Today there are countless Christians who seem to appear righteous, but inside they are full of evil and darkness. Take a look at this passage in scripture: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:2-5
This is speaking about people who appear to be godly, but are inside corrupt and full of dead religion. That is a pretty strong passage in scripture, but it gives us a glimpse into what dead religion looks like. While they may appear to be righteous, they are denying the power of God to save them and forgive their sins. If you've found yourself thinking, "My sins aren't that bad..." then you've experienced the workings of a religious mindset. Let us not forget, our sin carries the death penalty... it is worthy of death! That's how serious that God wants us to be concerning sin. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Remember Adam? He didn't bring sin into the world by murdering anybody... he was simply disobedient to God and ate some fruit which God told him not to, and look at how serious of an affect his one sin had on the entire human race! Also consider this passage where Jesus gives a stern warning concerning how serious sin really is: And if thy hand offend thee [causes you to sin], cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. Mark 9:43
The Holy Spirit has shown me that we cannot realize the truly awesome forgiving power of God until we realize the seriousness of sin! Until we realize how serious that our sin is, we cannot truly appreciate what Christ has done for us. Whenever we discount our sin, we are discounting the price that Jesus has paid for our sin. The idea of sin being serious business does not settle well with the religious mindset. Why? Because religion has no real way to overcome sin or make up for our failures. The religious person feels forgiven, not because of the mercy of God, but because their sins weren't all that bad, and so it was no big deal for God to forgive them. Excuse me, but sin carries the death penalty and Jesus gave his life so that we might be forgiven! The dangerous thing is that most people with a religious mindset don't even realize what is going on.
We need to realize two things: (a) the awfulness of our sin and (b) the awesomeness of Jesus' work on the cross as payment to forgive even the bloodiest of sins! God's Word tells us that though our sins be as red as crimson (which I believe represents murderous bloodshed), He desires to make us as white as snow: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
It may feel good to discount our failures, but it also discounts the Blood of Jesus and the steep price that Jesus paid for us on the cross. It doesn't just feel good, but it's life-changing when we come to realize what Jesus truly went through for our sins, and how the price has been paid IN FULL for our forgiveness: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24
Being justified, according to NT Greek, means to be rendered innocent or just as if you've never sinned. God's Word also goes on to tell us that through the work of Christ, we can be clothed with the righteousness of God! Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe... Romans 3:22
Religion makes people ignorant of God's righteousness, and attempts to establish righteousness apart from the work that Christ did for us on the cross. We need to believe upon the work of Christ on the cross and receive HIS righteousness! For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3
Religion is prideful and degrades the seriousness of sin, while true humility admits when it's wrong and accepts the work of Christ on the cross and thereby receives grace and forgiveness for their sins.
God's power is awesome and there is just absolutely nothing like it if one has had the opportunity to experience! I have experienced the power of God through His power to forgive me and allow me to use that same ability to forgive others who have wronged me. Now that's (ability to forgive others) power!
Wednesday, October 13th 2010 at 10:41AM
Jen Fad
