Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Difference Between Christianity And Every Religion In The World

The difference between true Christianity and every religion in the world is how it's spelled.

Religion is spelled, "D-O." Do. If I do enough good, then God will be pleased with me. He will accept me. I will get into heaven (or nirvana or whatever version of heaven that religion has). Most people in the world and many who claim to be Christians abide by this philosophy of life.

True Christianity is spelled, "D-O-N-E." Done. It has already been done on your behalf. There is nothing you or I can do to make up for the sin we have committed. Even the best person in the world could not do enough. But Christ has already done it; He died on the cross for you to pay the price for your sins that you could never pay. Our role is not to do enough good deeds, but to accept what has already been done for us. We gain access to God and we please God by receiving Jesus Christ, not by being good.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says it like this, "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

Maybe you have been leaning on your own good deeds, hoping that they would be your ticket to being right with God and going to heaven. Trade your good deeds in today for Christ's work on the cross. Leave religion behind and enter into a relationship with God through Christ. You can do this by changing trusts. Exchange your trust in your own good works for a new trust in Jesus Christ's finished work.

Do vs. Done
Works vs. Grace