Religion or Salvation
Which have You?
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Acts 4:12:
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby 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 hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life."
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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 Savior to their souls.
RELIGION is the improvement of the old nature.
SALVATION is the imparting of a new nature through receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Word of God tells us in
John 1:12:
"As many as received him (Christ),
to them gave he power to become the sons of God."
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RELIGION clothes us with the robes of our own righteousness and God tells us in Isaiah that our righteousness is as a filthy rag. Isa. 64;6
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."
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RELIGION is what man does for God;
SALIVATION is 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 hath laid on him (Christ) the iniquity of us all."
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RELIGION says: Something in my hand I bring.
SALVATION says: Nothing in my hand I bring. Ephesians 2:8.9 says.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
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RELIGION is trusting in a work we do.
SALVATION is trusting in a work that has been done. Hebrews 10:10:
"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all.'' (KJV)
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RELIGION depends on our behaving.
SALVATION depends on our believing.
Acts 16:31:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.'
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