Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life;  NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME…”  John 14:6.

The fact is clearly stated above that THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY to come INTO GODS ACCEPTANCE.  It can even be understood, by a kindergarten child, that Jesus Christ is THE ONLY WAY any man can be accepted by the Lord God.

It is Man in his IGNORANCE who does complicate this truth and COMPROMISE THE UNDERSTANDING by their INTERPRETATIONS which we know clearly to be RELIGIOUS DOGMA AND DEDUCTIONS FORM THE MIND OF MEN.   For clarity we must understand that MAN MADE UNDERSTANDING IS DEFINED AS ….***((( RELIGION )))***.  The sooner that we understand this the further ahead we will be to knowing that there is basically ONLY TWO FORMS OF RELIGIOUS THOUGHT in the entire world.

Religion does engulf many different understandings of men in their search for acceptance with God.  Religion itself can be defined and seen in the world today all the way from the worship of Satan, to the Catholic Church, and even studying pagan religions.  All belief systems such as, SATANISM, ATHEISM,  HINDUISM, BUDDHISM, JUDAISM, ISLAM, AND CHRISTIANITY are included in the term RELIGION.  To be Religious NOES NOT GUARANTEE CORRECTNESS and one can readily know that Religion can not guarantee eternal salvation to any man. Religion itself is all the same and can be defined like this…. MAN’S SEARCH FOR GOD.  It is herein that all the confusion does lie and men wrestle today to find truth.  Even many, in the “Christian Church”, who call themselves Christians, do strive to find their way, having been led astray in Religious Thought.

***When one seriously considers Religion he must understand there is ONLY TWO WAYS DEFINED in Religious language which describe the way to acceptance; these two ways are

1. Salvation by the Works of Man IE, which shows how man can Work to please God or become accepted with God.

2. Salvation by God’s Grace, without works, IE, which shows how WITHOUT WORKS a man may be accepted by God.

ALL RELIGIONS ARE EITHER BY WORKS OR BY GRACE.  Men are either WORKING TO BE ACCEPTED or they are BELIEVING BY GRACE to be accepted.  A serious look at all religion will prove this fact.

The TWO WAYS are constantly contrasted in the Bible, the Word of God, and is the focal point of all the scripture.  A careful study of the opening book of the Old Testament Scriptures, Genesis, will reveal from the beginning, these two ways.

In Genesis 3:15 we find this verse:

“And to the Serpent the Lord God said:  “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.””

The Bible story does relate from the beginning the story unfolding, between Satan and the Seed of Woman.  Of course this seed, talked about here in this early prophetic word, is in direct reference to Jesus Christ which must clearly be understood by the INCARNATION OF CHRIST JESUS and his birth (without a earthly father) through the woman Mary.  Eve was the first to sin, and  through a woman, would the “Special Seed” or the one to undo that sin.  It was this seed of the woman which would bruise (fatally wound) the head of the evil serpent, Satan.    Clearly the two ways are then defined and even prophesied in this verse.   The entire Bible, as stated, then talks of these two ways.  The devil’s way verses The Seed of woman, JESUS CHRIST.

There follows another real verse to consider in Genesis 4 which will SET THE TRUE WAY TO GOD in early Scripture.  In this chapter we see the birth of two sons, Cain and Abel.  In the story they were to bring a sacrifice before the Lord and to offer it there for Gods approval:    Read their story:

“¹ And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
² And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
³ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
⁴ And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
⁵ But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
⁶ And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
⁷ If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
⁸ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”   Genesis 4:1-8 (KJV).

It is clear that Cain, being a farmer and raising crops did bring the WORK OF HIS HANDS to be offered upon his sacrificial altar.   His “Crop Samples” which represented the fruit of his labor was NOT ACCEPTED BY THE LORD GOD.  In this rejection Cain became very angry and killed Abel.  He was marked forever with a special mark.  The mark was seen by all he met.

Abel’s offering was quite different from Cains offering by the way the Lord God did receive it.  (Both boys brought a sacrifice, yet, only one was an “ACCEPTED ONE”).   Abel’s was a bloody sacrifice of a lamb from his heard of sheep.  It is clear that the reason why Abel’s offering was better, is that sometime in the days before this event, God had told or instructed them that the offering offered must be a BLOOD SACRIFICE; when the offering of the Lamb and his blood was offered it would be pleasing because of the instructions given.   Because Abel was obedient to the Lord Gods command in offering a blood sacrifice he was accepted by the Lord God.  Cain did hate Abel and was jealous of him and killed him.

Now to be clear, BOTH OFFERED A SACRIFICE out of sincerity yet ONLY ONE SACRIFICE WAS ACCEPTED.  The reason was why Cain’s was rejected does not lie in that it was not a good sacrifice because the fruit of Cain’s fields was good, but it was a WRONG KIND OF SACRIFICE.  In order to be accepted then there MUST BE A PROPER SACRIFICE OFFERED.

Let me point out that EVEN TODAY THIS HATE CONTINUES in the RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATION OF WHAT GOD WANTS OR IS REQUIRED BY GOD…. TO MAKE MEN ACCEPTED.  The fact is THE BLOOD SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST THE LAMB OF GOD which would eventually come into this world and fulfill this type found in the Old Testament story of Cain and Abel has brought to men the same jealously; some feeling rejected because they themselves and their works are NOT ACCEPTED and only those who trust in and believe in THE BLOOD SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, are accepted.  THE KILLING CONTINUES.  THE RELIGIOUS WARS CONTINUE TODAY OVER RELIGION and the interpretation of what God wants from man.

It is getting worse here in America even as I write this note about Religion.  In America today we are hearing about how it is a HATE CRIME to reject another persons religion.  All men and their Religion has an equal right to be believed, they say, and it is a HATE CRIME to say there is ONLY ONE WAY to God.   Well the Hate does continue even now, and our understanding of it is known in  the definition of Religion itself.  In the Word of God the BUCK STOPS WITH GOD.  Either one is ACCEPTED BY GOD OR HE IS REJECTED.  It is NOT MAN THEREFORE REJECTING, BUT GOD.

We must then understand THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO UNDERSTAND RELIGION.  EITHER ONE BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE FOR THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR SINS…..

Or…

He believes HE CAN WORK TO PLEASE GOD AND DOES NOT NEED JESUS CHRIST AND HIS BLOOD.

NOTE:  This is only the FIRST OF A SERIES of teachings about RELIGION AND WORKS.  Look for further discussion of this study coming shortly.

– Prophet Ken Dewey

Evangelist/Prophet/Pastor Ken Dewey is the founder of “OUT OF THE DESERT MINISTRIES” in Belen, New Mexico, USA. He writes on this Web Site, many Prophetic words, Sermons and teachings while leading people into true church settings and preaching in an End Time Gospel Ministry. NOTICE: One of the ways you can get involved in this OUT OF THE DESERT ARMY is to become a PARTNER or to GIVE A DONATION. We are believing God for many more Monthly Partners to stand with us in Monthly Giving and Offerings. If you have a desire to help and give, please know we need your help. God is sending people as I write to this place. We need your help and prayerful giving to enable us to do more for more people. Please send you pledge to becoming a Monthly Partner or to sow an offering into this Ground. To make a donation to OUT OF THE DESERT MINISTRIES please send to: PO BOX 223, BELEN, NEW MEXICO. PLEASE PRAY ABOUT SENDING A LOVE OFFERING TO SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE FOR SOULS.. AND TO OPEN BLINDED EYES OF THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO ALL THAT GOD IS SAYING FOR US TO DO. THANK YOU ALL …