Religion and the Gospel

    A good Pharisee would be one that kept the Law, didn't steal or lie, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, paid his tithe, read the Torah, knew it very well in fact, and said his prayers. Is that so much different from the people today, where people go to church on Sunday, give an offering in the basket, belong to some religious organization, and try to keep the Ten Commandments? If we were to ask most religious people today if that was enough to go to heaven almost everybody would say yes. Yet Jesus says that a person who is like a Pharisees is an unprofitable servant, only doing his duty. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribe and Pharisee.

    Keeping the Law will not get you to heaven. You must be born again. Then you must be filled with the Holy Spirit. How else can one live the gospel of Jesus Christ? How else can one love his enemies, forgive those who trespass against them, and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh? Unless you forsake all, deny yourself, and take up your cross, your righteousness is no more than a good Pharisee and is insufficient to gain eternal rewards. The Law will not save. Only living a life in faith to God through the shed blood of Christ will bring about your salvation.

    We have a religion that does not believe in hell, the devil, the baptism of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues, demon possession, being born again, or healing and miracles, We have a dead religion and people that are dead, spiritually dead, and unfortunately for them, the blind will lead the blind and both will fall into the ditch.

    We are in the last stage of the world era. Christ is going to return for his church, not merely the religious. Are you part of his church or a part of religion and the law? Make the call!

Amen