Some people say that they are not religious, but that they are spiritual.

What is the difference? Are these the only options?

Whatever they mean by this, it is true that human beings are spiritual. We are more than body; a human being is a spirit with a body.

When we die, our body ceases to function but the spirit carries straight on with its existence, shedding this mortal frame as a snake sheds its skin, or to use William Shakespeare’s phrase, we “shuffle off this mortal coil”.

Religion

Possibly people say that they are not religious because they don’t like religion. I can understand their concern. There are too many religions in the world. There is only one God and so there is only one true religion. The others are counterfeits.

God is a Spirit so it is no great wonder that you are spiritual because you are made in the image of God. You are a spirit with a body.

Your body will die and your spirit will return to God Who made it.  He is your Creator Who gave you your ‘being’ – your embodied spirit.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.”

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Our disembodied spirit

What happens to our disembodied spirit when it returns to God?

“It is appointed unto men once to die and judgment with this.”

Hebrews 9:27

This state is called the intermediate state because it is between our life in this world and our existence in “the world to come” Mat 12:32, Mk 10:30, Lk 18:30, Heb 2:5.

You need to prepare for that time.

After death, without our body, we will be in a purely spiritual state of existence, about which Jesus speaks, so it is no wonder that even now people know and feel that they are “spiritual”, even if they are not religious.   Religion will not save us, but Jesus can.

Jesus teaches us that He is the only One Who can help you to prepare to meet your God.   If you ignore Jesus, He warns you that you will be on your own, and you will not be able to stand in God’s judgment of sinners Ps 1:5-6. This is why you need Jesus to prepare for that solemn time, and He offers His services freely.

Jesus is the Advocate you need 1Jn 2:1-2 Who can secure the forgiveness of your sins. He will speak on your behalf to secure your acquittal before God. At His final judgment He will openly acknowledge all those who trusted Him, saying: “Come, you blessed of My Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Mat 25:34.

It is not religion, religious people, popes nor prophets who will save you, but only Jesus Christ can do so.  Religion and religiosity has deceived and destroyed multitudes. 

Your spirit needs the Holy Spirit of God to teach your spirit that not only are you spiritual but also you need a better spiritual attitude than the one with which you were born.  Jesus calls it being born again Jn 3:3,5,7.

Jesus says the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for Him Lk 11:13.

The individual, personal judgment at our death will be followed by the collective General Judgment at the end of this world.  This is still a long way off and at that time there will be a General Resurrection of the just and unjust Dan 12:2-3.

Although we are spiritual and fully conscious during the intermediate state, yet we are not complete without our body and so the godly will look forward to the Resurrection Day.  Will you, do you think? 

You may not be religious, but you are spiritual.  Let us make the most of it.   Jesus said that He came that “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” Jn 10:10.

Eternal life is so much more than salvation.

“This is eternal life, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.”

The Lord Jesus Christ: John 17:3

Do not miss out on it. You do not want to be on the losing side, on the wrong side of history and eternity.