Dellas Linaman – Religion and the Gospel – 2005

There is a great difference between the two:

Religion is man-made, the gospel is God-given.

Religion is what man does for God, the gospel is what God does for man.

Religion is man trying to climb the ladder of his own self-righteousness, with the hope of meeting God on the topmost rung. The gospel is God coming down the ladder of the incarnation of Jesus Christ and meeting us as sinners at the lowest rung.

Religion is good views, the gospel is good news.

Religion is good advice, the gospel is a glorious announcement.

Religion takes a man and leaves him as he is, the gospel takes a man as he is and makes him what he ought to be.

Religion ends in an outer reformation.

Religion whitewashes, the gospel washes white.

Religion often becomes a farce, the gospel is always a force: the power of God unto salvation, to everyone who believes.

There are many religions, but only one Gospel.