Defining Religion
There is the worldly meaning for religion and the Christian meaning
The Christian meaning is simply… trying to qualify
- When it comes to God and his support
- Earning
- Being worthy
- Deserving
- Accomplishing
Who’s earning, you or Christ?
- If its you, you might as well throw away Christ,
- Paul goes on to say Christ is of no value to you.
- Anything you earn in God is religion, anything Christ earnt is Christianity
- You have been given all things what more can you earn?
The opposite of gift is earning it (earning the gift)
- In other words the opposite of Gift is religion…
- Freely freely you receive
- If you try and earn what has been given as a free gift, you offend the giver
The focus has changed
In the old covenant it was about works, new covenant it’s about Jesus works
Religion focuses on
- Your performance
- Your heart condition
- Your desire to walk with God
It’s extremely destructive; it destroys love and wrecks relationships