Across the world, roughly 2.3 billion people identify as Christian. Yet many who bear the name Christian believe very different things about salvation. Some trust Christ alone, while others rely on church rites, personal works, religious systems, or human traditions. This is why it is important to distinguish between the religion of Christianity and true Christianity.
The religion of Christianity is what man often turns it into: a system of rules, ceremonies, and added requirements. In this view, salvation may be taught as grace plus works, grace plus sacraments, grace plus perseverance, or grace plus belonging to the right group. But the Bible does not present salvation that way.
True Christianity is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: a sinner is saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone. Scripture says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Bible is clear that man is sinful and cannot save himself. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) and “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). Salvation is not a reward for the good; it is a gift for the guilty who believe.
This is the message of true Christianity: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
The religion of Christianity often adds to the Word of God. Some systems teach that baptism, confession, penance, or sacraments are necessary for salvation. Others teach that salvation begins by faith but must be completed by human effort. Still others teach that only a certain group can truly be saved, leaving the gospel message narrowed beyond what God has said. But Scripture warns, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8)
For example, Mormonism adds other writings and ordinances to the Bible and teaches a path of exaltation by works and obedience. Roman Catholic teaching places much weight on sacraments, church authority, and meritorious acts. Some Methodist teaching says a believer can lose salvation, making eternal life depend on continued performance. Calvinistic teaching often limits the saving offer of the gospel to a chosen group, rather than the plain invitation of “whosoever will.” These systems may differ from one another, but they all move away from the simplicity of the gospel.
The Bible, however, says, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) And again, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
True Christianity does produce a changed life, but that change is the result of salvation, not the cause of it. A believer should live righteously, but not to earn eternal life. He lives for Christ because he has already been saved by grace. The gospel is not “believe and work to keep yourself saved.” The gospel is “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is the great difference: religion says, do; the gospel says, done. Religion points man to himself; true Christianity points man to Christ. Religion burdens the sinner with uncertainty; the gospel gives peace through the finished work of Jesus Christ. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
In the end, Christianity is not a man-made system. It is the good news that God saves sinners by His grace through faith in His Son. Anything that adds to that is not the gospel of the Bible.