TOPIC: BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS SPIRIT (1)
Text: Matthew 15:14
While God formed the human body from the dust of the earth, the human spirit was the breath of life from God. (Gen. 2:7). There is therefore an inborn or innate passion in every man for God. This is why the heart of man can never be completely satisfied with anything material, regardless of its value or vastness. The heart or spirit of man is from above and will always long for something that transcends the earth. In man’s desperate efforts to either suppress or satisfy his innate hunger for the supernatural, he has invented or fashioned diverse gods for himself. However, what the heart of man is longing for is not many gods but the true God, his maker and source. Until God occupies a man’s heart, his heart will never be satisfied.
(Psa. 16:4).
Religion is man’s effort to discover and satisfy his innate hunger for God. It is man’s expression of his veneration or passion for the supernatural. There are diverse religions in the world today because there are diverse efforts and inventions to discover, satisfy, and express man’s strongest inborn passion. Unfortunately, all man’s efforts to satisfy his innate hunger for God have proved abortive. This is why new religions are springing up every day. On our own, we can neither discover nor please God. We all were born dead and lost in sins, completely separated or alienated from God. The Scripture testifies: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way...” (Isa. 53:6).
Every man without Christ is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (John1:4).
Without God revealing Himself and reaching out to mankind through Jesus Christ, we shall continue to grope in darkness, seeking frantically in vain for God. Christ did not come into the world to pioneer a new religion, but to fully reveal God to us and to make open for us, through His flesh, the way back to God. It is only in Christ that God is made manifest to us and it is only through Christ that the sinful man has access and boldness to approach the holy God. The Scripture testifies: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18). “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. (Heb. 10:19-20). “Jesus said to him,"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).
Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as the Son of God will forever search in vain for God, for Christ is the image of the invisible God and the brightness of God’s glory. Any man who rejects Jesus Christ as the Son of God sent into the world to reveal God to mankind, and to redeem and restore us to God has rejected God’s revelation and salvation. He has made God a liar by rejecting God’s testimony of His Son, Jesus Christ. “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:10-12). Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ as the Son of God will forever search in vain for God, for Christ is the image of the invisible God and the brightness of God’s glory. (Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:3).
Every religion in the world today claims to be a custodian of God’s knowledge and offers us diverse ways or approaches to God. However, God has completely manifested Himself to us in Christ Jesus. God has also given us eternal life and this life is in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. (1John 5:11). No religion can claim to offer new or eternal life to sinners. At best, religion teaches ethics or morals, but cannot regenerate or transform a sinner to a saint. Sadly, religion emphasizes good works or morals, yet it cannot impart new life and power to live a holy life. No wonder there are many religious sinners today, a bunch of hypocrites, who outwardly appears to be righteous but inside are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matt. 23:28)
Beloved, beware of placing your faith and confidence in any religion, for no religion redeems from the tyranny of sin and offers eternal life. Jesus warns:"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."(John 8:24). While religion neither offers true revelation of God or salvation to man, yet it rejects Christ – God’s perfect revelation of Himself and Saviour of the world. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” (Rom. 10:3). Unfortunately, there are many people in the world today groping in the darkness of religion, faithfully observing strict religious rites and rules, and passionately but blindly following their religious leaders. The Scripture asks:"Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39). How do I know if I am only in empty religion and not in a living relationship with God? What are the manifestations of the religious spirit? Find out in the subsequent piece on this series.
My Dear Heavenly Father, I believe the testimony You gave of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that You have given me eternal life and this life is in Christ. I receive today the eternal life that You have given me in Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen
