John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
John 20:31 tells us why the gospel of John was written, i.e., to testify
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing on His name
we will be saved. There is no greater truth in the world. Sadly, we hear
all sorts of religious teachings nowadays without ever hearing the truth
of the gospel. Jesus said "Ye must be born again" (John 3:5). Many people
speak about religion; but few speak the truth of God's Word. Most people
have churchianity without Christianity.
Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this sin-cursed world. Salvation is not found in ANY religion; but rather, in a Person-The Lord Jesus Christ!
Thankfully, the Bible plainly presents God's plan of salvation for mankind. It is religion, composed of manmade tradition and humanistic philosophy that voids the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 7:6-13). The Bible teaches that salvation is simple (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). We are SINNERS and Jesus is the SAVIOR. It is that simple. Salvation is not hard. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23), freely offered (Romans 10:13) and freely received (Revelation 22:13).
Oh that men would stop corrupting the gospel. Many preachers today add to the gospel, thus making it difficult and impossible. There are some very good speakers, who are energetic and charming individuals, such as Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron; but they make salvation hard by requiring sinners to amend their ways, forsake their sinful lifelong habits and surrender control of their life to God. These are all proper in their place, but do not constitute the gospel.
Jesus simply asked us to BELIEVE on Him to be saved (John 3:16). This is the SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST (2nd Corinthians 11:3-4). John Macarthur is an extremely popular pastor and author around the world. Unfortunately, Macarthur makes the gospel difficult, even authoring a book titled HARD TO BELIEVE. I don't hesitate to say that salvation is not hard. Jesus likened being saved to simply going through a door (John 10:9). The vilest sinner who comes to Jesus to be forgiven will be saved instantly. The notion that a sinner must first be willing to reform their ways as a prerequisite to salvation is heresy.
Jesus proclaimed in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Heretics misapply the Scriptures, only viewing a portion of carefully selected Bible verses to support their unbiblical doctrinal position, while ignoring other important Scriptures. Romans 4:5-6 plainly states, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works."
I meet so many religious people who are as lost as can be. They don't know God. They have never been saved. They have all sorts of misguided notions in their head about God and eternity; but they are ignorant of the holy Scriptures. When I try to convince them of the truth from the Bible, they are argumentative and cannot be reasoned with. The New Age idea that there are many paths to God is not found in the Bible. Jesus is the only way to eternal life according to the Bible (Acts 4:10-12). Oh that men would trust the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
