The Cross is the only Entrance
Introduction
A religion is a set of beliefs and practices by which a group of people hope to please God. Judaism and Christianity are religions.
However, Judaism and Christianity have a dimension not true of other religions. They include interaction with the living God. The individual can come each day and commune with God. He does not need to pursue his beliefs and practices blindly, as a person would pursue some scheme in the hope of obtaining a result.
The difference between a religion and the unique quality of Judaism and Christianity can be observed in the Garden of Eden. The relationship of Adam and Eve to God was not a "religion" in the way we ordinarily use the term.
Yet it may be observed today that for most followers of the Judaic and Christian religions, the worshipers are not in vigorous daily interaction with God. They pursue the practices of their religion but they do not know God.
They know the house of God but they do not know God Himself. He is not real to them on a daily basis.
The reason many Christians are adherents of a religion but do not enjoy the relationship with Jesus Christ they could have is that they do not enter through the cross. They come to Jesus as an adamic personality and remain an adamic personality throughout their life.
Those who are unusually fervent may be busily engaged in the work of their church. They may make a profession of faith in the blood atonement. They may be active in the work of evangelism. They may speak in tongues. They may demonstrate other gifts of the Spirit. They may even go to another country as a missionary. But they still may be putting a religious dress on the adamic nature.
The reason for this is they were not taught when they were baptized in water that they were entering Christ's death on the cross and rising in His resurrection life. They never have learned that they are to count themselves crucified with Christ and risen with Christ. They may have memorized Galatians 2:20 but it is not a living experience with them.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20—NIV)