Religion is man's effort to please God through his own works, while true Christianity is God reaching down in mercy and grace through the finished work of Christ.
Les Feldick says religion is always man's attempt to please God, but Christianity is never a religion. Even good works and sincere religious practice cannot change the inner man, because only God can touch that invisible part. Scripture adds that salvation is found only in the name of Jesus.
Romans 2:17 — Paul describes a religious person who rests in the law and boasts in God — an example of religion without saving faith.
Acts 4:12 — Shows salvation is found in no other name than Jesus, narrowing true Christianity to faith in Him alone.
Scripture itself draws a contrast between human religious effort and God's way of salvation. Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." In Romans 2:17, Paul describes a religious person who rests in the law and boasts in God — an outward religion that does not bring life. The gospel, however, is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Salvation is not found in any other name: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The substance of saving faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again..." (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
Les Feldick draws a sharp line between religion and true Christianity. "Religion is always man's attempt to somehow please God," he says, "Christianity is never a religion. Christianity is God reaching down in mercy and grace to a lost human race" (Clip 1). Religion, in Les's teaching, produces legalism, hatred, and war; it cannot reach the invisible part of a man that only God can change (Clips 1, 3). A person can be moral, earnest, and devout — even a 'good Muhammadan' — and still be lost, because those efforts are not the basis God accepts (Clip 0). The heart of true Christianity is not doing enough but resting on the finished work of Christ: "faith plus nothing" (Clip 7). That is why Paul could say he was saved out of the Jews' religion (Clip 1). Les also emphasizes that believing in God is not the same as believing God. Most Americans say they believe in God, but "this is faith when we take God at His Word" (Clip 6). True Christianity narrows down to the name of Jesus: there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved (Clip 2).
Les defines religion as "man's attempt to somehow please God." He says religion prompts hatred, precipitates war, and takes people down the dark path of legalism. Although a religious person like Paul could be moral and zealous, he was saved out of that religion — a religious person who hated the very name of Jesus. Religion deals with outward activity; it cannot reach the inner man.
Les points to people who answer the question of how God should let them into heaven by saying, "I'm doing the best I can. I'm keeping the commandments. I've joined the church. I'm a good parent. I'm a good citizen." These things seem right to people, but Proverbs 14:12 says the end of that way is death. Les compares works religion to washing a battery that has no charge: no matter how much you clean it, it cannot produce power until it is connected to an outside source. Only God can change the invisible heart of a man.
Les says most Americans profess to believe in God, but that is not saving faith. To believe God is to take Him at His Word — to believe that Jesus died and rose again. He says that is faith. Religion can hold an opinion about God, but true Christianity rests on what God has said about His Son.
Les says Christianity is a narrow concept. It does not let a person say, "It doesn't matter if you're Muslim or Shinto or Hindu, you can still profess Christianity." The Scripture says there is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved.
Religious Self-Effort Doesn't Save
Les shows that a person can be moral, devout, and religious — like a 'good Muhammadan' — and still be lost, because relying on one's own performance is not the basis God accepts.
Religion vs. Christianity Defined
Les gives the core definition: religion is man trying to please God, while Christianity is God reaching down in mercy and grace. He also points to Paul being saved out of the Jews' religion.
Salvation Is Exclusively Through Christ
Les emphasizes that Christianity is narrow and absolute because there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Works Religion Cannot Change the Inner Man
Les compares works religion to washing a dead battery: external effort cannot put power into the inner man. Only God, the Creator, can touch the invisible part of a person.
Believing God vs. Believing in God
Les demonstrates that 'believe in God' is common among people, but 'believe God' is the difference between heaven and hell.
Faith Rests on the Gospel Facts
Les ties believing God to resting on the gospel — that Jesus died and rose again — rather than on joining a church or performing religious rituals.
Faith Is Taking God at His Word
Les explains that while many people believe in some God, believing God means taking what He says as true, and that is faith.
Faith Plus Nothing
Les laments that most of Christendom still lives under a works religion — 'do this, do that, then maybe God will accept you' — but true Christianity relies on the finished work of Christ alone.
Proverbs 14:12: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Les quotes this to show that human moral efforts that seem right to people still end in death.
Romans 2:17: Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
This verse describes the religious person Paul addresses — someone who rests in the Law and boasts in God rather than in faith.
Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Les cites this to show Christianity is narrow and Christ is the only way of salvation.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel itself is what saves, not human religious activity.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Les ties believing God to resting on the fact that Jesus died and rose again.
According to Les Feldick, no. He states, "Christianity is never a religion. Christianity is God reaching down in mercy and grace to a lost human race." Religion is man's attempt to please God; Christianity is God's work on behalf of sinners.
Les says no. A person may be morally exemplary and sincerely religious — like a 'good Muhammadan' — and still fall short of God's approval. Scripture says there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Les says salvation "simply relies on the finished work of Christ on our behalf." It is not doing this or that; it is faith in the gospel that Jesus died and rose again. Faith plus nothing.
Les says because no preacher, priest, denomination, or religion can touch the invisible part of man's make-up. Only the Creator can. Works religion tries to clean up the outside but cannot change the heart.
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