Should we believe?  Should we really care whether Jesus was the Son of God, was just a man, or a myth?  Most people just don’t really think about Jesus as they go about their daily business.  Virtually, the only time Jesus‘ name is on some of their lips is during a spat of profanity.   

Can we be religious but lost?  There will be a multitude of religious people who expect to get into God’s kingdom when they die.  In the Scriptures there are many warnings directed to religious people concerning the possibility of being deceived and lost.  “It is not those who say Lord, Lord, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.  When the day comes many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you: away from me, you evil men,” (Matthew 7:21-23)!  Could you be one of those people, religious but lost?    

This passage leads us to believe that a multitude of religious people who expect to get into God’s kingdom when they die will instead be “cast into the lake of fire and be burned up,” (Matthew 25:21).  These will be good, moral people, members from all church denominations, including the Popes, Priests, Preachers, yes, even Elders, Deacons, and Sunday School Teachers.    

But remember, the cross is absolutely necessary.  It is not a matter of choice-it is a must.  One cannot walk acceptable with the living God and not be surrendered to His divine will.  True, you can choose not to take up your cross and follow Him, but in doing so, you have cut yourself off from the very source of eternal life.    

Oh, yes, the largest religion in the world arose in His Name.  Christianity is supposedly based on the teaching of Jesus. Religious people use the name of Christ.  One billion people profess to believe in Him.  Yet most people don’t read and study and find out just what Jesus really did for us.    

There’s a good reason for this.  Not many really study the Bible and very few even read it on a regular bases.  Thus, Jesus of Nazareth, the most influential human being who has ever lived remains a mystery to most people today, about His Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection and the purpose of His coming.   

The first family that was created sinned against God with their disobedience and brought death to all generation thereafter: God foresaw this disaster of the sins of Adam and Eve, so He made provision before the foundation of the world that His precious Son Himself would have to come and die as a means of salvaging their heavenly family that was foreordained before the “foundation of the world,” (Revelation 13:8).    

Not only was His family foreordained, the very means of securing their salvation and longevity was provided beforehand!  His plan was thus sealed with a guarantee, or surety by the sacrifice of His only Son He loved on the cross, “The Ultimate Price.”