Do I Have to be Religious?

Not Really!
The world is full of people who believe they are going to heaven by being “religious” and doing “religious” things such as going to church, being baptized, saying certain prayers, fasting or hanging a crucifix on the wall at home.

One of the most common themes in the Bible, however, is how useless human efforts are. We are only saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Forgiveness of sin and the promise of heaven are free gifts that cannot be earned, no matter how hard we try. God is not impressed with “religious” activity if it is not accompanied by love that comes from the heart in the form of saving faith. Peace with God comes from a broken and contrite heart over sin, not from legalistic and external activity.