RELIGION Vs SALVATION,

Acts 4:12   And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved.  

Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, would have all to understand, that the miracle had been wrought by the name, or power, of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, whom they had crucified; and this confirmed their testimony to his resurrection from the dead, which proved him to be the Messiah. These rulers must either be saved by that Jesus whom they had crucified, or they must perish for ever. The name of Jesus is given to men of every age.

At certain times of the year, we find many religious celebrations being conducted. We find that the natural man wants to be religious and at times will do many things thinking that he is performing an act of worship to God. But the Word of God teaches that religion is not salvation. It teaches that you can be religious and miss heaven. There is no salvation in any other name than the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Its clear that there that there are many names under heaven in which we can find religion; but salvation can be found in only in the name of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation in priests, prophets, penance or prayers, but only in Christ. Services, sacraments, churches, charities, tears, treasures rituals and reformations all are powerless to produces eternal life.

Gods word tells us in 1 John 5:11, 12 “God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life: and he that hath not the Son has not life.”

Religion: is the improvement of the old nature. Salvation is the imparting of a new nature through receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. As in John 1:12 “¹²But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” religion clothes us with the robes of our own righteousness. Salvation clothes us in the perfect righteousness of Christ, which alone can make us acceptable in the sight of God. As in Titus 3:5, 6 Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, religion is what man does for God; Salvation is what God does for men. As in Isaiah 53:5, 6 religions depends on our behaving, Salvation depends on our believing on Jesus Christ. As in Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord” religion depends on the sufficiency of character. Salvation does bring us from death to Life. We read in John 5:24 Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice, as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May we believe His testimony; thus our faith and hope will be in God, and we shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for repentance, and prepare for the solemn day.

I say to you if you only have religion, then you will mill heaven and spend eternity apart from God, but if you have salvation, you have the promise of eternal life with God and His Son forevermore.