offended by the simplicity of the Gospel. People like to believe that they must earn their salvation by what they do or by what they have become. Nothing is further from the truth. This is why Paul wrote, "But to him that does no works, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" Romans 4:5. Did you get that?
Faith, not works, is what justifies and counts for righteousness. This should be the end of your religion, whatever it is. Paul wrote, "The Just Shall Live By Faith" Romans 1:17. Religion says, "The just shall live by works and religion". God does not accept the works or the obedience of sinners, of which we are all one of. God only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are only accepted in him. Jesus said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in your name?" Matthew 7:22. and Jesus will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you" Matthew 7:23. These people were trusting in their works and their religion to save them.
When I was with Christians in Action, we would stop people on the streets and ask them, "How do you know that you are saved and have eternal life?" 90% would say, "Because I go to church". The other 10% would say, "Because Christ died for me" which is the correct answer. I guess that is why Jesus said, "Few there be that find it" Matthew 7:14. People are determined that they will be saved by what they do or by what they have become, which is the devils lie.
