What is the difference between religion and Christianity?
Religion is man attempting to merit favor with God; Christianity is God reaching down in grace to save sinful men. Religion demands works—what people must do and not do—but true Gospel Christianity says you do nothing, because God has done it all. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law.
Les teaches that religion is man attempting to somehow merit favor with God, whereas Christianity is God reaching down in grace and saving sinful men. He emphasizes there is no comparison between the two. Religion always demands works and tells people what they have to do and what they can't do, but true Gospel Christianity says you do nothing because God has done it all. This connects to Ephesians 1:13, where Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Because the Law requires every jot and tittle to perfection, and cursed is every man that does not do them, Christ took the curse upon Himself, being made a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.