FREEDOM FILES
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, NIV).
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ISSUE #3
July 5, 2014
Religion or Relationship
A friend and former co-worker posted the picture on the left to his Facebook page. The contrast of Religion and Relationship is well illustrated by the comparison between religion and gospel here. The shame of the Christian religion is that it divides people into different camps ready to do battle with one another. Jesus did not come to earth to establish a religion. He did not tell his followers to call themselves Christians. In fact, followers of Christ didn’t use the term of themselves until the second century (Bruce, Acts; Greek Text, 274). “In New Testament times, they preferred to use words like ‘disciples,’ ‘saints,’ and ‘brothers’” (Ajith Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary: Acts, p. 350). In the first century it was only observers of the followers of Christ that called them Christians (the Antiochene population, Acts 11:26; Agrippa, Acts 26:28; persecutors of believers, 1 Peter 4:16).
So, if Jesus did not come to earth to establish a religion, why did he leave Heaven? Jesus himself tells us:
· “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” (Matthew 5:17).
· “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).
· “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).
· “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
We can see from his own words that Jesus came from Heaven to Earth to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17), to call sinners to him (Matthew 9:13), to usher in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 12:28), and to give his life to pay the ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
In the New Testament writings, the word “religion” is used in reference to actions:
· “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Timothy 5:4).
· “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).
· “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
When we see the emphasis of the New Testament writers Paul and James we see that religion is a manifestation of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is our faith being demonstrated by our actions. It is “obeying because we are His.” It is not “obeying in order to become His.” New Testament language makes it clear that Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap of sin that separates us from our creator and bring us into relationship with God through Jesus the Messiah. Scripture uses terms like “added to their number” (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14), “into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3), “into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21), “into fellowship with his Son” (1 Corinthians 1:9), “into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18), and “into Christ” (Galatians 3:27). It also uses the term “Body of Christ” (Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12).
It is time for followers of Christ to stop defending their “Religion” and start living as the “family of God”. It is only then that we will experience the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).
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If you would like to be added to or removed from this mailing list, contact me at [email protected] and I will immediately comply with your request. Previous issues can be read at www.freedomfiles.weebly.com. If you are challenged by these newsletters, then feel free to send them on to others and encourage them to write for a free subscription. I would also welcome any questions or comments from the readers.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, NIV).
[email protected]
ISSUE #3
July 5, 2014
Religion or Relationship
A friend and former co-worker posted the picture on the left to his Facebook page. The contrast of Religion and Relationship is well illustrated by the comparison between religion and gospel here. The shame of the Christian religion is that it divides people into different camps ready to do battle with one another. Jesus did not come to earth to establish a religion. He did not tell his followers to call themselves Christians. In fact, followers of Christ didn’t use the term of themselves until the second century (Bruce, Acts; Greek Text, 274). “In New Testament times, they preferred to use words like ‘disciples,’ ‘saints,’ and ‘brothers’” (Ajith Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary: Acts, p. 350). In the first century it was only observers of the followers of Christ that called them Christians (the Antiochene population, Acts 11:26; Agrippa, Acts 26:28; persecutors of believers, 1 Peter 4:16).
So, if Jesus did not come to earth to establish a religion, why did he leave Heaven? Jesus himself tells us:
· “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” (Matthew 5:17).
· “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).
· “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).
· “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
We can see from his own words that Jesus came from Heaven to Earth to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17), to call sinners to him (Matthew 9:13), to usher in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 12:28), and to give his life to pay the ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
In the New Testament writings, the word “religion” is used in reference to actions:
· “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Timothy 5:4).
· “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26).
· “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
When we see the emphasis of the New Testament writers Paul and James we see that religion is a manifestation of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is our faith being demonstrated by our actions. It is “obeying because we are His.” It is not “obeying in order to become His.” New Testament language makes it clear that Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap of sin that separates us from our creator and bring us into relationship with God through Jesus the Messiah. Scripture uses terms like “added to their number” (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14), “into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3), “into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21), “into fellowship with his Son” (1 Corinthians 1:9), “into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18), and “into Christ” (Galatians 3:27). It also uses the term “Body of Christ” (Romans 7:4; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12).
It is time for followers of Christ to stop defending their “Religion” and start living as the “family of God”. It is only then that we will experience the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21).
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
If you would like to be added to or removed from this mailing list, contact me at [email protected] and I will immediately comply with your request. Previous issues can be read at www.freedomfiles.weebly.com. If you are challenged by these newsletters, then feel free to send them on to others and encourage them to write for a free subscription. I would also welcome any questions or comments from the readers.