And in vain they worship Me, Teaching

as doctrines the commandments of

men.

Matthew 15:9 (NKJV)

Religious, but NOT SavedReligious, but NOT Saved

PhariseesPharisees• A very religious sect (group)A very religious sect (group)• Jesus said concerning them:Jesus said concerning them:

Even so you also outwardly appearrighteous to men, but inside youare full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. -Matthew 23:28 (NKJV)

Matthew 23:13 (NKJV) But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

We have men binding their own ways today too.

They keep many from heaven byThey keep many from heaven bytheir arrogance and false ways.their arrogance and false ways.

Religious- but united in Religious- but united in ChristChrist

The arrogance of men and their false religions severely damages unity in Christ!

John 17:20-21 (NKJV) 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and lean not on your own

understanding”Proverbs 3:5

Example

A man who was LOST even though very

religious!

Saul of Tarsus who became Saul of Tarsus who became Apostle Paul Apostle Paul

Acts 22:6 (NKJV) Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

Acts 22:10 (NKJV) 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'

Acts 22:16 (NKJV) 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Yet another example of having much religion, but

still being

LOST!

The EunuchThe EunuchActs 8:27 (NKJV)

……., a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

Religious, but lost!Let us read the account beginning in Acts 8:29.

29And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." 30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

   

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter   and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,   so he opens not his mouth.33In his humiliation justice was denied him.   Who can describe his generation?For his life is taken away from the earth." 

34And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"

37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Religious,

but

LOST!

Israel -Very religious -but Israel -Very religious -but lostlostRomans 10:1-2 (NKJV) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to Godfor Israel is that they maybe saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Religious and SavedReligious and Saved

• A religious person is not A religious person is not necessarily a saved person, .necessarily a saved person, .–Trust and Obey!

Matthew 7:21 (NKJV) 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Religious and SavedReligious and Saved

Mark 16:16 (NKJV) 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Would you accept the Lord, and be saved now?