The Bible shows us that mere religiousness does not lead to salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More. The letter to the Romans makes this particularly clear. Here we are shown (ch. 1:18–32) that God is recognizable in creation as the Creator (v. 20), but also that many people do not acknowledge this. Instead of honouring God the Creator, they have turned away from Him and have become fools as a result. They have made their own idols in human or animal form and worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More them instead of the only true God (v. 21–23). This has led to God ‘giving them up’ and leaving them to their own devices, so that their sinfulness becomes all the more apparent. According to the biblical statement in 1 Corinthians 10:20, the idolatry that still prevails among many peoples today is the worshipIn both Hebrew and Greek, the word "worship" can also be translated as "prostrate / bow down" (Ps 95:6). It is more than praise and thanksgiving because, in worship, honor... More of demons, that is, of satanic spirits.

Even those who follow the more philosophically oriented religions are not better off (Rom. 2:1–16). They too are by nature lost sinners who cannot be saved by their religion. Their conscience accuses them but cannot show them the way to salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More.

This is most evident in the only religion established by God, which is laid down in the Law of Sinai. Here too, as with every religion, it is a matter of doing or refraining from doing certain things – seeking to attain the goal by keeping the commandments. This religion, unlike all others, was given by God Himself. In Leviticus 18:5 it says that keeping the Law results in “life”, and in Deuteronomy 6:25 that it is the standard of “righteousness”. But according to Romans 2:17 to 3:20, no man can be justified before God, even by the Law. No one is able to keep all the commandments of God. As James writes, the breaking of a single commandment is enough to cause someone to become guilty (Jas. 2:10), and the Lord Jesus said that the purely outward observance of the commandments is of no use, but that it depends on the condition of the heart (Matt. 5:21ff.). The inescapable conclusion, then, is:

“By worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of law no fleshThe term "flesh" is used in different meanings in the Bible: a) as an expression of physicality or humanity, which is inextricably linked to our life on earth. Examples: “the... More will be justified before him [i.e. before God]” (Rom. 3:20).

How then can a man be justified before God? Job asked this question almost 4000 years ago (Job 9:2). There is no way for man to come to God and make peace with Him by his own power. According to the Holy ScripturesIn the NT, the various parts of the OT are referred to as “the Scriptures”; these are the “sacred letters/writings” (2 Tim. 3:15). “Every Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable... More, there is only one way that leads to God, namely to believe in the Lord Jesus and His sacrificial work on the cross. God sent Him to earth so that through Him we may receive reconciliation"Reconcile" can also be translated as "balance." It describes how people are "brought into an agreement." "Reconcile with God" means to bring people or things into harmony with God. It... More, forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More, redemptionRedemption is part of God's plan of salvation. Redemption means that someone is freed from bondage. The redemption of Israel from the power of Pharaoh is an example of this.... More, justificationAn act that God performs on guilty people who were under his judgment of condemnation. God declares people who believe in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to be... More, eternal lifeEternal life is more than life without end. Eternal life is the highest conceivable quality of life. It is life in abundance (John 10:10). Christ himself is the true God... More and a glorious future.

In contrast to religion, the New Testament shows us that man is not able to contribute anything to his salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More, but that God has done everything for us. It is up to us to accept this graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More in faith.