As I try to process the events that have transpired over the past 24 hours of my life, it leads me to consider the act of conditional worship. This is when a fellowship, be it christian, Jewish, Muslim or any religion enforces a set of rules that you must obey in order to be a part of their congregation. In Christianity this is called legalism. In other fellowships this is called occultic practises, sacraments and rituals. Jesus issued strong warning against those who practise their faith as a ritualistic form and warned others not to do as they do as many fell under the leadership of these false teachers. The reason why Jesus warned his followers of this Hippocratic way of living your life was because he believed that those who wanted their religion were in fact rejecting Christ and consequently the One true God who could save their souls from the consequences of their sins, which is hell.
God gave these religious leaders up to their own error because instead of doing things His way, they hardened their hearts and eventually committed the unpardonable sin which is not just a rejection of Christ, but a rejection of God himself. "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." When we reject the gospel we reject Christ the only one who can save us from our sin: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The Pharisees not only rejected God, but they rejected the cross. You can have a form of religion but not be saved,"having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." There are many so called professing christian churches out there that fall into this category, having a form of godliness and we are warned to flee from such people. If you are looking to your denomination to save you or your good works, flee from that. Only Jesus Christ can save you and he does it through the cross and his blood. Any church that denies this reality is not a church and is quite possibly a cult, or just a religious institution which in my opinion is even worse. You may as well be a Buddhist or some other isms when your church abandons the cross and the only person who can save their soul from God's judgement.
This is Mike.
God gave these religious leaders up to their own error because instead of doing things His way, they hardened their hearts and eventually committed the unpardonable sin which is not just a rejection of Christ, but a rejection of God himself. "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." When we reject the gospel we reject Christ the only one who can save us from our sin: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The Pharisees not only rejected God, but they rejected the cross. You can have a form of religion but not be saved,"having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." There are many so called professing christian churches out there that fall into this category, having a form of godliness and we are warned to flee from such people. If you are looking to your denomination to save you or your good works, flee from that. Only Jesus Christ can save you and he does it through the cross and his blood. Any church that denies this reality is not a church and is quite possibly a cult, or just a religious institution which in my opinion is even worse. You may as well be a Buddhist or some other isms when your church abandons the cross and the only person who can save their soul from God's judgement.
This is Mike.
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