Salvation is actually placed on a true relationship a believer have with God but not based on how religious the believer may be. Many people follow religious practices, traditions, and rules, yet their hearts may be far from God. True salvation comes when a person turns to God with faith and humility, not just by belonging to a religious group.
Jesus Christ teaches us that being religious without obeying the words of God can never save us. In His time, many people were very religious but missed the true meaning of God’s will. They focused on rules and appearances instead of love, mercy, and obedience from the heart. This shows that religion by itself is not enough to bring salvation.
Religion can still have value if it leads a person closer to God. Gathering with others, praying, and learning God’s word can help strengthen faith. But these things should not replace a personal relationship with God; they should support it.