The Problem with Religion

This episode explores the differences between religious acts and church membership in comparison to a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

This ministry is sponsored by “Words of Hope”.

Contact us at wordsofsalvationtn@gmail.com

Transcript

Ricky: 0:00

Welcome to Words of Salvation. This podcast is dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We're so thankful that you have chosen to join us today, and we want to share with you that good news that Jesus loves you, and Jesus is willing to forgive you of any sin that you have ever committed in your past and you can know that you have a true genuine born again relationship with God. In the world that we live in today, there is a lot of religious confusion. There's a lot of people that think they're saved, but they don't know they're saved. There's a lot of people that think they're saved, but they have deceived themselves or have been deceived by some other means. Maybe by well-intended means yet still unsaved. Jesus said that many will stand before him and say, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in thy name? And he will say unto them, depart from me you workers of iniquity. I never knew you. So our goal, our desire, is that each and every one has the assurance of salvation. And you can have that assurance personally in your soul. Salvation Is through the Holy Spirit and it comes from God. We're so thankful that we have a savior that communes with us on a personal level, that he can show us that we are lost and show us that we're saved. In fact, I believe this is an absolute necessity that you know where you're at with God, he reveals to us through His Holy Spirit that we are saved. There is more than a feeling. There's a divine intrusion in your soul, an awareness and awakening that comes from God through the Holy Spirit. When I was saved, that was exactly what happened to me. You see, first God works in a way to show you that you are lost and then only God can show you that you're saved. When I realized that I was under conviction or I realized I was lost, it was after that I had heard a gospel message. I became. Convicted. I knew that I was lost. No one had to tell me and in fact no one knew about it. Salvation is that personal. It is between you and God alone. One Sunday night after spending only a week in that condition, I felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit once again, hearing the gospel preached, Jesus was drawing me. I stood fearful as they gave an invitation, but something happened that night. I resisted, I stood gripping the pew. I was in a little country church, but when I let go, I let go of everything. I let go of the fear, the anxiety, and I only took about two steps out in the aisle, and there's a space in time that I cannot explain, but something divine happened to me. The burden of sin left and the peace of God flooded my soul. I don't even know how I made it to an altar. I didn't repeat a prayer. There wasn't any religious ceremony, but there was a inward Change that had come from God. And I had such joy and peace in my soul that has been there ever since that moment, and I know I'm saved because Jesus Christ had accomplished the work through the Holy Spirit. So I ask you the question today, do you have Holy Ghost salvation or are you simply religious? Do you have a time and a place where you met Jesus Christ? And it doesn't have to be in a church. It can be anywhere you surrender your heart to God, any place, anytime when your heart is right and you come to him in repentance and faith and you give it all over to God, he will give you that assurance. If you are without assurance, I urge you, I beg you, I plead with you to seek God until you do. You must be born again was Jesus words. And you know, that phrase has a lot of different ideologies attached to it today, but the new birth is real. In John three and eight, Jesus said it was like the wind. You do not see it but you feel it. Salvation is the same way. You can feel it in the depths of your soul, and when you hear the voice of your father, only you know that it's God and there is no doubt. Now, I'm not saying we don't doubt our salvation, but you must have a divine experience. If you want to go to heaven, that is the only way you will make it. Don't be deceived by religion. Don't be deceived by men. You must go directly to Jesus. In fact, he is our mediator. He is the author and finisher of our faith. And you can go directly to God through Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what you've done, how bad you've lived, because good works will not get you there. Religious ceremonies will not get you there, but he is full of love and tender mercy, and is willing to save anyone who will come unto him in the free pardon of sin asking him for forgiveness and he will wipe the slate clean. So I hope and pray that you have this kind of divine experience with God. If you do not seek him, pray, ask God. Keep seeking until you have that blessed assurance that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ imputed directly into our soul. Through the Holy Spirit. We want to thank you for listening to Words of Salvation, but most of all, we are praying that you have experienced true salvation. Thank you and God bless you is our prayer.