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