Two Types of Religions

More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 BSB)

But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him - a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 Amplified Bible)

There are only two types of religions in the world.  One type believed we are saved by our own righteousness derived from our obedience of the law. The other type believed that we saved by the righteousness from God through faith in the faithfulness of Christ. If you want to believe in the first type of religion, you have many choices. If you want the second type, it is only found in the Bible.

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB)

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21 KJV)

Is Believing Work?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31 KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

We are saved by believing that Jesus died for our sins and not by good works. But is believing work? According to Jesus, believing is work and the only work required by God. This is God's only KPI.

They replied, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?"
Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29 NLT)

Church versus Bar

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Happen to see this on the internet by chance:

QUOTE
A man went to church. He forgot to switch off his phone and it rang during prayer. The pastor scolded him. The worshippers admonished him after prayers for interrupting the silence. His wife kept on lecturing him on his carelessness all the way home. One could see the shame, embarrassment and humiliation on his face. After all this, he never stepped foot in the church again.

That evening, he went to a bar. He was still nervous and trembling. He spilled his drink on the table by accident. The waiter apologized and gave him a napkin to clean himself. The janitor mopped the floor. The female manager offered him a complimentary drink. She also gave him a huge hug and a peck while saying, "Don't worry man. Who doesn't make mistakes?" He has not stopped going to that bar since then.
UNQUOTE

Profit motivation seems to work better than gratitude-motivation.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 ESV)

No One Good And Righteous

Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign LORD. (Ezekiel 14:14 NLT)

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Luke 23:50-52 ESV)

And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10:18 ESV)

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one. (Romans 3:10 BSB)

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:3 BSB)

How is it that there is no one good except God and there is none righteous, but Joseph of Arimathea was good and righteous and Noah, Daniel and Job were righteousness?

The Subtlety of Faith - God vs Works

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. (James 2:18 CSB)

There is a subtle difference between having faith in our works and having faith in our God.

A friend shared with me that some troubles happened to him. He had taken some action which he thought was right but now it went wrong. His action is very logical. If I were in his shoes, I would do exactly the same thing. And he added that before taking action, he had prayed about it.

I may be wrong, but he gave me the impression that he expected right results because he had done the right actions (i.e., praying to confirm that is God's will). Thus now he is very confused and upset.

While it is true that following God is right, it may sometimes lead to unexpected results. We have to make sure that our faith is in God and not our right actions. We should just do the right thing and leave the results to God.

Jesus's disciples followed Him, but they ran into a storm. Right action, wrong result.

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. (Matthew 8:23-24 ESV)

God's Kindness and Severity to Our Sin

See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. (Romans 11:22 NASB)

Sin has two purposes, to show the kindness of God and also His severity.

No matter how heinous a sinner you are, if you come to God for mercy, He will show it to you and pardon you through His Son, who had died for the sins of the world. And let all the wicked people rejoice at this good news from Jesus Christ. There is no one so bad that he cannot be saved by the blood of Jesus.

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" - and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 CSB)

If you think that you are good enough to face God, you will realize how severe is His judgement. Every evil thought and every idle word have to be accounted for. There is no one so good that they do not need the saviour.

And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. (Matthew 12:36 NLT)

Do Not Follow Wisdom Of The World

You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires. (Colossians 2:20-23 NLT)

If you died with Christ to the way the world thinks and acts, why do you submit to rules and regulations as though you were living in the world? "Don't handle!" "Don't taste!" "Don't touch!" All these things cease to exist when they are used. Such rules are human commandments and teachings. They look like they are wise with this self-made religion and their self-denial by the harsh treatment of the body, but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior. (Colossians 2:20-23 CEB)

Therefore, if you died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you subject yourself to legalistic rules? "Do not touch! Do not taste! Do not handle!" These all are to perish with use and are aligned with the commandments and doctrines of men. These things have indeed a show of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and neglecting of the body, but are worthless against the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:20-23 MEV)

Bear Own Burden And Also One Another's

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:1-5 NLT)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won't be tempted. Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 CSB)

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. For each one should carry his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 BSB)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 ESV)

My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don't be tempted yourself. You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
If you think you are better than others, when you really aren't, you are wrong. Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. 5 We each must carry our own load. (Galatians 6:1-5 CEV)

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. (Galatians 6:1-5 KJV)

Bear your own burden. Bear one another's burden. Carefully scrutinize, examine, test and proof your own work so that you can have personal satisfaction of doing something well and do not compare with others.

Work Enjoyment and Ministry

Our lives consist mainly of work. We work for a living and it takes up most of our time. The rest of it, we rest or enjoy ourselves. For those who are Bible believers, we also find time for service to God. It would be fortunate if we like our work. If not, we just labour mindlessly or unhappily for money.

Work
We labour for money so that we can survive.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15 ESV)
It was God ordained.

