Religion (Self Effort, Works)
Goal: reach out ot God, try to work your way into heaven Means: diligent service & works, with hopes of a reward (heaven) Power: good, honest effort through self-determination Control: self-motivation and self control Results: apathy, failure, chronic guilt, eternal separation from God ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Salvation Through Faith In Jesus Christ (Personal Relationship) Goal: trust fully in Jesus, then live to please Him Means: confess sins, repent, yield self to Jesus Power: the Holy Spirit does God's work in and through us Control: allow the Holy Spirit to control & direct our lives Results: love, joy, peace, freedom, power eternal life in heaven,... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Religion vs Relationship With Jesus Christ
Religion can be very different than having a Relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Religions are man made, and are based on trying to get to God through rules and regulations and works. Man made religions all are based on people's efforts at reaching God and being made right with Him through their own efforts. God's plan for man's salvation and for being right with Him is told throughout the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God's plan is not based on people's efforts and good works, but is based on His amazing Love and amazing Grace for us; His plan involved His precious Son Jesus paying the price and cost for our sins on the cross. You need to put ALL of your trust and faith in Jesus and in what He did for us on the cross, and not in any religion or in your own efforts. Simply put all of your trust and faith in Jesus, and accept His gift of salvation and eternal life, and experience the joy of having a right RELATIONSHIP of love with God.
http://www.intimacywithgod.com/religion.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(As for me I can spot them a mile away, they are always right, they are always looking at what they think is wrong in others instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, they think they are sent by God to correct. They look on the outer more than the inner, they think love is a cover up to sin, there is very little evidence of having the fruit of the spirit in their lives, they do not walk in the spirit, they are blinded by self-righteousness, they are proud in their humility, they will not allow people to come to Jesus as they are without first trying to clean them up etc.
The Holy Spirit cannot dwell with the pharisee spirit for long. I had rather be in a room full of sinners or new believers with the joy of the Lord as their righteousness & still old habits than a room full of stuffy pharisees. Hmmm, I think Jesus said something of the same only stronger.
Oh, Lord, shine the light on any pharisee spirit that may dwell in us that we may quickly repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit. If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5. And for those who have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit - pray and ask God for it. That will get rid of that Pharisee spirit. PTL. Acts 14-17
In love
In hate for the spirit of the pharisee. |