Religion
Do, or done?
Many of our young people are graduating into another phase of life this month, and in light of that, perhaps we should all take an exam make sure we’ll pass the test into eternal life! Most of you who are reading this column would consider yourselves Christians. But that word, “Christian”, conjures up many different thoughts and assumptions to different people.
Let’s take a look at a familiar passage from Paul’s letter to a bunch of Christians in a church in Ephesus. In chapter 2 we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast (vs 8-9).” God’s Word is very clear here. In order to be a Christ, we must have been saved by GOD’S GRACE! An acrostic I like to use in defining grace is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”. Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us, just because He loves us!
We see that we are saved by God’s grace “through faith.” Faith is the hand that reaches out to God and receives the grace provided. The faith that leads to salvation is faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ ALONE to have paid the penalty of sin and death for us! It’s faith that trusts God to keep His word and do what He says, that “as many as received (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become the children of God”, or Christians!
Our text also says salvation is “not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works.” Becoming a part of the family of God , to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ and have a place in heaven for eternity reserved for us, is a FREE GIFT! It’s a free gift that cost God everything, and the only thing it costs us is our bondage to sin. The word, “saved” literally means to be rescued and delivered to a safe place. When you trust Christ to “save” you, He rescues you out of a life of darkness and delivers you into His glorious light! And it’s all free!
Let me speak frankly. There are a lot of good people in Pella. And there’s a lot of people who attend church every Sunday. Some of us have been raised in the Church, and we could almost say we were born into the church. In fact, we might even make the statement, “I’ve always been a Christian!” But I have to tell you the truth. No, you haven’t! The question of the week (and the most important question of your life) is this: Has there been a time when you realized your sinfulness and separation from God, and as a result, asked forgiveness and trusted Jesus Christ to have paid the penalty for that sin for you? The Scriptures are very plain, the only way we can be a part of the family of God is to be “born” into it. Jesus said, “you must be born again (Jn. 3:3)!” In Titus chapter 2, verse 5, we read, “all of our righteous deeds are like filthy garments!” Whatever we “put on” in place of a trust relationship with Jesus Christ is repulsive to God. You see, religion is what we do to try to please a holy God. However, Christianity isn’t a religion. Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, in which we trust Him to have already pleased His Father on our behalf!
So, if you call yourself a Christian, you need to answer this question: Are you a “do” or a “done” Christian? You see, it’s not a matter of what we do, but what Jesus has already done! There is nothing we can do to become a Christian except receive God’s offer of saving grace through faith in the finished work of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross! One day we will all stand before a holy God and answer the question, “Why should I let you into heaven?” It’s the final exam of life and eternity! So, what will be your answer?
