Religion or Salvation - Which Have You?
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!
The text teaches us that there is not salvation in any other name than the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The 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 1 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."

    Men and women 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 sinners 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. SALVATION is the imparting of a new nature through receiving
Jesus Christ as Saviour 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."

    RELIGION clothes us with the robes of our own righteousness and God tells us in Isaiah that our righteousness
is as a filthy rag. 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; SALVATION 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."

    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." 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."

    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."

    RELIGION says we must act our best. SALVATION says we must accept God's best. Romans 6:23, "The gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." RELIGION depends on the sufficiency of character. SALVATION depends on
the Sacrifice of the Cross. 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

    RELIGION is striving for a better attainment. SALVATION is secured through a perfect atonement. 1 Peter 1:18,19,
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
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. SALVATION does bring us from death unto Life. John 5:24, "He that
heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life."

    RELIGION says we must be found in God's house. SALVATION says we must "Be found in him (Christ), not having"
our "own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ." Philippians 3:9.
Again the text: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved."

    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 in a place of torment. If you have salvation, you now have the promise of eternal life with God and His
Son forevermore.

Joe.

top class article, really enjoyed it keep up the good work Joe, and delight in him, as he is our all in all.

I believe that "Salvation" is what God has done for man in Jesus Christ alone, without our help, but received by faith alone.  

God's  justice, mercy, graciousness, and kindness, for sinful undeserving man is  revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  

RaynaRenee