RELIGION VERSUS RELATIONSHIP!

MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION

Monotheism is the belief in one god that is organized into a system of ceremonies and rules.  There are three major monotheistic religions in the world today:  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism was founded approximately 4000 years ago with Yehovah's call of Abraham, son of Terah (Gen. 11:24-12:3).  Two things set Judaism apart from the rest of the world's religions:  Circumcision (Gen. 17:11), and the Mosaic Law (Ex. - Deut.).  

Christianity resulted from Judaism's Messiah (the Anointed One; King; Christ) being rejected by the Jews, who had Him crucified (Lk. 23:21).  When He, Jesus of Nazareth, was raised from the dead (Lk. 24:1-8), He established a new assembly of followers known as the Church (Mt. 16:18).  The Church began fifty days after His Resurrection, on the Jewish Feast Day now known as Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47).  Members of the organization were first called "Christians" at Antioch (Acts 11:26).  The visible church is made up of a minority of genuine believers, and a vast majority of professing believers (see the parables of Mt. 13 - tares, birds, leaven, bad fish, etc.)

The followers of Islam identify their god as Allah, and they are followers of Muhammad, who lived from A.D. 570-622.  Islam means "submission," to the teachings of the Quran (Koran).  The religion is base upon its "Five Pillars of Islam":  1) Shahadah: reciting the Muslim profession of faith; 2) Salat:  ritual prayer five times a day; 3) Zakat:  paying of alms; 4) Sawm:  fasting during the month of Ramadan; 5) a pilgrimage to Mecca.  

In addition to the fact that all three declare that there is one God, they all believe that one gets to go to heaven by keeping the "rules" of their faith.  While genuine Christianity does not teach that, the vast majority of denominations, both Catholic and Protestant, teach that God will judge mankind based upon their works, good and bad.  They see God as being like the Statue of Justice, blindfolded to insure impartiality, and holding a scale with the "heavy side" determining where one spends eternity, in heaven or hell.  THIS IS FALSE!

THE TEACHINGS OF GENUINE CHRISTIANITY

1.  JESUS PAID FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD!

John 3:14-17 -  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up (crucified):  that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

1 John 2:2 - And He is the propitiation (the payment in full) for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

2.  SALVATION IS A GIFT, NOT OF WORKS!

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us....

THE SAVED ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD!

John 1:12 - But (to) as many as received Him (accepted Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons (children) of God, even to those who believe on His name.

Romans 8:15-16 - For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons (children) of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

THE SAVED ARE NOT IN A RELIGION,

BUT IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!