Religion vs Faith

Wonderful is the Lord Jesus whom I place my faith in. His mercy is more than we deserve, and thank you Jesus for not giving us what we are deserving of. Growing up in the faith much later than most do I consider myself blessed that religion has not presented hurdles in my walk. So many have been deceived by false theories of man that they are so blinded by what the scripture is telling them. These deceived believers hearts have been so hardened that you can point out 25 scriptures to them but they still choose to disbelieve. These same people believe that because they have been saved for 30 years that they know more about truth than a new believer of 15 months. This is a terrible tragedy. What many think Christianity is differs from what it really is. These who's hearts have been hardened get so caught up in trying to prove you are wrong and it is all for their self gratification. You could say they want to feel that they are right and you are wrong and rub your nose in it. Sometimes to the point where they go to far and start calling you horrible names such as false brethren or a false prophet. Well I am truly sorry that these people have been deceived but I can not change that. What I can do is submit to what I believe the Holy Spirit has led me to do and inform them of what the scriptures say. I can not make everyone believe. I haven't been a Christian very long at all, but one of the first things the Holy Spirit taught me was to be quick to repent. You see this is the biggest thing that people have a problem with. No one likes to admit that they are wrong, and especially when they have been believing the wrong way for 30 years. It isn't an easy thing to do. This is what is called spiritual pride, and religion teaches it. Faith teaches to be quick to repent. And what happens is these religious people slip away from serving the Lord and start serving themselves. Puffing themselves up with pride and seeking the praise of man instead of praising God. Religion teaches that democracy is the way, because "if we don't like what you say we will get someone else that does agree with us." And the product of this is disrespect for authority and rebellion. Faith teaches dictatorship, and Jesus is the King whom we serve. Faith worships and serves God. Not its own image of what they think God is like. Some religious people believe that you do not have to change anything in your life but only say that you believe in Jesus Christ and you will be saved no matter what you do, and your way of life has nothing to do with you making it to heaven. This is what the enemy wants you to believe, but that is not the message of Jesus' ministry. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" These again are the words of Jesus. People who choose their own meanings behind the scriptures and proclaim it as the truth when really it is their opinion, these are really the false prophets Jesus was referring to. In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." If all we had to do is "say we believe" and nothing else this statement that Jesus said would not be true. If someone gets saved, then that person's soul is renewed. This means there is big change taking place within this person's spirit. If nothing changes for this person then they did not receive their salvation. Some religion teaches that you do not have to have works to be saved, and faith teaches the same, but you have to hold on to your salvation by doing the will of the Father. God knows our hearts, however believing is not going to stand alone and get us there. James 2:19 says, "...Even the demons believe-and tremble!" No you have to have faith. And faith never stands alone. James 2:17 says, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." These works do not gain you salvation, that was already bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ. No these works would be what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 7:21 when He said ...only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. If you walk the broad path in this world and do not do the will of God who is in heaven, then you will not make it. I realize that this is not a popular subject preached at the pulpit for it sounds very harsh. But I refuse to keep quiet of how costly false teachings could be to someone who believes once after they have obtain their salvation by being born again, that they can do whatever their will is and not God's and still make it in to heaven. No that is why there is so much sexual immorality and disobedience in the world today. And many of them claim to be Christians who are engaging in this type of behavior. God will not stand for it and neither should we. Many need to realize the deceitfulness of sin causes the hardness of their hearts and in turn causes spiritual death. That is why children of God are no longer sinners but doers of righteous deeds. If you sin you do need to repent from it in order to be forgiven of your sins. Hebrews 10:26 says, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," Saints, do not wager rather or not you will make it. If you do not know for sure without a doubt that you would make it to heaven if you died tonight then know that it is God's will for you to repent from your sins and come back to Him through Christ Jesus. Do not risk it. He paid to big of a price for you to gamble it away on foolishness.

In Christ,

Eric R Cox