Differences between RELIGION and CHRISTIANITY

The difference between RELIGION and true CHRISTIANITY:

RELIGION
"Salvation is something I must do. I must somehow earn or gain salvation by the way I live."

CHRISTIANITY
"Salvation is something only God can do. Salvation is of the LORD!" (Eph. 2:8-9; Jonah 2:9).



RELIGION
Religion is summed up in one word: DO--man trying to DO different things to please God and earn His favour.

CHRISTIANITY
Christianity is summed up in one word: DONE--Christ dying on the cross to save sinful man (John 19:30).



RELIGION
The religious man is busy "working" (doing good works) in order to be saved.

CHRISTIANITY
The saved person is "not working" (Rom. 4:5) but is RESTING upon the finished work of Another.



RELIGION
TRYING

CHRISTIANITY
TRUSTING (Acts 16:31



RELIGION
A Work to Do which is never done (How can anyone work well enough and hard enough to earn salvation?)

CHRISTIANITY
A Word to Believe (1 Pet. 1:25) about a Work that is Done (1 Pet. 1:18-19).



RELIGION
Man hoping to save himself

CHRISTIANITY
God saving hopeless man (1 Tim. 1:15)



RELIGION
RELIGION is man trying to BRING HIMSELF TO GOD (by human effort, good works, ritualism, traditionalism, sacraments, etc.).

CHRISTIANITY
CHRISTIANITY is Christ BRINGING US TO GOD on the basis of what He did for us on the cross (1 Peter 3:18).



RELIGION
Religion is man trusting his own good works (Titus 3:5).

CHRISTIANITY
Salvation is man trusting the good work which the Lord Jesus did on the cross (Rom. 3:22-26).



RELIGION
A religious ritual A real relationship (John 17:3)

CHRISTIANITY
Following rules Enjoying life (John 6:47; 10:10).



RELIGION
"I must reform my life and turn over a new leaf"

CHRISTIANITY
Doing Something Knowing Someone (John 17:3)



RELIGION
Man trying to please God in the wrong way (Rom. 8:8--"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God").

CHRISTIANITY
Man truly pleasing God in the only way (Hebrews 11:6--"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him").



RELIGION
Seeking to earn God's favour by works

CHRISTIANITY
Receiving God's favour by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8 and see Eph. 1:6).



RELIGION
"I can work my way to heaven and earn my salvation" (Romans 6:23 teaches that we have earned our way to hell: "the wages of sin is death")

CHRISTIANITY
"I could never live well enough to earn my way to heaven. Christ had to pay the price for my salvation (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).



RELIGION
"Salvation is something that a person must earn."

CHRISTIANITY
"Salvation is a free gift" (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 4:10).



RELIGION
The sinner sees himself as good (Luke 18:11-12).

CHRISTIANITY
The sinner sees himself as sinful (Luke 18:13).



RELIGION
The religious man compares himself with others (Luke 18:11).

CHRISTIANITY
The saved man sees himself as God sees him (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 53:1-3; Rom. 3:10-12).



RELIGION
TRUSTING SELF (Luke 18:9)

CHRISTIANITY
TRUSTING CHRIST (Eph. 1:12-13)



RELIGION
BOASTING IN SELF (Luke 18:11-12)

CHRISTIANITY
BOASTING IN THE LORD (1 Cor. 1:29-31; Eph. 2:9)



RELIGION
"I have kept the law! I have done that which God has required" (Matthew 19:16-20).

CHRISTIANITY
"I have broken the law but I am trusting the One who came into this world to save guilty lawbreakers" (1 Tim. 1:15).



RELIGION
The religious man is seeking to establish his own righteousness (Rom. 10:3).

CHRISTIANITY
The saved man is satisfied with the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).



RELIGION
Religion is pictured in Genesis 3 by the fig leaves that Adam and Eve made for themselves--a terrible covering (Gen. 3:7 and see Isaiah 64:6).

CHRISTIANITY
Salvation is pictured in Genesis 3 by the coats of skin which God provided by way of the shedding of blood--a perfect covering (Gen. 3:21; Rev. 19:8).



RELIGION
CAIN'S RELIGION--"I bring to God the labour of my own hands" (Gen. 4:3).

CHRISTIANITY
ABEL'S FAITH--"I bring to God a blood sacrifice. An innocent substitute must die to save me" (Gen. 4:4).



RELIGION
Hoping to be saved by good works (a false hope)

CHRISTIANITY
Saved unto good works by God's grace (Eph. 2:10).



RELIGION
Religion teaches that good works are the cause of salvation.

CHRISTIANITY
The Bible teaches that good works are the result of salvation.



RELIGION
Religion says, "Good works are those things that a person does to be saved."

CHRISTIANITY
The Bible says, "Good works are those things that a saved person does" (James 2:14-26).



RELIGION
"Christ is my Example and Teacher. I try to follow Him and live as He lived."

CHRISTIANITY
Christ is my Saviour and Substitute. I am trusting Him and only Him to save me" (Luke 23:40-43).



RELIGION
"I hope I will be saved."
"I think I will be saved."
"I feel that I will be saved, maybe."

CHRISTIANITY
"I KNOW I am saved right now" (1 John 5:13-"These things have I written unto you that believe on to name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life").