Skip to main content

The Peril Of Religion

(Mark 2:27-28) "And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath." It has been a problem ever since the fall of man that man has desired to add religion to God's Words. In the above verse Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day for placing the Sabbath above the everyday needs of man. The Sabbath was important to keep, but not at the expense of neglecting charity toward each other.  RELIGION MUST NEVER BE: 1) A substitute for God's Truth.  God warned man not to add to or take from his Word, and God's Word tells us that God is a God of compassion and mercy, but the Jew created a religion that would rather see a man starve than eat on the Sabbath or remain crippled than see him healed. Be careful not to leave God's truth for the way of religion. 2) A substitute for Christ. Jesus is "Lord of the Sabbath," meaning that as God himself his Sabbath represented more than just religiously resting one day in seven, for now under His Lordship every day once we're saved is a day of rest in Christ; For in Christ we now have "ceased from our works" (Heb.4:10), just as God did after creation. 3) A substitute for Grace. Having correct doctrine, knowing God's Word, having large crowds and worshipping in a nice building is great but without the practice of grace toward all men, all that can become just another empty religion! Religion is not the same as practicing the grace and love of Christ. Jesus didn't come to just start another religion. No, he came to us to help us find peace with God but also to teach us the importance of practicing grace one with another.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Strengthening Purpose of Time

( Gen 41:41-43) “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt... A nd he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” When Joseph was introduced to us in chp.37, he was a young inexperienced 17 year old boy, and yet 13 years later God raised him up  to rule the nation of Egypt. So, what made him different ? The Answer : “ Time,” and his faith in God ! You see time is a wonderful teacher; 1) Time strengthens endurance . Endurance and faith can only be strengthened over time. Like exercise, we start out not able to do much but over time we find that we can do more. You see, God allows us to go through the ups and downs of life, to help us gain not only spiritual maturity, but also spiritual abilities. Spiritual endurance therefore enables us to handle life’s trials better. 2) Time strengthens patience . Although Joseph, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glory To Jesus In The Highest

(Luke 2:13-14) “ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Again, we read above about the great proclamation of Heaven’s Angels the night of Jesus’ birth, and how they began to sing “Glory to God in the highest.” So, what did the angels mean by this statement . 48 times in the Bible God uses the phrase, “The Most High,” to describe not just the dwelling place of God, but also the Glory that should be ascribed to Him and His Son Jesus 1) Jesus was the Glory that came down from the Highest Heaven . Jesus’s existence did not begin at birth, for the Bible tells us that he was, and is, and always will be the eternal Son of God , “the only begotten of the Father.”   For He is, (Rev. 1:8) “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending,” (18) “he that liveth, and was dead...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Should Include Praise Also

“Matt. 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” The above verse is the ending words of Jesus’s example on of how to pray. In the Lord’s prayer we are first taught to honor and glorify the Father and His Holy Name or (His Person). Then we are commanded to seek His will or (His Purpose) in life. After which, Jesus taught us to (Petition) him for our needs or “ daily bread,”   as well as “forgiveness” and “deliverance from evil” when tested, but there is also another aspect of this prayer that most people miss; and that is (His Praise). You see the temptation to do sin or “evil” is as much a part of our daily life as breathing. We are tempted daily to lust, lie, steal, gossip, cheat, become jealous, hate, etc., so we need not just the forgiveness of God, but also His power in faith. Brethren, we have som...
Post a Comment
Read more