There are a lot of religious people in hell.

Have you ever noticed how many celebrities wear the cross and other religious symbols? I’m amazed at people whose lives in no way reflect biblical Christianity, yet they wear a cross around their necks.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Many men carry a cross on their breast but the genuine Christian carries the cross in his heart.”

In II Timothy 3:5, Paul writes of those who have “a form of godliness but denying its power.” They are religious but have no evidence of the life-changing power of the gospel.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells The Parable of the Ten Virgins. They were waiting for the coming of the bridegroom, an image of Christ. Five had waited with oil for their lamps. Five waited with none.

At the midnight cry, when the bridegroom came the five foolish virgins were shut out of the wedding. In the parable, oil seems to represent the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the new life in Christ. They had everything they needed, except oil so they were shut out.

You may attend church every week. You may wear a cross around your neck. You may carry a well-worn Bible and a long prayer list, but if Christ is not formed in your heart, you are not saved. Religion gets no one into heaven, only a real relationship with Christ is sufficient.