MANMADE RELIGION BRINGS DEATH

© 2023 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

The Lord Jesus said:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Notice that the people described above, call Jesus “Lord.”  They are religious people.  They pride themselves on their religious works of righteousness.  Unfortunately, this describes most of humanity.  Shortly before the above proclamation, this same Jesus showed that only a minority of humanity will ever find eternal life.  He said,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7: 13-14)

Thus, we find that only a very small minority of the world’s population will ever find eternal life.  How will they find it?  The Lord Jesus gives us the answer by answering a question the apostle Thomas asked.

“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)

Almost everyone will believe in some sort of god.  The important thing is to believe in the one and only true God.  In a Sunday school room of the church my grandmother attended, hung an interesting plaque.  It said:  “You will either believe in the God who created you, or in the god you created.”

Notice that the Lord Jesus did not designate any church as the means of salvation.  Only God the Son, Jesus Christ, was able to successfully pay the infinite penalty for sin.  He did this through a gruesome blood sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.  Since all sin violates the holiness of infinite God, this penalty was infinite.  Only those who turn from sin and ask God’s forgiveness shall ever be saved.

Have you, in humility, come to Jesus Christ, the only Savior, or are you proudly pursuing the God you created?

 

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