Written by Pastor Gardner Friday, 09 July 2010 23:28

One of my favorite books is a little book called “done.” In this book, the author makes the shocking statement that there are only two religions in the world. After grabbing everyone's attention with that unconventional statement, the author goes on to say that the two religions he is referring to are actually systems of religions. There are DO religions and there is a DONE religion.

 The DO religions all teach that you must DO something to gain the approval of God and earn entrance into heaven. Within this DO category, every religion or denomination has a different list of “DOs” and/or “DON'Ts.” For some, the list is religious: join the church, get baptized, get confirmed, give money to the church, keep the sacraments. For others, the list is more general: be good, be nice, make sure your good outweighs your bad. For still others, the list is more extreme or even bizarre: shave your head, take literature door-to-door, sell flowers at the airport, mutilate yourself, sacrifice animals. But the bottom line is the same - make sure that you've performed everything on the list or you will not have earned God's forgiveness.

 Then there's the religion of the Bible - the DONE religion. The religion of the Bible says that there is nothing I can do to earn God's favor. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) Because you are a sinner, you are separated from God. God says in this verse in Isaiah that even your best efforts are not enough to make up for your sin. There is nothing you can DO to earn His favor. That's the bad news.

 But the good news is, the religion of the Bible says that everything necessary to pay for your sin and restore you to God has already been DONE! When Jesus was hanging on the cross about to die, He said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) That phrase is literally an accounting term meaning “paid in full.” You deserved to die and go to hell because of your sin, but Jesus paid the penalty for your sin by dying for you. It's like you were standing in the courtroom as a condemned criminal, waiting for the judge to pass sentence upon you, and Jesus stepped up and said, “I'll pay his fine.” If you accept His payment in your place, the judge is satisfied and will let you go free.

 When we prepare for Easter, it's also interesting to remember what happened at the temple - the building symbolic of God's presence - immediately after Jesus died on the cross. When Jesus died, the huge curtain (veil) that separated the most sacred part of the temple where God was said to reside from the part where people were allowed to go was miraculously torn in two from top to bottom, throwing open the sacred place for all to see. Suddenly it was as if whatever separated man from God was now completely removed, and God was inviting all humankind to come directly to him. It was God saying to the whole human race, “DONE!” DONE says “there is nothing more to DO; there is nothing more that can be done.” The price is paid. The debt is forgiven. The atonement is complete. If you try to earn it, work for it, or DO something to get it, you're wasting your time and you are insulting God by trying to pay for the gift that He has already paid for. It's already DONE! Or, in the words of Jesus on the cross, “It is finished!”

 Now I know what some of you are going to say: “That's just your interpretation of the Bible. Other people have read the Bible and come up with things that we need to DO to be saved.” Fair enough. So let me just quote some passages of the Bible for you and let you decide whether the religion of the Bible is a DO religion or the DONE religion.

 “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 2:8-9

 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...” Titus 3:5

 “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.” Galatians 2:16

  “I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21

  “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

 What do you think the Bible is teaching? DO or DONE? I'll pick this discussion back up where I left off and conclude by discussing how you can receive the benefit of what Christ has already DONE in your own life. If you have any questions about what I've covered so far, or would like a free copy of the book, “done.” please call our church at (419) 399-5061, or email us through our website at www.ebc-paulding.org at the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page. A PDF version of this book is available online.