Category: Today’s Word

Jesus Life

John 10:10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Why must we proclaim Jesus Life? Because He is the only way to God. He alone was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), untouched by the lineage of Adam and free from the devil’s power.

This is why Satan flees when we confess that Jesus was born of the virgin. No one understands the consequences of the virgin birth better than Satan himself. The offspring of the woman—the True King—crushed his head by dying on the cross and rising from the dead (Genesis 3:15).

Throughout history, many religious leaders have emerged, but only Jesus of Nazareth proved that He was the Christ. He boldly declared:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

When Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, he courageously stood before the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law in Jerusalem and declared:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Peter was not preaching another religion—he was proclaiming life itself. Jesus came not to establish a system of beliefs but to give true life. Why proclaim only Jesus Life? Because He alone brings freedom:

*”Through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).*

Are you still struggling under the weight of your past? Meet the True Priest, Jesus, at Calvary. He loved you, died for you, and cut away your sinful nature. Through His suffering, He secured your freedom, fulfilling the law’s requirements. Because of Him, there is no more condemnation, guilt, or shame.

The blood of Christ changed everything. His sacrifice erased every charge against you—God remembers your sins no more. Because of the cross, you have become God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In Christ, you have been justified. God sees you as holy and blameless. Your old life has died with Christ, so do not rely on your own efforts or emotions. Do not allow anything to trap you—stand firm in who God says you are.

Why proclaim only Jesus Life? Because only through His name does the Holy Spirit come:

“But the Counselor, 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” (John 14:26).

Only the Spirit gives life (John 6:63). In the Old Testament, life came through blood sacrifices—the Christ. In the New Testament, life comes through the cross—the Christ. If you believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you, and you belong to Him. No one can stand against you.

When you received Jesus into your heart, the Holy Spirit made His home in you (Ephesians 3:17). He will never leave you. Do not be deceived by your weaknesses, the world, or Satan. You are God’s temple, where His Spirit dwells, and nothing can destroy it.

Why proclaim only Jesus Life? Because the day is coming when all human striving will end in failure and despair. Burdens will grow too heavy to bear. That is why Jesus invites us:

“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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus Life brings true hope, true strength, and true victory. The Early Church experienced this life, which is why they never stopped teaching and preaching the gospel that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42).

We need this Jesus Life movement in our lives, our families, our communities, our nation, and the world. First, know that you possess this life—and this life is in the Son of God! (1 John 5:11-13). Experience life to the full! (John 10:10). And give life! (Acts 3:6).

Prayer. Father, I thank You for making me alive in Christ. Help me experience life to the fullest. Use my life to bring life to those still bound by the law of sin and death. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What the World Needs Is the Word Movement

Acts 17:1-3. When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

What did Paul do in Thessalonica? The Word movement—”He reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” Where? In the synagogue. For how long? Three weeks.

This pattern applies everywhere. The only way to save a region is to send someone who possesses life and proclaims the only way to meet God.

Millions around the world are desperately waiting for the gospel. Without Christ, they wander in search of happiness, suffering spiritually, mentally, and physically. The greatest gift we can give them is the truth of the Way.

Paul recognized this urgency in Thessalonica. That’s why he went into the synagogue, seeking those whom God had appointed to spread the gospel in that region.

What kind of Word movement did Paul establish? What message did he proclaim? He explained and proved that Jesus is the Christ. Why? Because this was the only way to save Thessalonica.

Paul wasn’t merely preaching theology—he was proclaiming life itself. This is the Word movement God still desires today. Jesus remains the Christ, the answer to everything. Yet, many do not believe.

This is why churches worldwide are shrinking at an alarming rate. The gospel is fading, distorted, and watered down, and as a result, the world suffers.

But even today, the risen Christ sends the Holy Spirit to dwell with His saints and Church. When someone realizes this incredible blessing, every day becomes Easter Sunday, and every moment becomes an encounter with the living Lord. Worship is no longer confined to Sunday—it becomes a daily experience of the Triune God at work.

Churches have become powerless because they no longer resolve to know and preach nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). Tragically, many have become institutions for socializing or business rather than places of true worship and prayer. As a result, they are devoured by the devil and run errands for him (1 Pet 5:8).

At the synagogue, Paul did not discuss politics or philosophy. He explained and proved that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. He urged everyone to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, the only salvation from the power of Satan, and the only escape from the bondage of the world.

