Which Religion are You?

"May I speak as though I would never speak again, as a dying man to dying fellow travelers? The one certainty is death - some do avoid taxes. Scripture adds another inevitability for all: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment" Heb. 9:27. How will we stand in that day? Rare is the man or woman who asks themselves the crucial question: "Where will I be in 100 yrs time, and how will it be with me?" The answer to these questions is not found in our intelligence, virtue, government or science. The answer is found in the Gospel. The Gospel isn't advice ("Here's how to raise yourself to Heaven by pulling on your bootstraps"). It's not good views (that you can be saved if you understand all these doctrines and attend the right church). It's Good News. News is about an event, it's about someone else. The good news of the Gospel is that God the Son took our nature, paid the debt we owe to righteousness and removed the barrier between God and man. All that is necessary for our salvation has already been accomplished- it only remains for us to believe, accept and be changed by it. This is the meaning of the words from Calvary: "It is finished." Christ was treated as we deserve so we might be treated as He deserves. John 3:16. There are only 2 religions in the world. The most popular religion is where humans try to make themselves good enough by ritual, pilgrimage or sacrifice for God to accept. It preaches: "Be good and God will love you." But the true religion of the Gospel proclaims: "This Man (Jesus) receives sinners" Luke 15:2; God "justifies the ungodly": Rom. 4:5; Christ goes to be guest with those who admit they are sinners: Luke 19:7.
- False religion majors in law and minors in love.
- True religion majors in love and minors in law.
- The first majors in what God requires of us.
- The second majors in what God has done for us.
- One religion puts all its stress on Christ our example.
- The other puts its stress on Christ our substitute and representative.
- One is a religion that leads to pride, bondage, despair and death.
- The other is a religion that leads to joy, freedom, salvation and everlasting life.
We're all ruined without asking for it- by inheriting a fallen nature. The Gospel teaches that we have ALL been saved by the atoning work of Jesus our Lord. See 2 Cor. 5:14-21. Rom. 5:10, Rom. 5:18-19. Our sins were crucified with Christ- nailed to His cross. The law has no more power to condemn us than to condemn Christ. Hidden in Him, sin will not reign in us. No sin can be crucified in heart or behavior, unless it's been pardoned through the blood of Christ. When the guilt of sin is removed, it's power can be subdued. Sin ceases to reign in us only after we receive the forgiveness of sin: Rom. 6:14. Because of the cross, "whosoever will" may come and be counted righteous for "all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men." Matt. 12:31. "...whoever comes to Me, I will not reject." John 6:37. By Grace alone we are saved, through Faith (trust) alone- because the work of Christ alone was revealed in the Word of God alone. The moment we believe, Christ's perfection is given to us and is ours- as we continue to look to Him, despite a thousand human failures. At all stages of our experience we are saved by faith alone, though the faith that saves is never alone. We are not saved by faith plus works, but by faith that works. Compare Gal. 5:6 & 6:15 and 1 Cor. 7:19. On Judgement day we are saved by faith alone- though our works will testify to the reality of that faith- despite our imperfections. The Gospel is the best thing we could ever share, "It makes the heart sing and the feet to dance." - Dr. Desmond Ford