drastic and irreconcilable differences…

there are drastic and irreconcilable differences between CHRISTianity on the one hand and all other belief systems on the other hand.

if you study world religions you will find that all religions other than CHRISTianity are basically based on the idea of people doing something through their struggling and through their striving to somehow earn the good favor of GOD. they are all attempts of people to reach out to GOD.

but JESUS CHRIST is GOD’s attempt to reach out to people. JESUS taught the opposite of what the other world religions taught. HE said that nobody could earn their way into heaven so you might as well stop trying. HE said two things that are very consistent with our human experience. first, we’re all guilty of wrongdoing. and you know that’s true. then JESUS said, our wrongdoing separates us from GOD. we know from our experience that that’s true, too.

has there ever been a time in your life when you’ve felt that GOD is distant, detached from you? of course. we’ve all felt that. why? because our wrongdoing has created a gulf, a separation between us and GOD. because GOD, by HIS nature, is a righteous judge, our wrongdoing must be paid for.

but out of HIS love for us, JESUS CHRIST voluntarily offered to be our substitute, to pay the penalty for the sin that we deserve so that we wouldn’t have to. and when we receive HIS sacrifice on our behalf, then we become reconciled with GOD forever.

that’s what CHRISTianity says. there’s a difference between good works and grace. all other religions are spelled “do”. why? because they all fundamentally teach that people have to do something, some sort of religious ritual, some sort of way to make themselves morally ok to try to please GOD. the problem is nobody knows how many good things they have to do in order to please GOD.

but CHRISTianity, on the other hand, says you can never do enough to earn your way into heaven. CHRISTianity is spelled “done” – it’s done! JESUS CHRIST has done what we could never do.

HE lived the perfect sinless life and HE went to the cross to pay for the sins of the world. and remember what HE said just before HE died on the cross. HE said, “it’s done. it’s finished. the sins of the world are paid for.” and all that’s left for you is to apply that to your life, to receive HIS free gift of forgiveness and grace and mercy.

just a thought from the front porch…