Jesus did not leave behind mere teachings, ideologies, or concepts—He came to be with us. Even now, He is with every saint through His Spirit. He sits at the right hand of God and works with us as we go out and preach the gospel by confirming His Word by the signs that accompany it (Mk 16:19-20).

Take hold of the Word movement God desires in your heart. Experience it where you are through the only way to God: Jesus Life. The only power over Satan: Jesus Power. The only way of healing: Jesus Healing. The true answer to prayer: Jesus Name. And the true purpose in life: Jesus Witness.

Prayer. Father, send me to the world that needs the Word movement. Help me always experience Jesus Life, Jesus Power, Jesus Healing, Jesus Name, and Jesus Witness. In Jesus name, Amen.

What Happens When Receiving and Believing Jesus as the Christ?

1 John 3:2. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

The moment you received and believed in Jesus as the Christ, you were given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12).

Your identity changed from a child of the devil to a child of God (1 John 3:2). This transformation was not due to any human desire or effort, nor was it something you earned. You were born of God Himself (John 1:13).

God chose you before the creation of the world—before you did anything right or wrong! (Ephesians 1:4). Even before Adam and Eve broke the covenant with God and fell under the curse of Satan, sin, and hell, He had already planned your redemption.

God has known you from eternity past. He called your name while you were still in your mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1).

Do not worry about anything! The Holy Spirit dwells within you (1 Corinthians 3:16), securing your position in Christ.

The eternal light of God has also been restored in you (Genesis 1:3, John 1:9). No more chaos, emptiness, or darkness in your life (Genesis 1:2).

You are now a child of light (John 12:36). God made you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) so that you may live as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8).

Through Christ, you have been set free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2). You no longer have to live in fear under the old law.

God has given you a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). Do not rely on your emotions, but stand firm on the everlasting promises of God’s Word.

You also have the right to receive answers to your prayers. The name of Jesus guarantees it. He said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).

God answers your prayers simply because you are His child. Like a loving father, He bends down to listen when you call upon Him (Psalm 116:2).

Now, you are no longer bound by Satan, sin, or hell. Eternal life is yours—no more condemnation. You have crossed over from death to life (John 5:24).

A permanent change took place in you when you believed in the One who died for you on the cross and rose from the dead. Through His one sacrifice, Christ has made you perfect forever (Hebrews 10:14).

You were once a child of the devil (John 8:44), and you lived under his power (Acts 10:38). But now, he has become your enemy (1 Peter 5:8).

The devil attacks you with flaming arrows, and his favorite weapon is causing you to doubt God’s Word.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God to stand firm in your spiritual battle against him. Above all, pray continuously in the Spirit, seeking strength from above (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Use your God-given authority to bind “the strong man” (Luke 10:19, Matthew 12:28-29). Do not be afraid, for no one can snatch you out of your Father’s hand (John 10:28-29).

Move God’s army of angels through prayer (2 Kings 6:17, Hebrews 1:14), and claim the victory already won by Jesus, your True King.

Since the day you believed in Jesus, “the Anointed One,” you have received an anointing from the Holy One and know the truth (1 John 2:20).

Just as Jesus was anointed as the True King, you have received the anointing of a spiritual king. Just as Jesus was anointed as the True Priest, you have the anointing of a spiritual priest. Just as Jesus was anointed as the True Prophet, you have the anointing of a spiritual prophet. You are part of the royal priesthood, called to declare the goodness of God (1 Peter 2:9).

With the anointing of a spiritual king, demolish the strongholds of Satan and set the captives free, in the name of Jesus, your True King.

With the anointing of a priest, break the forces of disaster and calamity that have come upon people through sin, in the name of Jesus, your True Priest.

With the anointing of a prophet, proclaim the goodness of God to those trapped in darkness and bring them into His marvelous light, in the name of Jesus, your True Prophet.

Prayer. Father, through the faith You have given me, I believe that Jesus is the Christ. By believing, I have life in His name. Help me to fully enjoy every spiritual blessing You have given me and to proclaim the only true gospel to all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How Do You Receive Salvation?

Romans 10:9-10. If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Why did God give us the promise of salvation? From the very beginning, people turned away from God and became lost, unable to return to Him on their own (Gen 3:1-6).

As a result, spiritual death came to all (Eph 2:1). The Spirit of God was no longer with them, and instead, Satan’s spirit took control. Since then, humanity has been trapped under the curse of sin and condemned to eternal separation from God (Eph 2:2-3).

