It has been said, “The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim God with their mouths and deny Him with their lifestyles is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.” (Christianity Today, 2001)
A 19th-century Danish theologian identified two kinds of religion – Religion A and Religion B. The FIRST is “faith” in the name of religion only (2 Tim. 3:5 “They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.”) * It’s the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living God.
* Webster defines “Religion” as, “a particular system of belief or worship built around God, moral ideals, a philosophy of life, etc.”
Religion B, on the other hand, is a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience. * It’s a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God.
There are a lot of “Religions” in the world that has nothing to do with God, and there are a lot of people with “Religions” that will never take them to Heaven.
RELIGION ALONE
The Pharisees had a Biblical Religion but they rejected the very one that their religion was centered around, Jesus!
RELIGION ALONE focuses on the things others can see and forgets that God can see everything about them. (Luke 1:39-40 “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy--full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?”)
RELIGION ALONE worries about what others may think and wants to be PERFECT. (Luke 11:42-43 “But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets!”
Religion Alone finds the LOOPHOLES in the regulations in order to avoid obeying them. (Luke 11:46 “"Yes," said Jesus, "how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden.”
Religion Alone honors heroes of the past but rejects God’s work in the PRESENT. (Luke 11:47 “How terrible it will be for you! For you build tombs for the very prophets your ancestors killed long ago.”
Religion Alone seeks a “deeper” message in the Bible in order to be in CONTROL. (Luke 11:52 “How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” * Religion ALONE prevents people from becoming GENUINE Christians!
A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
To be able to go to HEAVEN a person MUST be in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God.
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God means there are no SECRETS between you and God and that PRODUCES a CLEAN SPIRIT and LIFE. (Luke 12:1 “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!”
An honest relationship with God avoids trying to keep secrets.
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God means that you and God are in COMMUNICATION with each other.
In the old song, “In The Garden” the words of the first verse and chorus says, “I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear Falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.” * Now that’s COMMUNICATION!
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God brings about a PEACE because we know God’s PROTECTION is upon us. (Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” * God takes care of the SPARROWS will He not take YOU also, are you not worth more than the SPARROWS?
Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will PRAISE and WORSHIP God for ALL He DOES!
An honest relationship with God is based on the joy of praising and worshipping Him.
Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will be LOYAL to Jesus no matter what the COST may be! Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will TRUST the Holy Spirit to GUIDE and DIRECT you in your walk with the Lord.
An honest relationship with God depends on Him and His power.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Hypocritical religion makes God SICK but He longs for an honest relationship with YOU.
(Rev. 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.)
What is YOUR RELATIONSHIP with God? Is God your SPARE TIRE when you have a FLAT? Is God your FIRE DEPARTMENT when you get into a FIREY SITUATION? Is God your POLICE DEPARTMENT for times when you need PROTECTION from danger?
What do you mean?
Do you KNOW the Lord? Do you TRUST Him? Has God given you FAITH in Christ? How can I know if I am in a Right Relationship with God?
How can a person know when they are in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with their SPO-- -- USE – PARENTS – CHILDREN?
There are FOUR STEPS essential to being in a Right Relationship with God:
1. There must be GENUINE CONFESSION.
2. There must be GENUINE REPENTANCE.
- Confession means that I am honest to God about my sin. Repentance means I TURN from that sin.
- Repentance is a military term meaning, “about face.” It is a TOTAL change in thought and behavior in how we think and act.
- Real Repentance is important because it determines whether or not we have relationship with God.
- A company called Genuflex in Venice, Italy has recently manufactured a state-of-the-art confessional booth for Roman Catholic Churches. It sells for $6,250 U.S. dollars.
It has a sign to show whether it is occupied or vacant. It is finished in walnut with leather seating. It is soundproofed, and can be equipped with a hygienic filter between the priest and the penitent. It even has its own heating and air-conditioning system. It may have been manufactured in Italy, but it is so American. We want to repent in comfort. We don’t want there to be any inconvenience or embarrassment. We want repentance to be polite, quick and easy. But repentance is never easy, because it demands facing our sin so that there is a complete turn around in our lives.
3. A Right Relationship with God DEMANDS GENUINE FAITH.
The Bible says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
4. A Right Relationship with God DEMANDS GENUINE OBEDIENCE.
Obedience is the PROOF that our hearts have been changed by the GRACE of God. (“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7)
We read in Hebrews, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” ( Hebrew 1):26-27)
CONCLUSION
A train plunged into a river over an opened drawbridge, and eighteen people died. The bridge engineer said he put up the RED FLAG, warning the train in sufficient time to stop. The train engineer said the flag was WHITE, and therefore he felt the bridge was there and it was safe to cross. The flag was examined, and it was RED, but it had FADED. Thus at a DISTANCE it APPEARED WHITE.
Our FADED testimony can misdirect others to cause them to sin.
God doesn’t’ care about your religion and your religious practices. God cares about your heart. Your works and religion should be a reflection of your heart. As always, OBEDIENCE is the KEY.
The signature of God in a Christian’s life is LOVE.
When god puts His spirit in our HEARTS, our ACTIONS shows the evidence of God’s indwelling.
The BASIC evidence of a disciple of Jesus is LOVE.
If you don’t have love out-flowing, you are not a disciple.
By Rev. Johnny Carver, Portland Church of God
