"Only Jesus Can Save You" (John 3:1-7)

One of the biggest deceptions that many believe is that religion can save them. When I say "religion" I'm referring to the commitment to the creeds and practices of a religion with the hope that your performance will earn you right standing with God. Whether the religion is Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and even Christianity, there have been multitudes who wrongly believed that obedience to their religion would gain them eternal life. The writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the Gospels) clearly demonstrate that the hardest people to reach with the gospel are not the notoriously wicked, but rather the outwardly religious! They present many accounts of dishonest tax collectors and immoral people being reached by the gospel. These people were aware that they were sinners and that they could not save themselves! However, it was the religious bunch that stood in opposition to Christ and would later kill Him. Because of their religion, they were blinded to their sins of pride and self-righteousness. Their religion did not serve to save them. Their religion condemned them! Jesus came not to promote religion. Jesus came not to praise or compliment those who were religious. Luke tells of the account when the religious authorities complained that Jesus was socializing with sinners. Jesus replied, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus was not stating that some are righteous enough to get into heaven by their own works. Rather, the term "righteous" refers to those whose commitments to the creeds and practices of their religion have blinded them to their sin and their need for salvation. If you have been blinded by your religion, why not call on Jesus for salvation. After all He is the reason for this holiday season! Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious man, "Unless one is born again he can not see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Your move. Be encouraged!