The Difference Between Religion And Christianity

November 1, 2009

Many are GOING TO CHURCH but few are GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH LEADS TO LIFE (Matthew 7:13-14).
Many name the Name of Christ (2 Tim. 2:19) and claim to be Christians but few understand what a Christian really is.
Many are RELIGIOUS but few are RIGHT WITH GOD.

RELIGION	CHRISTIANITY
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).
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, 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)
Following rules	Enjoying life (John 6:47; 10:10)
Doing Something	Knowing Someone (John 17:3)
Seeking to earn God's favor by works	Receiving God's favor by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 and Eph. 1:6)
"I can work my way to heaven and earn my salvation" (Rom 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 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)
"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 teaches that good works are the cause of salvation.	The Bible teaches that good works are the result of salvation.
"I hope I will be saved." "I think I will be saved." "I feel that I will be saved, maybe."	"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").