1 John 3:8. He who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
The world is driven by pluralism and liberal theology, which deny the uniqueness of Christ. They believe and preach the message that all religions are the same. But they do not know the essence of sin or original sin.
Original sin is the fundamental issue that touches everyone regardless of who they are and what they do. People are ignorant of the one who initiated mankind’s rebellion against God—the devil who “has been sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:8).
Today’s Word clearly states that sin and the devil are inseparable. Sin is the displacement from the glory of God: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It is the spiritual location completely cut off from the Creator of life. This is the place of eternal death, curse, and hell.
In this state of sin, everyone follows the “ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2).
People do not understand the difference between religion and the gospel, between law and the gospel. They certainly do not see the reality of their own spiritual condition, trying to hide their long-standing spiritual problems and continual failures in life. And they do not acknowledge the reality of hell.
Worst yet, today’s churches, which have been entrusted with the gospel to save the world, conformed themselves to the pattern of this world and stopped teaching and proclaiming the message that Jesus is the only way to escape from the power of Satan, sin, and hell.
Unfortunately, most people cannot distinguish salvation from religion. They think that all religions are the same. Upright living and good deeds are the goals and means of all religions.
Christianity, however, is not a religion but life itself. Religion is created by mankind, but the gospel is given by God. Religion is about mankind searching for God, but the gospel is about God reaching out to mankind.
The standard of religion is mankind’s effort, but that of the gospel is a gift of God for salvation given to mankind by His grace: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
The method of religion is mankind’s achievement, but that of the gospel is faith in the One who has finished everything on the cross. Religion brings only external changes, but the gospel gives life: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
The people of religion try to cover themselves with the things of the world and their religious lifestyle, but the people of the gospel have nothing to hide and follow the path of honesty that is straight and true (Isaiah 26:7).
The people of religion will experience even more trouble than before: “Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:45).
But the people of the gospel will enjoy peace: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:26-27).
In all circumstances, the people of the gospel will find rest: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Eventually, the people of religion will be led to destruction: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).
But the people of the gospel live in the kingdom of God here on earth and will go home to heaven to be with their king Jesus when they leave this life: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Jesus clearly distinguished between the two when He said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Many will choose religion, and very few will choose the gospel.
Most people also do not realize the state of the unsaved. Original sin is the state of the unsaved (Romans 3:10, 23). This means that they are still in the hands of Satan, who appeared to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-6).
They remain in the state of condemnation, being held by the spirit of Satan, under the power of curses, driven by idols, superstition, and religion, facing continual failures in life, and suffering from all kinds of mental issues and physical problems (Matthew 8:16-17), eternally condemned in hell (Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 14:1-9), and bound to pass generational curses on to their children (Exodus 20:4).
This is why there has to be only one Savior. He must be the One who has the power to defeat Satan. He must be human, clothed in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). He must not be a descendant of Adam: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
He must be without sin (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 3:18). A sinless person must die to pay for the price of sin (Genesis 2:17). As the evidence of His divinity, He must rise again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). This person is Jesus Christ. Only Jesus, who is God himself, could defeat Satan’s power and save mankind. And His power is evident even today (Acts 16:16-18).
What exactly is salvation? It is the solution to the problem of the past—freedom from sin that causes destruction (Ephesians 2:1), including original sin, sins of the father, and the actual sins we commit motivated by our sinful nature that came from original sin.
Salvation is the solution to the present problem—freedom from Satan’s power (Ephesians 2:2). Salvation is also the solution to the future problem—being seated in heaven (Ephesians 2:6).
God saved us so that His kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of His grace (Ephesians 2:7). This is the reality of the salvation we received.
If you experience the uniqueness of Christ in your life, you will see your True King crushing Satan under your feet wherever you go. You will see your True Priest destroying the power of curses from sin in people’s lives. You will also experience your True Prophet, saving lives from the background of hell.
God made you a witness of all these for all nations. So, discover answers only in the gospel. Experience a life best lived—the life of the evangelist. You will see a dramatic transformation in your life like Paul:
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the only way back to You, Christ Jesus, Your Son. The only power over Satan. The only Savior for my sin. Use my life today to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is the Christ, the only way for the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.