Religion or Salvation?|
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| Religion or Salvation? "Nothing relating to man should be regarded with so much distrust as his religion, and yet this is precisely the sphere where self-satisfaction most prevails." These are the words of an eminent British author and criminologist. "Religion always tends to degenerate a man and make him a prey to superstition." You may object to such words, but are you sure that your religion isn't doing just that to you ? You may be ever so sincere, ever so active in church work. But if you are trusting in your own good works, or in the merit of your church or your religion for eternal life, your religion is deceiving you. It will cause you to spend eternity with the hypocrites, and you will rise up and curse it. Let us, then, consider this serious matter before it is too late. Your sins--They unfit you for God's presence. He is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Self-improvement--It cannot obtain eternal salvation for you. "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." (Eph. 2:8-9). "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7) Mere profession--It is scathingly exposed by God's Word. "Ye outwardly appear righteous unto men." "This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Are not the churches full of respectable people, whose "Christianity" never began by being born from above ? Blinded by the dazzling religious programs of this Satan-inspired world, there is little hope of them awakening to their lost condition. As Romans 10:3 says, being ignorant of God's righteousness, they have gone about to establish a righteousness of their own. It is unthinkable to them that they are lost sinners, needing to be born again. Having no heart for the truth, they shy at it. They drift along, sheltered in their church instead of in Christ, vainly trusting in their leaders for the right way. To such blind folly Christ said: "The publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you." Mere religion--It is the devil's delight. "Ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jew's religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it," Paul writes in Galatians 1:13. Ever since Cain slew Abel, religion has been an implacable enemy of God and a relentless persecutor of His people. Man's great religious institutions are his most arrogant boast today. But is it not evident that the Lord Jesus Christ is not in their midst, but standing outside their doors begging men to come out unto Him ? For His Word says: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (II Corinthians 6:17) God's way--It is not through any religion or creed, but through a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12). "I am the way. . . . no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6). Friend, are you religious, but lost ? Many others have found that they were, and have turned to God's Word for the true way. No church, creed, name, or religion can save you. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Receive God,s gift, which is eternal life "through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23). Copied directly from a tract written by: Gospel Tract Distributors, PO Box 17406, Portland, OR 97217 |
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