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The Difference Between Religion and the Gospel

• Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. 
• Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
• Religion has good people & bad people. 
• Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
• Religion values a birth family. 
• Gospel values a new birth.
• Religion depends on what I do. 
• Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
• Religion has the goal to get stuff from God. 
• Gospel has the goal to get God.
• Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. 
• Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
• Religion is about me. 
• Gospel is about Jesus.
• Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. 
• Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
• Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. 
• Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
• Religion ends in pride or despair. 
• Gospel ends in humble joy.

--edited from Mark Driscoll, on the difference between Religion and the Gospel

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