Whether you are curious about faith in Christ or seasoned in it, we cannot be reminded too often of the difference between religion and the gospel. Religion, in its common form, sets up a system of earning God’s approval – through service, sacrifice, and moral striving. It’s like a treadmill: constant motion, no arrival. The message is, “Try harder. Be better. Maybe then God will accept you.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches the opposite. It says: stop striving and start believing. Put your faith in the One who died to make us acceptable. The gospel does not require mantras, pilgrimages, or special prayers to unlock divine favor. Its only requirement is faith – receiving Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and eternal life. It’s not a wage but a gift (Romans 6:23), and gifts are not subject to performance reviews.
Jesus is not one option among many; He is the only One who paid the price for our sins that we could never pay. Scripture puts it quite simply: “He who has the Son has the life” (1 John 5:12; cf. John 14:6).
For all who have not received this incredible gift, the offer is limited – it expires at the grave or when Christ returns (Hebrews 9:27). For those of us who have, we live our lives for Christ the same way we received life from Christ – by trusting in Him as we navigate this life each day (Colossians 2:6-7).
Something to take just a moment to consider today.
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