November 13, 2026 | www.GospelofJesusChrist.blog | River Wilde
I have been deceived my entire life, being taught that a person must belong to the right church in order to receive the achieve the “Highest Degree of Heaven.”
There was so much indoctrination teaching that I belonged to the ONLY true church, and that what the church had to offer was extremely important for my salvation.
So then, what is the purpose of a religion? Is religion ESSENTIAL towards our salvation? What did Jesus actually teach about “religion.” Let’s find out today.
1. There is no single religion that can claim to be the doorway to Heaven
Consider how many religious organizations claim to possess the complete truth, the proper authority, or the necessary ordinances for salvation.
Yet Jesus made an extraordinary statement:
John 14:6 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Notice what Jesus did NOT say.
He did not say that a particular religious organization was the way. He identified Himself as the way.
2. What is the true purpose of religion?
The Bible does not condemn all religion. In fact, James describes what pure religion looks like.
James 1:27 (KJV)
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
What an interesting teaching!
James describes religion in terms of compassion, holiness, and how we live our lives.
He does not define it by membership, buildings, ceremonies, or religious titles.
3. Jesus Christ never taught that joining a religious organization was required for salvation
John 3:3 (KJV)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to join a different religious organization.
He told him that he needed to be born again.
And remember who Nicodemus was! He was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a religious teacher. You might call him the “Very Elect.” Perhaps the same title that many religious people call themselves due to their religion.
Yet all his religious knowledge and standing could not substitute for the spiritual transformation Jesus described.
Let me show you something “visually” in order to assist you in understanding the “Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ falls under two distinct teachings: What’s required for salvation (living forever with God in heaven), and What Jesus Christ has asked of us.
What Is Required for Salvation vs. What Jesus Wants Us to Do in Life (KJV)
| REQUIRED FOR SALVATION | WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO IN LIFE |
| Be Born Again | Love God with all our heart (Matthew 22:37) |
| Love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) | |
| Love one another (John 13:34–35) | |
| Forgive others (Matthew 6:14–15) | |
| Repent and turn away from sin (Luke 13:3) | |
| Be baptized (Matthew 28:19) | |
| Pray regularly (Matthew 6:6) | |
| Help the poor and needy (Matthew 25:35–40) | |
| Feed the hungry and care for the sick (Matthew 25:35–36) | |
| Share the Gospel (Mark 16:15) | |
| Keep His commandments (John 14:15) | |
| Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) | |
| Be merciful to others (Luke 6:36) | |
| Do not judge hypocritically (Matthew 7:1–5) | |
| Lay up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19–21) | |
| Let our light shine through good works (Matthew 5:16) | |
| Deny ourselves and follow Him (Luke 9:23) | |
| Serve one another (John 13:14–15) | |
| Remain faithful to His teachings (John 8:31) …And even more… |
Can you see the importance here? Our Salvation requires only ONE THING… Accepting the atonement of Jesus Christ info our lives – receiving the spiritual transformation of Becoming Born Again. We do this accepting the “gift” of the atonement through prayer, and having faith in knowing that this is the ONLY way that we can have salvation.
Everything else is certainly important, in fact, many of these things are commandments. BUT NOTHING on this other side of the list is necessary for salvation.
Many churches teach the things that we MUST do, on the right side of the list to make it into heaven. If a person does ALL of these things, (perhaps like Nicodemus), Jesus would still say to them, “You MUST be Born Again in order to Make it Into Heaven.”
Interestingly enough. The church claiming to be the one and only true church DOESN’T EVEN TEACH the Correct Principle of Being Born Again.
They teach that being Born Again is to be baptized and confirmed, which is a false teaching. This also give that person the false sense of security that they have fulfilled this important teaching of Christ.
Jesus told us about people that were relying solely upon their good works to save them:
Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Notice the surprise here. These are “religious people” thinking that they had it made because of all of their religious work. However, Jesus was DENYING them entrance into Heaven! HEAVEN!!! Don’t you find this urgently fascinating?
When the game of Life is over, and some people feel that they have absolutely made it into heaven, Jesus is saying to them… “I Never Knew You – Depart.” He denied them entrance into heaven.
Just because you think you know Jesus Christ, does not mean that He knows you.
The Difference Is Everything!
John 3:3 (KJV)
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“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 2:10 (KJV)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The message: Salvation is God’s gift, received through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing about the new birth. Good works are not the price we pay to receive salvation; they are the fruit of a life transformed by Christ.
We do not do good works to become saved. We do good works because we belong to Jesus Christ!
This is one very valid reason that many people do not see the “Mormon” church as Christian. They Do Not teach the one and only thing to receive salvation… THE MOST IMPORTANT GOSPEL TEACHING EVER!
4. The thief on the cross — perhaps the greatest example
Luke 23:42–43 (KJV)
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Think about what this man did not have.
He had no opportunity to join a church, attend religious services, pay tithing, or perform a lifetime of religious works.
Yet Jesus personally assured him that he would be with Him in paradise.
This is a powerful example of salvation through faith in Christ rather than through religious accomplishments.
5. The danger of religion becoming a substitute for Jesus Christ
Mark 7:7–8 (KJV)
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…
Jesus was confronting religious leaders who had elevated human traditions above God’s commandments.
I have seen first-hand, people who place the church above Jesus Christ in importance. They do not have a direct relationship with Jesus Christ; they have a relationship with their church.
Can I point out the obvious here? The adversary, has cleverly used religion to keep people out of the Kingdom of God. He has influenced the church to teach many important teachings of Christ, but when it comes to the ONLY principle that make a difference in our Salvation, they simply ignore it, or teach a distractive version of what the teaching really is….Satan used religion to take out the very elect! To which we have already been warned:
Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
With God’s help, I was able to study the TRUE and PURE teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles while they were on the earth, which is recorded in the New Testament.