Yet, people instinctively seek salvation. Unlike other creatures, only mankind was created as a spiritual being (Gen 2:7). Deep in our hearts, we long for God (Ecc 3:11).

Some believe they can reach God by being sincere and morally upright. Others turn to religious rituals, hoping their devotion will lead them to Him. They diligently follow rules, thinking that will bring salvation (Mt 12:43-45).

However, people cannot meet God because they fail to understand humanity’s fundamental problems: Satan, sin, and hell. If the problem is not understood, the solution cannot be found. A spiritually dead person’s efforts are futile, just as a lifeless body cannot move. Even noble or righteous deeds cannot earn salvation because nothing on earth is good enough to bridge the gap between hell and heaven.

This is why God opened the way of salvation through His Son. If a person receives and believes in Jesus as the Christ, God grants them the right to become His child (Jn 1:12). Receiving Christ means believing in Him, but how?

By declaring with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom 10:9). By confessing, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). By acknowledging Jesus as the True King who destroyed the devil’s work, the True Priest who broke the curse of sin, and the True Prophet who opened the way from hell to heaven.

Publicly acknowledging Jesus as the Christ is essential. Jesus said, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:32-33). He also said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).

When you receive Jesus as Lord and Christ, a new life with Him begins. Permanent changes take place at that moment: from being a child of the devil to a child of God, from worshiping idols to worshiping the living God, from chaos to rest, from brokenness to restoration, from hell to heaven, and from generational curses to generational blessings. Ultimately, you are set free from the law of sin and death!

Prayer. Father, I thank You for the way of salvation You opened through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I now enthrone Jesus as my True King, my True Priest, and my True Prophet. Govern my life through Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When Is the Time for Salvation?

2 Corinthians 6:2. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Nothing is more urgent than meeting God and receiving His salvation. Without Him, a person remains separated, living as a child of the devil (Jn 8:44), trapped in idolatry (Ex 20:4-5), burdened by mental (Mt 11:28) and physical suffering (Ac 8:4-8), and ultimately condemned to eternal separation in hell (Lk 16:19-31). Even worse, they leave behind generational curses that affect those who come after them (Mt 27:25).

True happiness cannot be found in this world. Any joy it offers is fleeting, superficial, and often leads to even greater sorrow. Life itself is brief—like a breath, a passing shadow (Ps 144:4). We may live 70 or 80 years if we are strong, but most of those years are filled with toil and hardship. Then, suddenly, life is over, and we are gone (Ps 90:10). Understanding this, Solomon urged people to remember their Creator while they were still young, before the hardships of life made them regret wasted years (Ecc 12:1).

Through Christ, God completed the work of salvation. Like a man who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, God has extended an invitation to the world—an invitation to receive His free gift of salvation. Yet, people are often too busy to recognize its urgency. They make excuses, saying they have fields to tend, businesses to run, or personal matters to take care of, just as Jesus described in His parable: “I have just bought a field; I must go see it. Please excuse me.” Another said, “I have just bought five pairs of oxen; I must go try them out.” Yet another said, “I just got married; I cannot come” (Lk 14:15-24).

Blinded by “the angel of light,” people do not realize they are living under the curse of sin, Satan, and hell. They boast about their plans without knowing what tomorrow will bring (Prov 27:1). Many live like the rich man who dressed in the finest clothes and indulged in luxury daily. Consumed by the world, he ignored eternal matters—his spirit, life after death, and the reality of hell. He was unprepared for what truly mattered. Eventually, he died and found himself in torment (Lk 16:19-31).

Throughout life, people fail to fear God, the One who has the power to judge both body and soul (Mt 10:28). Tragically, many miss their opportunity to meet Him. Just as in the days of Noah, God is patiently waiting for people to enter the ark—the only way of salvation, which is Christ.

Jesus Himself declared, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (Jn 5:24). Do not delay. Now is the time of God’s favor—today is the day of salvation! Come to Christ, who loves you and gave His life for you.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for Your grace and salvation through Christ. Holding on to Your eternal promise, I declare that I have eternal life and will not be condemned but have crossed over from death to life. Help me, like Noah, to build the ark so that others may escape the coming judgment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Is the True Salvation?

Ephesians 2:1-10. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed 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. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

What exactly is salvation? It is the solution to the problem of the past–freedom from sin that causes destruction: original sin, sins of the father, and the actual sins we committed motivated by our sinful nature that had come from original sin (Eph 2:1).

