Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born as a man about 2,000 years ago. He died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for you to free you from sin and the bondage of religion. Only Jesus has redeemed for us access to the fellowship of God : ”I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9.
God is looking for you, his prodigal son. And if you seek Him and want to turn to Him, you will surely become a child of God. ”The seeker will find!” God is waiting to show you mercy. ”Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ”But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
God’s will for you is good! He wants you to be in Heaven with Him.
Jesus is a living person, He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He is not a religious ideology or just a biblical doctrine. Religions cannot lead you to salvation and gain God’s favor. God has prepared a different way for us – ”Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Only the blood of Jesus washes away your sins! He never told his followers to start churches or other religions. The difference between religion and living faith is that religions are man-made and man-sustained; the Holy Spirit of God is the creator and sustainer of living faith!
The devil accepts different religions. The devil even uses them to achieve his goals for mankind, which are ultimately to keep people away from Jesus. Religion is often placed in the human heart in a place that should belong to Jesus! Religions are a substitute for living faith.
The moment living faith in Jesus is accepted, the human spirit, the centre of the human person, is given new life in the Holy Spirit: ”…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:3-5.
”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
A new man is born to replace the old. Such a person is converted to a living faith, his sins are forgiven, he has repented and is saved, in other words he is born again of the Holy Spirit. This is a very different process from choosing a religion or church. John 1:12
With the eyes of your heart you can look at the scourged and suffering Christ on the cross of Golgotha. You can repent and ask forgiveness for your sins. Jesus has paid for you the penalty that should have been yours, and He wants to forgive you. Accept Jesus as your Saviour and give your life to Him! ”For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
Mankind is divided into only two groups:
Those who believe in Jesus, who are on their way to Heaven and those who have no part in faith in Jesus, who are still in a state of sin and on their way to damnation.
Belonging to a religion does not change this definition. Being born in the faith is a change of direction that leads to heaven. People who believe in Jesus are the congregation of God. Without a living faith, one does not belong to this congregation , even if one is a subscribing member of any religion.
”He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark. 16:16.
”Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41.
You don’t need religion, you need Jesus in your life.
Weijo Lindroos,
Turku Finland