RELIGION WILL SEND YOU TO HELL

RELIGION WILL SEND YOU TO HELL

"SLAVATION"

"Let us begin by understanding each other.

When we speak about salvation we are not talking

about religion.

"Many people suppose that Salvation and Religion

are the same thing, but that is a mistake.  Salvation

and Religion are by no means identical.  You may have

a great deal of Religion without having a bit of 

salvation.

"It is true that the Bible speaks of a Religion which

is 'pure and undefiled,' but even this Religion is not

Salvation, but only a product of Salvation.  The

Bible frequently warns against Religion as a

substitute for Salvation.

"The dictionary will tell you that the word "Religion"

is derived from a root meaning 'to heed' or 'to have a

care.'  It is the opposite of 'neglect.'

"It is a good thing to take heed and have a care for

the things of God, but even this will avail nothing

unless it leads to Salvation.

"Religion by itself is death.  Salvation is Life.

"How is Salvation Obtained?

"No one gets Salvation by getting Religion.  Nor

by joining the Church.  Nor by turning over a new

leaf and trying to serve God.  Nor by praying.  Nor

by confessing his sins.  (The promise of 1 John 1:9

is for those already saved).  Nor by sorrow for sin.

Nor by asking God to forgive his sins.  By none of

these means is Salvation obtained.

"Salvation is obtained through a definite receiving of

the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior.  The

instant this is really done, Salvation is an accomplished

fact.  This is shown by John 1:11,12.  'He came unto 

His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many

as received Him, to them gave He power to become

the sons of God, even to them which believe on His

name.'

"The next verse goes on to tell what happened to those

who 'received Him,' that is, those who 'believed on 

His name.'  They were at once 'born...of God.'

"Just so it is today.  As many as receive the Lord Jesus

Christ as their personal Savior, giving up all else and

cleaving only to Him for Salvation, are instantly and

forever saved.  His own declaration of John 5:24 stands

good through all time; - -

"'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth My word,

and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life,

and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed

from death unto life.'

"Salvation is in Three Tenses

"There is the past tense.  When a man takes the Lord

Jesus as his own Savior, he may at once and ever after 

truly say, 'I am saved!'  Putting the matter in the past

tense as to the time, he may truly say, 'Then and there

I was saved!'  This work is instantaneous; it is Salvation

from the penalty of sin.

"'There is the present tense.  When a man is born again,

the Holy Spirit begins to work in him, both to will and 

to do of God's good pleasure, and to conform him to the

image of Christ. This work is progressive; it is Salvation 

from the power of sin.

""There is the future tense.  When the Lord Jesus comes

again it will be 'apart from sin, unto Salvation' (Heb. 9:28)

It is then that we who are now the sons of God will be 

instantly changed into the image of Christ: 'we shall be

like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.'  (1 John 3:2).  

This is instantaneous; it is Salvation from the presence 

of sin."

- W.L.P.