The thing about real religion is that there must first be salvation, pure religion is an outflow of our relationship with God through Christ. Religion is man to man and much of what we see today is created by man, but salvation is God to man. When we are saved and submitted to Scripture, we will be a conduit the Lord can use to impact lives. You will have churches that are either a denomination that are described by a name. The different names can be very telling what kind of religion you will experience in that church.
Our church designation only reveals what we are, our church cannot save us. I always say that it is like buying a can of soup without a label. The label reveals what kind of soup is in the can. What kind of soup is based upon the ingredients and the chef. Many times the labels simply show those buying the soup what is in the can.
This is what Jesus was talking about in John 7:37-39,
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
People either trust their religion for salvation or they trust Christ alone. There are two messages that are in the world. The message of “do” or the message of “done.”
Our religious titles usually reveal which message we believe. Some religions teach that we must “do” things to be accepted by God. Others teach that you must trust that what needs to be "done" for your salvation, already was finished when Jesus gave His life on Calvary for our sins, and rose victoriously from grave, securing victory over death, which is our penalty and what we are seeking to escape. It is separation from God for eternity because of our sin.
In order to be saved we must be born again, or regenerated. This is what Jesus was speaking about in John 7. A person is regenerated (born again) when they trust Jesus Christ as their only means of salvation. This means we must acknowledge that there is no way religion can save us, since it is a product of our salvation, not a way to be saved. Our works, or anything we do is not accepted by God for salvation. It must be trusting Christ alone and what He has “done" that makes us a child of God (born again).
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 1:11-13 says,
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Ephesians 1: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. This means that you must come to the understanding that because you are sinner, you are condemned to death, and there is no religion, or works you can do to save yourself. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Gospel (Good news) is the only way we can saved. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
If anything is added to the Gospel, that message condemns those that believe in it,
Galatians 1:6–9
KJV
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Salvation occurs the moment you believe the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit seals us when we believe,
Ephesians 1:13
KJV
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
You must acknowledge that Jesus loved YOU so much he chose to die to pay for YOUR sin. He was buried and defeated death by raising Himself from the dead, because he is the holy God of Heaven that died innocently in our place. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This means he took my place in death, so I don’t have to ultimately be separated from God forever is the Lake of Fire. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: It is this message that you must believe in your heart, and then you will call from your heart in repentance of any self righteous realizing religion doesn’t save, people can’t save, your works can’t save, your baptism can’t save, sacraments can’t save, only Christ can save us because He is only one that defeated death by His death for us.Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you call to God in faith trusting his son alone, you will be saved, and subsequently your religion will change based upon God working in you and through you. God is the fountain, you are the conduit, and He will live through you as you die to yourself, humble yourself, and live exclusively for His will for your life. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. There is no pure religion without a true conversion of your soul through your spirit. You need the life of God first. Jesus is this life, and when you have Jesus, you have life, and then that life can become the light of men. Consider the following verses. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Please consider these verses and make sure you are born again first. Once this takes place, we can talk further if you like. Thanks for listening!
You cannot bring any praise to the glory of God until you first trust Christ
Ephesians 1:12
KJV
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.