The religion of deception

 

2 Timothy 3:5 [5]holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…

Men have always been attracted to the formality of religion. They wanted the externals without the internals.

It was true or men before. It is true of men today.

We think that we can earn God’s approval by submitting ourselves to an external list. If we act right, speak right, dress right and associate with the right people, we’ll be accepted by God.

Men taught that we need to join a religion, obey its precepts and rules, be faithful until the end and avoid sinning.

All of these may be helpful and even desirable. But without the internal, all these externals cannot help man gain God’s approval. It might help you reform yourself, make yourself acceptable to like-minded people and in general make you a better man. But you will just be as lost as when you begin.

Reformation is not regeneration.

A religion deprived of Christ is just as unsaving as having no religion at all.

Jesus Christ died at the Cross for the purpose of removing sin as a barrier between God and man. No man will be lost because of sin. Jesus took care of it at the Cross.

The only thing that will bring a person to hell is rejection of Christ. Conversely the only thing that will save him is faith alone in Christ alone.

Not joining a religion. Not giving money. Not being faithful to the end. Not avoiding sins and doing works of charities.

All of these are good. But they’re not good enough to buy eternal life.

Eternal life cannot be earned. God cannot be bribed by human good. You cannot work your way to Heaven.

The only condition to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus. If you believe in Him, Jesus Himself promised in John 3:16, you have eternal life.

Now. Not tomorrow. Not later. Not when you die. Or after a certain amount of time in purgatory.

The only requirement is faith in Him. Not faith plus. Not faith plus baptism. Not faith plus good works. Not faith plus faithfulness. Just faith.

And the result is eternal life. Not a life that will end when you failed to persevere to the end. Not a life that can be lost over sins or apostasy.

If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life. If you reject Him in favor of your religion or human goodness, you will be damned in the Lake of Fire. That is the simple truth of the matter.

That’s what separate religion of deception from the true message of salvation.

The former looks good on the outside because it produces moral people. But it has no power to bring eternal life. The latter provides eternal life to those who believe in Jesus for it.

Choose for yourself today which will it be. Eternal life by faith alone in Christ alone? Or damnation by rejecting thay message in favor of your human goodness?

The time is running short. Believe now.

Manatiling nakapokus sa biyaya. Huwag ninyong hayaang nakawin ng mga huwad na guro ang inyong karapatang mag-isip ng doktrina.

(Kung gusto ninyo ng karagdagang impormasyon, bisitahin ninyo kami. May pagtitipon kami sa Dahat, kada Linggo, kada 1:00-3:00 pm. Sana manampalataya kayo at kita-kita tayo.

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