People want to be religious or feel a part of God through their belief. People talk about God and we are flooded with seminars, workshops, counseling, build up, tear down, do this, do that, give this, buy that, help here, reach out there and who knows what else. We are so busy with "stuff" that we might be missing the point. All this talk about religion and God, reading His word seems to miss the main point of what everything is about. The issue of God and our Lord Jesus is about SALVATION! Just read the gospel accounts and over and over you will see Jesus was concerned about salvation!! People fed, healed and helped with the end result of salvation. Jesus speaks, "You're sins are forgiven." The help wasn't about just helping but salvation! Even upon the Lord's return back to heaven, He left His disciples with the words to preach that gospel to all creation so those who would believe it and be baptized would be saved. It's all about salvation. The apostle Paul spoke that the gospel is God's power to save and he wasn't ashamed of that (Rom. 1:16).
Salvation is about being rescued from impending doom. Something is terribly wrong in our lives that we need to be delivered from. Man, all man, comes under the power of sin which results in death, separation from God and the ultimate penalty is eternity away from the presence of the Lord (II Thes. 1:9-10). People are in need of salvation. ALL PEOPLE!
Jesus said he came not to serve but give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). Jesus knows what is at stake. He is the ransom, the price paid to be released from impending doom. That means salvation is the issue. People can be religious, do good things and be active "for the Lord" and still be in their sins. People can assemble to worship, take the Supper and still be in their sins.
It leads us to a final question: why are we not converting more people to Jesus? Because many are content with religion and with all the religious business, there is little concern for people being lost. Religion didn't need to be established in the days of Jesus. It was very prevalent but they were still lost. For over three years Jesus proclaimed His death would be for rescuing of all manking. That is what His teachings were about. Religion never saved anyone! All the activities in the name of the Lord never saved a soul. Salvation is the issue, has always been the issue and will be the issue until the Lord returns.
1 comment:
Brent asks "It leads us to a final question: why are we not converting more people to Jesus?"
I agree with your answer that it's "(b)ecause many are content with religion and with all the religious business, there is little concern for people being lost." This also leads to the lost not seeing any reason to be converted. If the lost don't see anything more then religious business then they have no reason to turn to Jesus.
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