For our sins, a sinless person had to die (1 Pe 3:18). The Son of Man had to give His life as a ransom for us(Mk 10:45). Jesus, the True Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all with His own blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever (Heb 9:12).

That was the only way to liberate us from the law of sin and death. So, do not dwell on your past. Believe in the One who declared, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). Enjoy peace with God that came through your True Priest.

Salvation is the solution to the problem of the present–freedom from the power of Satan (Eph 2:2). By rising again from the dead, Jesus the True King destroyed the one who has the power of death—the devil. He is the ruler of the evil forces above the earth, the same spirit that is now working in those who refuse to obey God.

When Jesus becomes your True King, you don’t have to follow the ways of this world. You will have victory against the world (1 Jn 5:4-5).

Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you. Do not let your enemy, the devil, plant the seed of unbelief in your heart. He goes around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:7-8).

By the authority Jesus, your True King, has given you, stand against the devil, and he will run away from you (Jas 4:7).

Salvation is the solution to the problem of the future–being seated in heaven (Eph 2:6). Jesus the True Prophet opened a new and living way from hell to heaven for you.

You have crossed over from death to life (Jn 5:24). Your permanent address has been changed forever (Col 1:13). You moved into your permanent home in heaven.

Since the day you believed Jesus as your True Prophet, you have been living in the kingdom of God here on earth (Lk 17:21, Php 3:20). He has given you the keys to His kingdom so that you may unleash the power in the heavenly realms by prayer (Mt 16:19).

When you leave the earth, He will take you to the place He prepared to be with you forever. So, don’t be troubled. Trust in God and trust in Jesus, your True Prophet (Jn 14:1-3).

You have been saved by grace when you put your faith in Christ. Even that faith was given to you as a gift. You have not been saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about (Eph 2:8-9).

The evidence of God’s gift of salvation will fill your life and will not end in your generation. His kindness and the amazing richness of His grace to us who belong to Christ Jesus will clearly show for all time to come. God has prepared an important task for you to do—proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ!

Prayer. Father, I thank You for settling all my past, present, and future problems. Help me experience the blessing of salvation in all circumstances. Use my life to proclaim to all nations Your kindness and grace to me who belong to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Are the Qualifications of a Savior?

1 Peter 3:18. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

Most people are unaware of the reality of original sin (Romans 3:10, 23). Because of this, they remain under the control of Satan, who deceived Adam and Eve in the beginning (Genesis 3:1-6).

As a result, humanity lives under condemnation, bound by the spirit of Satan and trapped under the weight of curses. People are driven by idols, superstitions, and religion, experiencing constant failures, mental distress, and physical suffering (Matthew 8:16-17). Worse yet, they face eternal separation from God in hell (Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 14:1-9) and pass these generational curses to their descendants (Exodus 20:4).

This is why there must be only one Savior—one who has the power to defeat Satan. He must be without sin (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 3:18), the promised “offspring of the woman,” untainted by original sin (Genesis 3:15). He must not be a descendant of Adam, requiring a virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14).

This Savior must possess both humanity and divinity (John 1:14). He had to take on human flesh because only a sinless person could die as a ransom for sinners (Genesis 2:17). Paul describes Him this way: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8).

As proof of His divinity, He rose again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-5), demonstrating power over the devil, who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). This is why Thomas, upon seeing the resurrected Christ, declared, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Only one person in history meets these qualifications—Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully man, He alone has the power to overcome Satan and bring salvation to humanity. Only Jesus, who is God Himself, can break the chains of sin and death.

After completing His work of salvation, Jesus ascended into heaven. He now works through the Holy Spirit and will remain with us until the end of the age (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:20). But He will return again, this time as the righteous Judge (Acts 1:11).

Is Christ enough for you? He will become enough when He is your Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) and your Master (John 2:1-10). If He is not, set aside everything else and seek to know the true worth of your Savior.

Is Christ complete for you? Does He hold the highest place in your life? Make Him your everything in all circumstances. Seek first what matters most to God—His kingdom and His righteousness—by devoting yourself to evangelism and missions (Matthew 6:33).

