SUNDAY STUDY: The Difference Between Religion & Christianity
From MiddletownBibleChurch.org
RELIGION |
CHRISTIANITY |
“Salvation is something I must do. I must somehow earn or gain salvation by the way I live.” | “Salvation is something only God can do. Salvation is of the LORD!” (Eph. 2:8-9; Jonah 2:9). |
Religion is summed up in one word: DO–man trying to DO different things to please God and earn His favor. | Christianity is summed up in one word: DONE–Christ dying on the cross to save sinful man (John 19:30). |
The religious man is busy “working” (doing good works) in order to be saved. | The saved person is “not working” (Rom. 4:5) but is RESTING upon the finished work of Another. |
TRYING | TRUSTING (Acts 16:31) |
A Work to Do which is never done (How can anyone work well enough and hard enough to earn salvation?) | A Word to Believe (1 Pet. 1:25) about a Work that is Done (1 Pet. 1:18-19). |
Man hoping to save himself | God saving hopeless man (1 Tim. 1:15) |
RELIGION is man trying to BRING HIMSELF TO GOD (by human effort, good works, ritualism, traditionalism, sacraments, etc.). | CHRISTIANITY is Christ BRINGING US TO GOD on the basis of what He did for us on the cross (1 Peter 3:18). |
Religion is man trusting his own good works (Titus 3:5). | Salvation is man trusting the good work which the Lord Jesus did on the cross (Rom. 3:22-26). |
A religious ritual | A real relationship (John 17:3) |
Following rules | Enjoying life (John 6:47; 10:10). |
“I must reform my life and turn over a new leaf” | “I must be born again” (John 3:7). |
Doing Something | Knowing Someone (John 17:3) |
Man trying to please God in the wrong way (Rom. 8:8–“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God”). | Man truly pleasing God in the only way (Hebrews 11:6–“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”). |
Seeking to earn God’s favor by works | Receiving God’s favor by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 and see Eph. 1:6). |
“I can work my way to heaven and earn my salvation” (Romans 6:23 teaches that we have earned our way to hell: “the wages of sin is death”) | “I could never live well enough to earn my way to heaven. Christ had to pay the price for my salvation (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). |
“Salvation is something that a person must earn.” | “Salvation is a free gift” (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 4:10). |
The sinner sees himself as good (Luke 18:11-12). | The sinner sees himself as sinful (Luke 18:13). |
The religious man compares himself with others (Luke 18:11). | The saved man sees himself as God sees him (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 53:1-3; Rom. 3:10-12). |
TRUSTING SELF (Luke 18:9) | TRUSTING CHRIST (Eph. 1:12-13) |
BOASTING IN SELF (Luke 18:11-12) | BOASTING IN THE LORD (1 Cor. 1:29-31; Eph. 2:9) |
“I have kept the law! I have done that which God has required” (Matthew 19:16-20). | “I have broken the law but I am trusting the One who came into this world to save guilty lawbreakers” (1 Tim. 1:15). |
A religious man trying to earn his way to heaven by works may be likened to a man trying to swim from New York to London by his own efforts and energy and strength. He will never make it! | The person who is saved by faith is likened to a man getting on a ship in New York and trusting that ship to bring him safely to London. This man simply rests upon the ship and lets the ship do all the work. |
The religious man is seeking to establish his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3). | The saved man is satisfied with the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). |
Religion is pictured in Genesis 3 by the fig leaves that Adam and Eve made for themselves–a terrible covering (Gen. 3:7 and see Isaiah 64:6). | Salvation is pictured in Genesis 3 by the coats of skin which God provided by way of the shedding of blood–a perfect covering (Gen. 3:21; Rev. 19:8). |
CAIN’S RELIGION–“I bring to God the labour of my own hands” (Gen. 4:3). | ABEL’S FAITH–“I bring to God a blood sacrifice. An innocent substitute must die to save me” (Gen. 4:4). |
Hoping to be saved by good works (a false hope) | Saved unto good works by God’s grace (Eph. 2:10). |
Religion teaches that good works are the cause of salvation. | The Bible teaches that good works are the result of salvation. |
Religion says, “Good works are those things that a person does to be saved.” | The Bible says, “Good works are those things that a saved person does” (James 2:14-26). |
“Christ is my Example and Teacher. I try to follow Him and live as He lived.” | Christ is my Saviour and Substitute. I am trusting Him and only Him to save me” (Luke 23:40-43). |
“I hope I will be saved.” “I think I will be saved.” “I feel that I will be saved, maybe.”
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“I KNOW I am saved right now” (1 John 5:13-“These things have I written unto you that believe on to name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life”). |