Jesus is the narrow door. He says to us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Religion, no matter what religion it is, puts one on the wide road that leads to destruction. We cannot earn our way to heaven (Romans 3 & 4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:10-11, Titus 3:4-5…) and religion is man’s attempt to earn his way to heaven. Jesus’s death on the cross paid the price for all our sins (Colossians 2:13), sins that separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2), and only when the sins are removed and righteousness is credited to our account (2 Corinthians 5:21) can we receive eternal life and begin a relationship with God. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD [not through religion, good works, sacraments, etc.]” (Romans 6:23). Good deeds will come when one turns to God from religion and sin, simply asking for mercy (Luke 18:9-14), realizing he is not good (Romans 3:21-23). It is then that that persons will begin a relationship with God, because God will put His Holy Spirit in them (Ephesians 1:13), and they will begin a lifetime of being changed by God through His word that we are to thirst for (1 Peter 2:2). Salvation is for the humble who love the truth, hate their wickedness, and want to saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). As you can tell, I love, love, love God’s Word! Jesus is the living Word and the Bible is the written word. It’s how we listen to Jesus.