Religion or Salvation! Which Have You?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
At certain seasons of the year, we find many religious celebrations being conducted. We find that the natural man wants to be religious and at times will do many things thinking that he is performing an act of worship unto God. But the Word of God teaches that religion is not salvation! The Word of God teaches that you can be religious and miss heaven!
Our text teaches us that there is not salvation in any other name than the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our text teaches us that there is none other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved. You are saved by Jesus Christ or you are not saved!
How clear and concise: There should be neither confusion nor contradiction. There are many names under heaven in which we can find religion; but salvation can be found in one only, and that is the name of Jesus Christ.
There is no salvation in priests, prophets, penance or prayers, but only in Christ. You may have your service and sacraments, churches and charities, tears and treasure, ritual and reformation, but all are powerless to produce eternal life. The Word of God tells us in I John 5:11,12, "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. "
Men are willing to give head knowledge to the claims of Christianity, but they refuse to accept in their hearts the Christ of Christianity.
Men and women are willing to take the high place in the work and ritual of the church; while refusing to take the low place of guilty sinners needing a sinner's salvation.
Men and women are willing to believe in the moral precepts of God's Word, as based on the Ten Commandments; while refusing to believe in, rest on, and receive God's Son as Saviour to their souls.
RELIGION is the improvement of the old nature. SALVATIONis the inparting of a new nature through receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The Word of God tells us in John 1:12, " But as many as received Him(Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
RELIGION clothes us with the robes of our own righteousness and God tells us in Isaiah that our righteousness is as a filthy rags. SALVATION clothes us in the perfect righteousness of Christ, which alone can make us acceptable in the sight of God. God's Word tells us in Titus 3:5, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,"
RELIGION is what man does for God; SALVATIONis what God does for man. Isaiah 53:6 tells us, "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him(Christ) the iniquity of us all.
RELIGION says: Something in my hand I bring. SALVATION says: Nothing in my hand I bring. Ephesians 2:8,9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. "
RELIGIONis trusting in a work we do. SALVATION is trusting in a work that has been done. Hebrews 10:10, "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
RELIGION depends on our behaving, SALVATIONdepends on our believing. Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
RELIGION says we must act our best. SALVATIONsays we must accept God's best. Romans 6:23, " For the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
RELIGION depends on the sufficiency of character. SALVATION depends on the Sacrifice of the Cross. I Cor. 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power"
RELIGION tries to furnish a sacrifice. SALVATIONtrusts in a finished sacrifice. John 19:30, "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "IT IS FINISHED!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
RELGION is striving for a better attainment. SALVATIONis secured I through a perfect atonement. I Peter1:18,19, "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
RELIGION tries to bring us from darkness to light. SALVATIONdoes bring us from death unto Life. John 5:24, ""Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."
RELIGION says we must be found in God's house. SALVATIONsays we must "be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" Philippians 3:9.
Again I remind you of Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
My dear friends, do you have religion or salvation? If you only have religion, then you will miss heaven and spend eternity apart from God and His Son. If you have salvation, you now have the promise of eternal life with God and His Son forevermore.