Are We Hoping or Knowing?

Religion Versus Christianity

“There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Religion is practiced by many today even within churches that profess to be Christian. It is man trying to gain favor with God and acquire Salvation by what he does. Some approach God by sacraments, laws they obey, or rituals that they believe will give them favor with God and will result in a future in Heaven. Our introductory verse tells us that these ways, though they seem right, will only lead to death.

Eternal separation from the Lord will be the result for those who do not go God’s way. Some approach the Lord with their good works, their “good” lives, and a belief in a relative righteousness that  compares themselves in a favorable way with others. These are all false ways, and a false hope. We cannot approach a Holy God offering up anything we might do. This is not the way to the Salvation that will afford us Eternal Life in the Lord’s presence. The result of religion is death.

We can “know” that we are saved and are on the right path to Heaven. The Lord has made a  way and that way is by faith. The Lord wants us to know that we are saved. He sent His Son as a Savior for us paying the sin debt and opening the way to a relationship with Him. We were dead in our sins unable to save ourselves or do anything that would please the Lord in our lost state. Yes, we can know that we have Eternal Life. It is by faith from first to last.

The story of Cain and Abel stand out as a dichotomy between that which is religion and that which is the only thing the Lord will accept. Cain offered up “the fruit of the ground,” which was his labor, to the Lord. This is religion, man believing that he must seek favor with the Lord, but going about in the wrong way. Abel on the other hand, offered up “the firstlings of his flock” which is what the Lord required. Abel was showing by this that he realized the need for a Savior which, of course, was a type of Christ, the “Lamb of God” who would come and shed His Blood at Calvary for the sin of all mankind. These two men represents all those who come after them. In that, the Lord makes clear the way by which we are saved. We either approach the Lord by what we do, or by faith in His provision.

Many live in a “hope” of Salvation when they can come Gid’s way and  know that they are saved. The Lord has provided this Salvation and gives it freely to all those who beleve in His provision. We can live in that knowledge that we have Salvation today. Religion, on the other hand, is a sad state of affairs because it does not lead to a relationship with the Lord and there is no peace with God. With religion, it is constant, never ending, regiment of work seeking to gain favor with the Lord. And there is no assurance that our sins have been forgiven.

We escape the trap of religion when we come in repentance and faith in Christ and His sacrificial death at Calvary. We then have the assurance that our sins have been forgiven and that we are the children of God with a wonderful future to look forward to. Our “knowing” results in “joy unspeakable” and we have no fear of physical death because we know in Whom we have believed.

If we realize that we have been living a life of trying to please the Lord by being religious; we can be encouraged by looking to the Cross as the answer for the cure for this false way of religion. Jesus came to save us from ourselves. He paid the price we could not pay. We owe all to Him! We can know that we are saved and on our way to Heaven. We can have peace with God having the question of where we will spend eternity settled, and we can have the peace of God in our lives today. It’s called Blessed Assurance and it’s available to whosoever will come. Religion cannot afford us peace or assurance in any way. We can make things right today with the Lord today. For today is the day of Salvation! We need only believe!

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto Righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.” (Romans 10:9,10)

The Sinner’s Prayer

Dear God in Heaven,

I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I’m sorry for my sins. The way I’ve lived, the things I’ve done. Please forgive me. Cleanse me with your Precious Blood from all unrighteousness. With my mouth, I confess Jesus Christ. In my heart, I believe God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is alive. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as the savior of my soul. And I make Him the Lord of my life. According to your Word which cannot lie: I am washed, I am forgiven. I am saved. Amen.

This prayer has been prayed by millions down through the years.

If you prayed this prayer and believed, according to God’s Word, you have passed from death to life. You have been born again (born from above)! Praise the Lord.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2025