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Scripture for the day: Acts 4:12-13 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Thought for the day: So, what is that old time religion that is so gleefully sung about? It is nothing less than the revelation of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. The disciples had to spend time with the risen Christ in order to be able to fulfill His desire for their lives. Paul needed a similar encounter on his way to Damascus before he could believe and begin to introduce this same Jesus to the world. He told the Corinthians, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). In other words, you can’t learn your way in. 
 Neither is that old time religion a new gospel for a new age. Some would try to convince us we are living in a different time and need something new, something grand, something that fits with what the world already believes; something smooth and inoffensive. We need to develop a message that teaches getting along and high morals. Listen to Paul again: “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). 
 Folks, we don’t need a new gospel; we need new preachers and teachers and witnesses who aren’t afraid to call sin what it is, who will boldly confront a lost and dying world with the truth of God’s Word. We need those who will preach Jesus as the only way to forgiveness, deliverance and salvation. We need a new breed who have a vision of the lost and an overwhelming burden to do whatever it takes to win the lost to Jesus Christ. Our first priority must be to get the lost into the kingdom; if they end up attending our church, so much the better. 
 I love that old time religion because from it we learn that salvation is by the grace of God and nothing less. Pride is wiped away when we can accept the truth that “By grace you have been saved, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). It’s God’s grace that provides God’s favor toward me when there is no merit on my part. It’s grace that gives the assurance that “whosoever will” may be forgiven. It’s grace that goes beyond works, morality, a good character or all the good deeds we can do. It’s grace the provides the power to transform us into the very likeness of Christ. Listen, you can put a pig in a parlor and something will change but it won’t be the pig. You can dress it up, clean it up and tie a pink ribbon around its neck but it will never be anything but a pig unless its very nature is changed. That nature change is what God intends for all who will believe. He is, patiently and consistently, transforming believers into the very image of Christ. 
 No, the Lord isn’t interested only in forgiveness for sins committed. He wants to change the very nature of the sinner. The truth is, we’ll change what we do as He changes what we are. And He will change what we are when we realize what we need. We’ve all sinned, turned away from God, rebelled against the kingdom. We’ve done so willingly and have thus earned our place in hell. That’s why Isaiah said, “We are all like and unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). That’s why Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
 Yeah, gimme that old time religion that tells me the truth and leaves me with hope, knowing I’m one of the whosoever.
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill