Acts Of Religion

 1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Religion is a complex set of cultural, spiritual, and belief systems that address humanity's relationship to the divine, spirituality, and fundamental questions of life.

Christianity is a religion. But it is more than a religion, it is an ark, like that of Noah that will save people from destruction in the last day.

Every religion has a moral code that guides conduct, defining right and wrong and fostering ethical behavior within the community. This moral code can be referred to as the mosaic law and the church doctrine in the christiandom.

The law was given to Moses by God and the law was divine, but the law has been twisted and diluted by man because of his nature; a fallen man cannot exercise the things that are divine unless he became born again.

Apostle Paul said, "sin is what gives death its sting. And the law is the power behind sin." 1 Corinthians 15:56

The law which is divine may become a deadly tool in the hands of a religious man who acts according to his desires. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ condemns the Pharisees and the teachers of the law of Moses for twisting the law; "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;  they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers." Matthew 23:1-8

The church that our Lord Jesus Christ was talking about when He said to Simon that He will build His church on a solid rock was not a religious gathering, Jesus was talking about one big family of God; a genuine born again Christian is not a religious man, but a kingdom man, and a kingdom man will not rule by the law that was set-up by man, a kingdom man will rules by life and by the Spirit of God. Jesus was teaching when He said,  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." That is why He instructed the believers not to act the way an ordinary man or the unbelievers acts, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." Matthew 5:38&39

Jesus quotes the mosaic law "an eye for an eye..." In the book of Exodus chapter 21 verses 24&25 to contrast it with His teaching to not retaliate against those who do wrong, instead encouraging love and forgiveness.

Many Christians are too religious, they acts after the flesh and do according to their desires instead of living by the Spirit of God.

PRAY THIS WEEK 

Pray for the wisdom of God. And ask God to renew the right Spirit within you in Jesus mighty name Amen.