weekly sermon

4-6-08

Got Religion?

Last week we talked about how God has already chosen you. We talked about how you have already been drafted into God's army and what your responsibilities are once drafted into His army. We briefly touched on how our Lord was raised from the dead to conquer hell and the grave and what that means to us. Now I need to find out something. Have you got religion?

I will not say that I hope not, but want you to look very close at what you claim to be the religion you have. Religion is a man made thing and is not perfect. No matter who your religious leader may be, they are susceptible to the evils of this world and obtain the ability to fail just as every human. I would never claim to be perfect, even in what I write every week. All I attempt to do is give you the true facts from the Bible in a simple way. I do not claim a religion for the reason that it is a man made thing. I would rather say that I have got Christ instead of saying I have got religion.

What is the difference in receiving Christ and getting religion? Upon receiving religion something happens to you. You are brought into a sect or group of folks that assemble for a purpose under a set of laws. In simple form, religion is a set of laws. These laws must be kept by you to remain in that religious group. There are many different religions mentioned in the Bible, each with their own set of laws. In this day and age there are so many more different religions with their own set of laws to be kept.

What happens to you when you receive Christ? Once Christ has been received, that person becomes a new person. Religion can not make you a new person. Religion may make you into a different person because you act in a different way, or because you have a new set of laws you must abide by that causes you to be different. Not religion, but ONLY Christ can make you into a new person. Christ offers new life and the way to live it. It states in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." How is it that old things pass, and all things become new? This is done by the power of forgiveness of sin and you start a new record with God on your life. Once Christ has been received as your saviour then your sins are now forgiven and your old life is washed away. Things in your past that you loved, have now lost their appeal.

Does God have the ability to really make you new? What I meant by that question is, do you think God has the ability? Do some of us think we are too far gone for God to be able to do anything for us or make us new? Let me share a story from the Bible that may help answer this question.

We have talked about this story in the past. Turn with me to Luke 15:4, "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" This story tells about the shepherd who lost one of his one hundred sheep and left the ninety nine to go and find the one. Sheep in those days were of such value that the shepherd would of course go and find that lost sheep. This is the value that God has for us. It states in the Bible how angels in Heaven rejoice more for one lost sinner coming home than for many righteous persons. The righteous are already there, and the sinner just coming there is something to rejoice about.

You can see that no matter how bad you think you are, God still has already chosen you, just as we talked about last week, and He wants you to come and receive Him. As you can see, God has the ability to make us into a new creature through Him. God has been in the "making new" business for many years. The Bible begins and ends with the creation of a new paradise. In the first book of the Bible we see, Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." In the last book of the Bible we see, Revelations 21:2, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." God started out making new things and has not stopped yet. Daily as another person receives Christ, they at that moment become a new creature in Christ and old things pass away. That should excite you.

When you become a new creature many other new things take place. When you become a new creature, you are brought a new nature, a new hope, and a new Heavenly home. Christ brings you a new nature, there is a new hope for you for your eternal future, and then of course there is your new home in Heaven where you will spend eternity with our loving saviour and Lord.

If you have ever received Christ, then you can understand what this feeling is that I have been talking about this whole time. But if you have never received Christ, then you will not understand what it feels like until you have received Him. If you have read my messages in the past, then you have seen me ask at the end of every message if you have ever received Christ. I will do that very same thing here also. I invite all to accept Christ because I do have such compassion for folks that I really want to see them find a life that will never let them face death.

If you have never received Christ as your Lord and Saviour then all you would need to do is say a simple prayer with me.

Dear Lord, take over my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
 

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone