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This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands.
Mark 7:6 & 7
Did you know that Jesus hated religion? To be clear, He hated religion as defined by the world. You know, religion that magnifies rigid rules over human hearts. (Luke 20:46 & 47)
When Jesus came, He wholly dismantled extraneous, man-made religious laws. Those laws were irrelevant and typified abuse of God’s grace and abuse of others.
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.
Colossians 2:8
Legalism elevated people like the Pharisees and the Sadducees. It diminished the widows, orphans, sick and the least of society. But don’t be fooled. false religion still exists today.
The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another.
1 Corinthians 4:6
But it is a mistake to say that Jesus dismantled all religion. There is only one true religion.
Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27
So, how can committed believers be set free from appearing religious in this world? How can we look set apart, like Jesus intends, without looking superior, and rigid?
Jesus kept it simple
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
John 14:15
When true believers really love God, then they will obey all of God’s commands out of deep desire, not as an empty religious show.
If you are a believer, you will still struggle with sin. But if the passage in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes a professing believer, something is missing. That person won’t look like Jesus. Any religion they claim will be ugly and abusive. That is false religion.
God’s Word is always helpful. Take a look at the passages below.
But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
Ephesians 4:15
but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
1 Peter 3:15 & 16
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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Statement of Faith
