"WHAT MUST I DO?" IS THE WRONG QUESTION

Over the past week or so, I have "blasted" the Roman Catholic Church for teaching a false gospel.  Yesterday, I attempted to show that ALL religions are evil, in that religion is synonymous with "works"; that is, they all have a formula on how one can deserve to go to heaven.  My belief is that no man can possibly earn the right to go to heaven by doing good works, and that is why God sent His only begotten Son to be our Savior. 

When those listening to Jesus asked Him what works they should do for God, Jesus replied, "This is THE work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (Jn. 6:29). On another occasion, Jesus taught that even those who called Him Lord, who had prophesied in His name, who cast out demons, and who had done wonderful works, were simply doing religious works to be accepted by God, and that they had no relationship with Him (Mt. 7:21-23).

The Bible teaches us that when we believe the true Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4), which alone has the power of God to save us (Rom. 1:16), we are born again by the work of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:3-8).  One's salvation requires the work of the Trinity; it is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9)!  When a person is born again, he becomes an adopted child of God (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:15).  In other words, we must totally trust in Jesus, and in so doing, we become a child of God; we have a relationship with Him! (Rom. 8:16-21; Gal. 3:26; 1 Jn. 3:2, 10; 5:2; etc.).

Once a person believes and is born again, he will do good works for God out of gratitude, and because he is led to do so by the indwelling Spirit of God (Eph. 2:10; Col. 3:17; Jn. 14:17; Acts 2:4; etc.).  Jesus referred to our works as "fruit" (Jn. 15:4-5).  There are two kinds of fruit produced by born again believers, the "Fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23), and through our sharing the Gospel, others of like kind - born again believers (Mt. 13:8, 23).

In summation, if salvation is a GIFT from God, then works have nothing to do with it (Eph. 2:8-9; Mt. 10:10; 1 Tim. 5:18; etc.). 

Quit trying to work your way to heaven, and put your whole trust in the One who has          "paid your ticket":  the Crucified, Resurrected, Ascended, and soon coming again,              Jesus Christ the Lord!