6. Can a Person set to Heaven if they believe in a false Church?
This is the easiest question ever to answer.
Going to Heaven has nothing to do with belonging to a particular church or religion. In fact, some of those who will spend eternity in Heaven may never have belonged to a church at all!
There will be Mormons in Heaven, as well as Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, and Christians. The religion in itself does not matter. There are false teachings in three of the four that I have listed, and in all reality, there might even be a false teaching in the Christian church that you attend. They are not perfect, because of mankind’s involvement. So yes, a person can belong to a false religion and still make it to heaven…As long as that person has ONE THING… You guessed it…Has been Born Again.
Jesus Christ made it very clear that salvation comes through the spiritual transformation of being Born Again.
Those who have experienced this spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ have received the gift of everlasting life. Those who have not been Born Again cannot enter the Kingdom of God, just as Jesus Himself taught in the scripture above.
Does this mean that a person must understand and believe every single doctrine Jesus taught, in order to be saved? Absolutely not! Our salvation is not dependent upon having a perfect understanding of every biblical teaching, belonging to a particular religion, or faithfully performing religious duties.
What matters is that we place our faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in His finished work on the cross, and receive the spiritual rebirth that He declared necessary for entering the Kingdom of God.
Being Born Again is not a reward for religious obedience. It is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. And that, is the wonderful simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
7. What if a person believes that Salvation is through Jesus Christ but ONLY after all that they can do? Have they been Born again? Are they saved?
Only God knows the heart of every person, and will be the judge, however, I can offer some things to consider.
According to the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles in the King James Bible, salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not something earned after doing everything we can.
However, we cannot automatically conclude that a person is not born again simply because they believe the doctrine of “after all we can do.” The important question is what they are actually trusting in, for their salvation.
Consider these scriptures.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Paul makes it clear that salvation is God’s gift, not a reward for our efforts.
Romans 4:4–5 (KJV)
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Don’t get lost in the verbiage of this scripture; simply stated, it teaches us that salvation cannot be earned through good works; it is a free gift from God received through faith in Jesus Christ.
When someone works for something, they expect to be paid because they have earned it.
But salvation is different. God does not owe us salvation because of the good things we have done. Instead, He offers it freely through His grace.
When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in what He has done rather than their own efforts, God counts that faith as righteousness. This means we are made right with God, not because we have earned it, but because we have believed in Him. Salvation is not a reward for our good works; it is a gift of God’s grace received through faith!
This is especially important. Paul teaches that God justifies the person who believes, rather than the person who attempts to earn salvation through works.
Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
So, is that person born again?
I would make an important distinction.
If someone believes that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is NOT sufficient to save them unless they first earn their salvation through obedience and good works, that belief conflicts with the Gospel of grace taught by the apostles.
But someone might have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ and subsequently been taught that good works are also necessary to complete their salvation. Their misunderstanding does not necessarily prove that they have never been born again.
We must distinguish between a person’s mistaken understanding of doctrine and the actual condition of their heart before God.
Here is the question I would ask that person:
“If you died today, would you be accepted into heaven because Jesus Christ has already paid the full price for your sins, or because you have done enough good works to qualify?”
Their answer could reveal a great deal about what they are trusting in.
There is indeed a spiritual risk in acknowledging your church as the main reason for your salvation. Likewise, there is that same risk of believing that your salvation is only effective because of all of the good works that you have completed in your life.
And remember what Jesus Himself said:
John 5:24 (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Notice that Jesus said “hath everlasting life” — not will receive everlasting life after doing everything they can.
That is a profound difference.
TRUE Doctrine taught by Jesus Christ, as well as the things that He has not yet taught us, will all be revealed after our death.
Many people will be surprised when they come to know that some of the things that they have been taught are simply not the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
8. Why did Jesus establish His Church?
Jesus did speak of building His Church.
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
But what did He mean by His Church?
The New Testament describes believers collectively as the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV)
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Ephesians 1:22–23 (KJV)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The Church, in this biblical sense, is not simply a building, a denomination, or a religious corporation.
It is the body of believers belonging to Jesus Christ, with Christ Himself as its head.
And the early believers gathered for teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Therefore, organized Christian fellowship can serve a wonderful purpose without becoming a requirement for earning salvation.
9. On Judgment Day, will Jesus ask which religion you belonged to?
Matthew 7:21–23 (KJV)
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
These people were doing religious works in the name of Jesus Christ.
Yet He said something devastating:
“I never knew you.”
Their religious activities did not establish a saving relationship with Him.
Contrast that with His promise:
John 5:24 (KJV)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
What a contrast! Jesus promises everlasting life to the one who believes, without identifying membership in a particular religious institution as the condition.
If every religious organization on earth disappeared tomorrow, would the Gospel of Jesus Christ still exist?
According to the New Testament, the answer is yes.
Jesus Christ would still be the Savior. His sacrifice would still be sufficient. His promise of everlasting life would remain unchanged.
People could still believe in Him, be born again, pray to their Heavenly Father, and receive the Holy Spirit.
Religious organizations can provide teaching, fellowship, encouragement, and opportunities to serve. But they cannot accomplish what only Jesus Christ can do.
So, where do you place your faith in relation to Salvation:
Your Church?
A Prophet?
A Temple Ordinance?
Doctrine, of the History of your Church?
Your Years of Service in your church?
Your Good Works?
Or do you place it SOLELY in what we have been taught…
The Atonement of Jesus Christ!!!!!! His GIFT…
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