Religion vs. Relationship (part 3)

There is a difference between having a religion and having a close and intimate relationship with God. Abiding by or having a religion does not mean that someone is saved, that they know God or that they are going to Heaven. Jesus said that believers and false prophets can be identified by the fruit that they bear (Matthew 7:15-23). When choosing our close circle of friends, our mate, our home church, or which Pastor’s, Preacher’s, teachers, or leader’s we listen to, we need to use the Holy Spirit as our compass. We also need to “be good fruit inspectors (Joyce Meyer),” in order to discern wise from unwise associations. Christian’s need to be careful of the company they keep. 1Corinthians 15:33 warns us that, “Bad company corrupts good character.” The Bible also tells us that we are not to be yoked with unbelievers, but we are to be separate from them in our lives, actions, attitudes and behaviors (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). This doesn’t mean that we should shun them, of course. We need to reach out to the lost, love them, witness to them, invite them to church, and do what we can to shine the light of Christ. We also need to be aware of the kind of fruit that we are bearing in our own lives (Galatians 5:16-26).

Another way to understand the difference between having a religion and having a relationship is to take a look at the condition of the heart. A lot of people tend to look at the outward appearance of others, but God looks deeper. God looks at our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A genuine life lived for Jesus is expressed in how we live, and not just in what we say. Like Jesus said, some people honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him (Mark 7:6). We need to make sure that we are not living hypocritical lives, and that we are living a life worthy of God’s calling. If our lifestyle is sinful, then we are insulting God and damaging our witness to others. How can we help others if we don’t make sure that we have crucified our flesh, and that we are sold out for Jesus? This is why Jesus said, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:5).” God has warned us about being hypocritical and lukewarm. Hypocrisy is a serious offense to God. In Revelation 3:16 He said, “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” In Matthew 23, Jesus warned His disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Jesus cried out, “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell (Matthew 23:33)?” He reprimanded the Pharisees for their hypocritical behavior, because they did not care about God’s will. What they were concerned with was getting recognition and looking religious. Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness (Matthew 23:27-28).” We need to guard our hearts against hypocrisy. Choose to take a real stand for Christ!

The most important thing to understand when it comes to having a religion versus having a relationship is that Jesus did not say that if we believe in a religion or if we perform good works and rituals, then we would know God and enter heaven. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” This means that there is one way to God and Heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ. We can’t find our way to God through various channels or religion’s, and we can’t earn our salvation by doing good works. It is by God’s grace that we are saved! This is a relief, since we could never be sure if we were doing enough to know God and enter His Kingdom. Thankfully the Lord has told us plainly that we can have a relationship with Him and eternal life through Christ. Before Jesus came, people were bound by the law. Through the law we can see humankind’s desperate need for a Savior. Then, when Jesus came, grace came to us. Praise God! John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Christ set us free from the bondage of sin and placed us under His grace! When Jesus came, He set us free. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” We don’t have to work to earn our salvation, and we don’t have to work to have our sins forgive. Jesus paid the price for us two-thousand plus years ago. “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace (Romans 11:6).” With God’s grace we can see that having a relationship with Him is what we need and what has been given to us freely. Religion can’t produce a relationship, and it cannot save us. Only Jesus is able!

To understand grace, we need to see that the human heart is naturally bent towards sin, because of the fall that occurred in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, all was well, before the fall. After sin came in to the picture, everything changed. The world was thrown out of whack. Our relationship with God needed to be healed and made right again. Only a true, pure, holy, and living sacrifice could atone for the sins of humanity, and when Jesus came, He was that final, pure atonement. Christ lived a life of sacrifice and holiness to pave the way for us to follow, and He suffered mockery, beatings, torture, and death by crucifixion, in order to make us right with God! On the cross, He took on the sins of the world (past, present and future); in order to end the hold sin had on us, and provides unconditional forgiveness and eternal life. That is grace. We cannot earn grace. The Bible says that grace is a free gift that God gives to us. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” It is not by works. No one has the right to boast or brag or think highly of themselves. We didn’t earn grace. Grace is unmerited favor given to us by God.