And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:17-19 NLT)
When man sinned, it became a struggle.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23 ESV)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV)
But there is mitigation.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." (John 6:27 ESV)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalms 90:17 ESV)
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. (Proverbs 12:11 NLT)
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty. (Proverbs 28:19 NLT)
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3 ESV)
And also some advice.

Enjoyment
We can also enjoy the fruits of our labour.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. (Ecclesiastes 5:18 NLT)
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT)
Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7 CSB)
It is not wrong to enjoy.

Ministry
We serve the Lord with our life.

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28 KJV)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)
Our Lord Jesus Himself is our example.

It would be best that our work is a ministry for the Lord and something that we enjoyed.

If Jesus Paid It All, Why Do We Have To Count The Cost?

But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12 CSB)
Jesus paid it all.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:27-28 ESV)
Why do we have to count the cost?

I have heard how some pastors explain in this way, salvation is free but discipleship is costly. So is God a wicked fisherman who hide the sharp hook of discipleship within the free bait of salvation? Or are there two classes of believers, ordinary believers and disciples?

When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I did not count the cost. Neither I did I do a cost benefit analysis. I did not know what a wonderful benefit eternal life is. I could not fully understand that I have escape eternal damnation. I did not know much. I did not have the Bible. I just accepted blindly.

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 CSB)

Looking back, I saw the wonderful grace of God working in me, walking with Him for more than forty nine years. If there had been any earthly cost, I think I have reaped more earthly benefit, and that is not counting the eternal gain that I will be having.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV)

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

Don't count the cost. Believe God. Whatever He had promised, He is able to deliver.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25 KJV)

Righteousness Credited As Gift

After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:4-5 NIV)

We understand the the Israelites in Moses time were getting what they do not deserve. But are the Israelites blessed because of Abraham's righteousness? But the Bible said that Abraham's righteousness is credited by God. Abraham did not deserve it either.

What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5 NIV)

Not Of Works

"After the Lord your God has done this for you, don't say in your hearts, 'The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!' No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deuteronomy 9:4-5 NLT)

The Word of God always emphasize that our salvation and blessings is never the result of our own righteousness. It is always to fulfil God's promise.

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7 NASB)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Two Types of Work

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB)

Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? (Habakkuk 2:13 ESV)

The are two types of work. One has eternal value beyond daeth and the other will be burnt.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

Works Of Lasting Value

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (Mark 9:41 NLT)

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. (Hebrews 6:10 ESV)

When the Chinese general Yue Fei (岳飛) had defended the Song (宋) against the Jurchens (女真), his works was well recognized by the Chinese and he was considered a national hero (民族英雄). Temples were built in his honour and he was worshipped. But today, the Manchus, who are descendants of Jurchens (女真), are part of China. In order to maintain national harmony, Yue Fei (岳飛) is no longer a national hero (民族英雄) by the Chinese government. When China cease to exist, nobody will remember Yue Fei (岳飛).

When an unknown nobody gave a cup of cold water to one of the least of the Messiah's followers, his work will be remembered by the eternal God.

Remember, it is not what you do that matter. It is who you work for that matter. If the one you work for is eternal, the value of your work will be eternal.

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10 NASB)

Serve

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

If you are given an opportunity to serve the Lord, seize it. It has eternal value.

His Part And Ours - Grace, Faith And Works

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. (Romans 4:19 ESV)

Faith is always difficult to explain. If God promised us something, do we just sit and wait for it to be fulfilled? Is it not written in Romans 4:21 that "what God had promised, he was also able to do"? What else do we need to do? Well, someone by the name of J Sidlow Baxter wrote a whole book (His Part And Ours: God's Promises and Our Responsibilities in the Christian Life by J. Sidlow Baxter | Goodreads) about it, detailing God's part and our part.

But after listening to a sermon by Adrian Rogers: How to Be Strong in the Faith (2052) - YouTube, I suddenly found an easy explanation. It is about sex, so it will catch attention.

When God promised Abraham that he would have a son, Abraham did not do nothing and wait for his son to pop out. Abraham had sex with Sarah. He had to do his part. God worked the miracle through Abraham's action.

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 KJV)

Cannot Work Too Hard

God does not allow you to work too hard. You must rest one day in seven. The penalty for violating this is death.

You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. (Exodus 31:14-15 ESV)

While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. And the Lord said to Moses, "The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 15:32-36 ESV)

The Two Religions Faith And Works

There are only two religions in the world. One says you are saved by who you believe and another says you are saved by what you do.

Faith
And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31 ESV)

Works
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (Matthew 7:22-23 ESV)

Saved By Doing

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 ESV)

Did I always say that we are saved by who we believe and not what we do? Well, the Bible says you also can be saved by doing stuff.

What must you do?

You must do the will of God.

What is the will of God?

To believe in His Son.

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40 ESV)

Do Good

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14 ESV)

Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. (Psalm 37:27 ESV)

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10 NASB)

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT)

"But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27 NLT)

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (Luke 6:35 NIV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 ESV)

But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13 CSB)

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16 ESV)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. (Proverbs 3:27 ESV)

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)