People often look to religion as a means for accessing eternal life, only one problem: religion doesn't lead to life.
All throughout Jesus ministry He carried out the work of God. He loved people, helped people, and ministered to them. All throughout His ministry, the religious people stood in His way. Religion does not save you. It offers these ridiculous sets of rules and regulations that don’t change anything. God doesn’t love you more because you live a perfect life. Jesus never asks for our perfection, He simply asks that we come to Him. Throughout the Gospels we see that Jesus offers forgiveness to people without demanding they follow a routine. Jesus offers forgiveness to those who come to Him. Religion is when we try to make ourselves good enough. Christianity is simply trying to make ourselves like Jesus. You won’t be successful all the time and you don’t have to be. That is the point of grace.
Religion is our attempt to make ourselves good enough in the eyes of God. I cannot give us life because religion doesn't lead to life. Religion is not Jesus. Sometimes it talks about Jesus, acts like Jesus, and even sounds like Jesus but it isn't. Religion is man's attempt to cut Jesus out of the equation of life.