Going To Church Won't Save You - Soul Choice Ministries

Do you think that because you go to church you are in right standing with God? Do you think that going to church will count for something and qualify you for heaven?

The truth is that going to church has nothing to do with your salvation. It doesn’t matter if you have a Christian family member, if you own a Bible, or if you hang out with church people. None of these things matter when it comes to your salvation.

We are justified before God solely by repenting of our sins and putting our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not about being a good person. It’s not about church membership, not about reciting prayers, and not about performing religious traditions. The shed blood of Jesus is the only thing that will cleanse us from sin, and we can never live holy enough to earn salvation.

We must understand that Jesus Christ alone fulfilled all righteousness for us. His blood was shed on the cross and paid our debt of sin.

Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” This verse speaks of Adam’s disobedience and Jesus Christ’s obedience.

Romans 5:8-10 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Yes, the Bible does tell us to attend church. We do so because we love God and we love His people…not because we check it off some spiritual list believing it will gain us points. Attending church can make us feel emotional, but an emotional experience does not necessarily produce a changed heart or a commitment to God. It’s not attendance at church that’s required, but repentance of our sin and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We need to experience heart-felt sorrow for sin, and a deep understanding that we need a Savior.

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation…that you sorrowed after a godly sort.”

There are some born again Christians who still think they must earn God’s favor and love but the truth is we could never earn God’s love. It is a free gift. The moment we think we need to earn anything to get God’s approval we move outside the Gospel. Only the blood of Jesus makes us acceptable to God.

Some people will tell you that you must do acts of kindness or volunteer at church, and that good works are necessary for your salvation. They will put heavy burdens on people telling them God requires tasks and good deeds. They are hoping their good deeds outweigh their bad ones earning them entrance into heaven. This is a false, warped view of God’s grace. It’s just not true. The only way you can have relationship with God is by believing Jesus Christ alone paid for your sin debt.

Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (It’s not by our effort)

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

A person who repents is given a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). It’s not a sacrifice to attend Church but a privilege and a joy. Keeping His commandments is no longer a burden but a delight. You gain a genuine desire to please God, a hatred for evil, and a love for goodness. You also feel love for the other Christians and a desire to see people get saved. It naturally produces a desire to do good works, to help others, to feed the poor, and to resist sin…because of a changed heart, not an obligation.

In Luke 19:8 Jesus called out Zacchaeus, who was a wealthy, chief publican, and considered a great sinner by the people. Jesus told him He would come to his house that evening. This was a great honor for Zacchaeus. Jesus came to his home and the Bible says that Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…” A changed heart is followed by a changed life.

In Matthew 3:7-8 Matthew tells us about John the Baptist. “But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. ‘You brood of snakes!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.’” Good actions are evidence of a saved person.

Going to Church won’t save you. Good works won’t save you. Religious tradition won’t save you. Only the shed blood of Jesus, which paid for our sins, and our repentance, will save us. Good works are not necessary for salvation. They are a result of a changed heart and life. They are not the cause…but the effect.