Walking away from religion

Part 5 of Broken for Us Fourth Sunday of Lent

The BIG Idea:

Our personal ability is unable to accomplish anything of eternal significance. This is why it is important for us to rest in God s will for our new lives and our transformation by the power of Jesus. His death and resurrection free us to new life!

Key Scripture for the Day:

And you were dead in your offenses and sins, ² in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB)

Is it better to be religious or spiritual?

ILLUSTRATION: The missionary in India

Religion vs. The Gospel

⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6 (NASB)

Religion places the emphasis upon DOING, whereas the Gospel places the prime emphasis upon BEING.

Religion places the emphasis on OUTER CONDUCT, whereas the Gospel places it on INNER CHARACTER (Transformation).

Society does not like to be reminded that we are all sinners.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NASB)

-        Good works are not the cause but the result of our salvation.

³³  Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. ³⁵ The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. Matthew 12:33-35 (NASB)

The Bible clearly states that people who are not followers of Jesus are sinners.

For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Romans 1:25 (NASB)

We have been created in the image of God to worship God and obey God, but sin has distorted the very reason for our existence.

Illustration: The silent cowboy movie

-        Religion deals with the screen; the Gospel deals with the projector.

Only Jesus Christ can transform a person.

Religion places emphasis on principles and creeds; the Gospel emphasizes a person.

-        The Gospel IS Christ. It is what it is because He is who He is!

To be a follower of Jesus is to place one's trust in the Resurrected person of Christ that what He said and did is true. It is to receive Him as Savior and Lord.

Religion emphasizes WORKS; the Gospel emphasizes GRACE.

Confession is not repentance. Confession is acknowledging sin in our lives. Repentance is the decision and the action that transforms the direction of our lives and keeps us headed toward God.

God's forgiveness sets us free from the paralyzing guilt and fear that comes when we realize we have sinned against God.

Conviction ends when conversion and transformation take place.

²⁸  Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

Jesus is the door to salvation, the way to Heaven, and the only hope of eternal life for humanity.

-        Realize we are sinners.

-        Accept the gift of grace offered through Jesus Christ.

-        Our lives will be transformed as a witness that we have indeed become new creations.

-        Our witness is a continued state of obedience to Christ Jesus.

Receive His gift and then begin to "work out your own salvation" as He reigns from within.

 

Questions for Reflection:

Before today's message, what did the term "religion" mean to you?

What makes the Gospel different from religion?

What meaning did you draw from the illustration of the cowboys watching the silent cowboy movie and their attempt to save the damsel in distress by shooting at the bad guys on the screen?

When does conviction end in our lives?

Have you chosen to be free from the paralyzing guilt of sin and to be transformed in the image of Christ Jesus?