Religion -- a Reality

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

Deuteronomy 32:47

For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing you shall prolong your days in the land…

The Christian dispensation is one which requires much faith to receive it. We walk not by sight, but by faith alone; and it is little marvel that when ungodly men see the righteous afflicted, and discover that their comfort lies in matters which only faith can apprehend, they should cry out, "It is a vain thing," and should turn aside from the ordinances of God. Besides, to confess the truth, there have been so many counterfeits of true religion, that it is not remarkable that unconverted men should consider even the genuine article to be but a vain thing.

I. The true religion of Christ, which consists in a vital faith in His person, His blood, and His righteousness, and which produces obedience to His commands and a love to God, is NOT A FICTION.

1. The objects of true religion are, to those who believe in Jesus, no fiction.

(1)  God the Father.

(2)  Christ Jesus.

(3)  The Holy Spirit.

2. The experience which true religion brings is no fiction.

(1)  Repentance.

(2)  Joy and peace in believing.

3. There is a reality in the privileges of religion.

(1)  Prayer,

(2)  Communion with Christ.

(3)  Christian love towards one another.

4. The religion of Christ is evidently not a vain thing if you look at its effects.

5. To the man who really possesses it, it is his life. His religion is not like a man's regimentals, which he can take off and go in undress; it is inside of him; it is woven right through and through him.

II. IT IS NO TRIFLE.

1. It deals with your souls.

2. It connects you with God.

3. Those who have ever known anything of it tell you it is no "child's play."

4. Sinners, when they are in their senses, find it no trifle.

5. True ministers of God feel it to be no trifle.

III. IT IS NO FOLLY. If you would accomplish the proudest feat of human intellect, it is to attain to the knowledge of Christ crucified. Here the man whose mind makes him elephantine may find depth in which he may swim. Here the most recondite learning shall find itself exhausted. Here the most brilliant imagination shall find its highest flights exceeded, Here the man who understands history may crown his knowledge by the history of God in the world; here men who would know the secret, the greatest secret which heaven and earth and hell can tell, may find it out, for the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. All the learning of man is doubtless folly to the angels, but the foolishness of God in the Gospel is wisdom to cherubim and seraphim, and by the Church shall be made known to them in ages to come the manifold wisdom of God,

IV. IT IS NO SPECULATION. People sometimes ask us what we think about the heathen, whether they will be saved or not, Well, sirs, there is room for difference of opinion there; but I should like to know what you think about yourselves — will you be saved or not? — for after, all,. that is a. question of a deal more importance to you. Now, the religion of Christ is not a thing that puts a man into a salvable state, but it saves him. It is not a religion which offers him something which perhaps may save him; no, it saves him out and out, on the spot. It is not a thing which says to a man, "Now, I have set you a-going, yon must keep on yourself." No, it goes the whole way through, and saves him from beginning to end. fie that says "Alpha" never stops till He can say "Omega" over every soul.

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