Is Christ everything to you? When He becomes your all, you will understand the purpose, direction, and future God has prepared for you. Your life will no longer be divided but will focus on only Christ, only the kingdom of God, and only the Holy Spirit.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself, leaving Your glory to take the form of a servant and be with me. You appeared in human flesh, obedient even to the point of death on a cross for my sins. You rose again, conquering death, curses, and Satan. So now, I lift Your name, the name above every name, and bow before You. I confess You as my Lord and Savior to the glory of God the Father. May I have the same attitude of humility and service that You demonstrated, that I, too, may serve others in Your name. Amen.

What Is God’s Way of Salvation?

John 14:6. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Approximately one-third of the world’s population identifies as Christian. Yet, many who profess faith in Jesus do not fully understand why He is the only way of salvation. They see Jesus merely as a Savior who died for their sins and hope to enter heaven by repenting.

Because of this misunderstanding, many perceive Jesus as just the founder of Christianity. They follow Him with the expectation that He will solve their problems—finances, health, family, and success. Their prayers resemble unbelievers’ prayers, seeking worldly things rather than eternal truth. Without knowing their true purpose, they live like spiritual orphans, unknowingly enslaved to the devil.

The Bible declares: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1-2). Jesus is the eternal Word. He was with God in the beginning, and all things were made through Him (John 1:3). In Him is life (John 1:4). The Word became flesh to be with us (John 1:14).

Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30). To meet Jesus is to meet God, and to know Jesus is to know the Father (John 14:7). Even those in the Old Testament were saved by faith in the coming Messiah (John 8:56).

Jesus came to solve humanity’s fundamental problems: Satan, sin, and hell. He fulfilled the three offices of Christ: As the True King, He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). As the True Priest, He paid the price for sin and broke its power (Mark 10:45). As the True Prophet, He opened the only way to God, freeing us from the background of hell (John 14:6).

Jesus is not the founder of a religion—He is the Christ, the Anointed One. Many religious leaders and founders have come and gone, but none fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Their graves remain, but Jesus’ tomb is empty! He rose again, defeating the devil and the power of death.

Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Believing in Jesus religiously is not enough. You must believe Him as the Christ. He alone must remain in your life (Matthew 17:8). Only then will the power of Satan, sin, and hell be broken. Only then will the kingdom of God be established in you. Only then will the Holy Spirit work powerfully in your life.

If you confess that Jesus is the Christ, you are born of God (1 John 5:1). You have full authority as a child of the Most High God. No scheme of the enemy can prevail against you (Psalm 21:11). Through prayer, you can mobilize heaven’s armies and unleash the power of God’s kingdom. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will stand firm as Christ’s witness to the ends of the earth.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for opening the only way back to You. I believe that Your Son, Jesus, is the way, the truth, and the life. Use my life to reveal the Way to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Why Is There No Salvation in Law and Good Deeds?

Romans 3:20. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

Unfortunately, many believers are caught in legalism. The law is God’s Word, but legalism is a form of idolatry. Giving tithes, for instance, is commanded in God’s Word, but giving tithes religiously, trying to earn God’s favor, is legalism.

Legalism is detestable to God (Isa 1:13-14). Also, placing compassionate attitudes, all forms of godliness, and religious zeal before the gospel—God’s only way of salvation—is common among many believers. However, Scripture states that one cannot be saved by keeping the law and doing good deeds.

Legalism and good deeds may appear to be paths to salvation, but neither can settle the fundamental problem of original sin. Ever since Adam and Eve broke God’s covenant, Satan has placed everyone under the law of sin and death, bringing curses and wrath. That is why our actions have no power over Satan, sin, and hell. Religious people often fail to understand this.

No one is righteous under the law, as no one can keep all of it (Rom 3:10-12). That is how Satan took control of the whole world. Death began to reign over everyone because of sin (Rom 6:23).

The purpose of the law is to reveal sin (Rom 5:13) and show us our sinful nature (Rom 3:20). God gave us the law to make us realize that we are sinners. The law was meant to be merely a guardian over us until Christ came (Gal 3:24). It was only a shadow of Christ to come (Heb 10:1).

Scripture is clear about the danger of legalism. The more one tries to keep the law to earn salvation, the worse their condition will become: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away” (Isa 64:6).

Attempting to keep the law and do good deeds without understanding original sin and the total depravity of human nature leads to self-righteousness and pride. It also causes one to judge or even condemn others for breaking the law.

No one can be made right with God by following the law (Rom 3:20). That is why God revealed to us righteousness apart from the law—that is, Christ (Rom 3:21). We are made right with God through faith in Christ, not through our efforts to follow the law. Christ is the end of the law so that everyone who believes in Him is made right with God (Rom 10:4).

Remember, because Christ lives in you, you are not under the law but under grace (Rom 6:15). So fight against legalism as Paul did (Rom 7:14-25). First, recognize the law of sin making you its prisoner. After realizing his sinful nature, Paul confessed, “What a miserable person I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?” (Rom 7:24).

But Paul did not dwell on guilt and shame. He recognized the power of the law of the Spirit of life working in him. Having confirmed this life-saving law through Christ, Paul declared, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:25).

And he boldly proclaimed, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:1-2).

Always remember that the blessing of salvation has been freely given to you through faith. Even faith itself is a gift from God (Eph 2:8). That is God’s grace. You have been saved not by your own efforts, so there is nothing to boast about (Eph 2:9).

So, celebrate your salvation throughout the day. Give thanks in all circumstances. Resolve to spend the rest of your life doing the good things God has planned for you—saving lives by the power of the gospel.

Prayer. “Father, I thank You for the gift of salvation. I have not earned this, but You freely gave it to me through Your Son, Jesus. Help me abandon all my unbelief and legalistic attitudes. Let me not forget that I am under grace. I desire to live my life proclaiming the gospel of grace to all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Why Is There No Salvation in Religion?

Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

All religions seek to benefit humanity by addressing various problems and issues in the world. They also attempt to provide answers to life’s realities by offering guidelines for better living. Many emphasize self-awareness, morality, and ethics. However, no religion can resolve the problem of original sin.

Original sin is the fundamental issue that affects everyone, regardless of who they are, what they do, or what they possess. All religions fail to recognize the true source of mankind’s rebellion against God—the devil, who ‘has been sinning from the beginning.’ Sin and the devil are inseparable: ‘The one who does what is sinful is of the devil’ (1 Jn 3:8).

Sin is spiritual separation from God’s glory (Rom 3:23). It is a state of complete disconnection from the Creator of life—a place of death, curse, and hell. In this condition of sin, all people follow ‘the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient’ (Eph 2:2).

This is why repenting of one’s personal sins is not enough—one cannot repent of original sin or the sins of past generations. As a result, people remain under the curse of sin, “by nature deserving of wrath” (Eph 2:3), suffering spiritually, mentally, and physically.

All religions teach some form of repentance, but no act of repentance is powerful enough to erase original sin. It’s like a pirate aboard a ship—no matter how noble his actions may seem, everything he does ultimately contributes to piracy. No amount of repentance will change his fate as long as he remains on the ship. The only way to alter his destiny is to leave the ship altogether.

This is why Paul asked some disciples in Ephesus, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Ac 19:2). In other words, “Did you receive life?” He explained, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance” (Ac 19:4), realizing that these disciples were only religious without truly knowing the gospel. Religion cannot give life. Without receiving life through Christ, a person remains in a state of death, no matter how religious they may be.

The more a person practices religion, the worse their condition becomes. Jesus illustrated this with the following example: “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 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” (Mt 12:43-45).

Religious life is an act of emptying oneself, sweeping clean, and putting things in order. However, this process ultimately invites even more evil spirits. People may notice external changes or experience supernatural powers as they delve deeper into religious practices, but in the end, their condition will worsen—they will be entirely seized by the devil. Their lives will become desolate, and they will end up living as slaves to the devil.

Religious leaders, sorcerers, and false prophets perform miracles and signs through the power of evil spirits, but their end is destruction, and their descendants will suffer from generational curses. The spirit they serve is the thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). Since Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14), they are deceived by evil spirits.

Thus, all religious efforts become a burden that Satan forces everyone to carry. There is no rest in religion—everything about it is heavy and difficult. That is why Jesus came as the True Prophet to give us rest from religion. He said, “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”(Mt 11:28-30).

To set us free from the law of sin and death, Jesus, our True Priest, gave His own blood to obtain eternal redemption for us. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we no longer need religion. And our True King rose from the dead, crushing the head of the one who introduced religion in the first place.

You have been set free from the power of religion through Christ. Do not remain trapped in a religious lifestyle. Instead, transform your religious nature into a life rooted in the gospel of grace. Experience rest, peace, and joy in Christ. And by the power of the gospel, save those still struggling in religion.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for giving me the gospel, not a religion to follow. Transform my religious nature into a “gospel nature.” Help me to fully enjoy my freedom from religion in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.