Religious, But Lost!
Philippians 3:5-7
Saul of Tarsus was a very religious man,
sincere, zealous, learned and committed. But he was lost in his religion. The
problem was not that he did not know his doctrine. He did. This man was a Pharisee.
He believed in election, predestination and the sovereignty of God. The problem
was not that he did not live right. He did. He lived in outward purity,
blamelessly. His problem was that he did not know the living God,
he did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. I fear that most of the people to whom I
preach across this country are very much like Saul of Tarsus.
THEIR HOPE OF SALVATION IS NOTHING MORE
THAN AN EMOTIONAL, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. At some point in their lives they were
pressured into a religious decision, baptized and joined the church. Most
people, at the time of their profession of faith are so ignorant of spiritual
truth that someone has to tell them what to say in prayer. After tearfully
repeating "the sinner's prayer" they are pronounced
"saved!" Determined to live up to their word, at least for a while,
they change their habits of life, go to church, become active in religion, and
give their money. But after a while it all fizzles out. They may keep up their
form of religion. But it is all either an outward show of hypocrisy, or an
attempt to bolster their confidence before God. Ask them if they are saved, and
they will, if not in word, at least in thought, look back to their experience
and say, "Yes, I know I am saved." But their hearts condemn them. In
their hearts they know they are lost, because they do not know God.
ARE YOU RELIGIOUS, BUT LOST? Be honest
with your- self and honest before God!Is your religion
nothing but a shallow, empty shell, without the knowledge of the living God? If
it is, give it up, renounce it at once, count it to be nothing but dung, and
trust the Lord Jesus Christ. You have no righteousness. And you cannot produce
any righteousness. But Christ is Righteousness. He is the righteousness of God
to all who believe. You cannot make atonement for your sin. But Christ has put
away the sins of all who trust him. There is nothing to be done by you. If you
trust Christ alone as your Savior, he has saved you. Will you cling to your
false profession of faith and empty religion and be forever lost; or will you
trust Christ and be saved?
Don Fortner