Gospel Immunization

Immunized
One of the problems that we find ourselves facing in N. Ireland is that many people have been exposed to just enough about Jesus that they think they know it. They have read a tract, heard snip-bits of open air messages, been to liberal churches etc & heard bits of the Gospel & now feel that they know it & don't find any need of it. They are as it were, immunized against the Gospel.

This is a result of religion, and is not the result of the true Gospel.
We tend to preach the Gospel, but when we tell people of living for Jesus, it isn't clear as to how, and so they come away with a bunch of moralistic teachings; believing that to do good works will earn God's favour. Failing to understand that it is on Jesus' merit alone; His righteousness, His death on our behalf & His resurrection victory over death that we can come to God & receive eternal life.

We need to be clear that religion stinks & that Jesus is Saviour!
Religion tends to throw just enough Biblical truths into the mix to make it sound right, but lets compare religion with Gospel, (I stole this list from Acts29), so that we can be clear in our own understanding of Gospel Vs Religion.

Religion Vs Gospel
Religion says, if I obey, God will love me.
Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.

Religion has good people & bad people.
Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.

Religion values a birth family.
Gospel values a new birth.

Religion depends on what I do.
Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.

Religion claims that sanctification justifies me.
Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.

Religion has the goal to get from God.
Gospel has the goal to get God.

Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin.
Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.

Religion is about me.
Gospel is about Jesus.

Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key.
Gospel believes that being honest is the key.

Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God.
Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.

Religion sees Jesus as the means.
Gospel sees Jesus as the end.

Religion ends in pride or despair.
Gospel ends in humble joy.


One Final Thing
I was flicking through Twitter last night and read a phrase that Scott Thomas (acts29) wrote to Mark Driscoll (pastormark) and it was so thought provoking that I copied & pasted it here.

"Too many of us have settled for religion when we could have been regenerated."