I often have people ask me what is my “religion.” For years I would respond with saying “Christian.” Then I discovered that the definition of Christian is different for people. There are Christians, born-again Christians, those who believe in God and/or Jesus and call themselves Christians, those who are religious or have high moral values, those who attend a Christian-type church, those who live in a Christian nation, those who are not a Muslim or Jewish all call themselves Christians. The dictionary defines a Christian as “a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion, based on the teachings of Jesus.” This falls short of really communicating the biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian. The word Christian literally means, “belonging to the party of Jesus Christ” or a “follower of Jesus Christ.” Those who attend church, teach Sunday school, help the needy, or are just “a good person,” does not make them a Christian.
The word “religion” is only mentioned six times in the entire Bible. Nowhere does God encourage “religion.” Instead, God sent His Son to live amongst us and then die for us. Jesus longs for a personal, intimate relationship with Him. It’s not about a set of rules that we “have to follow”. It’s about understanding that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to take upon our punishment for our sins so that we get to have an abundant life in Christ.
Allow me to get more personal. I grew up going to church – a Catholic church. I followed the protocol of that faith which involved receiving my First Communion, going to confession, refraining from communion when I hadn’t been to confession, wearing a covering on my head when I attended church, and receiving my Confirmation. These things made me “feel good” on the outside for others to see, but I was empty in my heart. Why? Because God is interested in a “relationship,” not “religion!” Most who follow religion are lost, don’t understand God’s plan for salvation and often can be hypocrites. I know this, because I was one, and I still struggle with this at times. God says in Ecclesiates 3:11 that He put a desire for me to know HIM – to personally know HIM – in my heart. Until I do, I will continue to search for something to satisfy this desire. For years, I searched and searched because I knew something was missing. I never found “it” (this soul satisfaction and intense spiritual connection with God) until I heard the “gospel” – the GOOD news – God’s plan for salvation. (Please refer to my blog page titled “Salvation” where I explain in greater detail what this means. I wrote that straight from my heart).
I had attended church and listened to countless sermons and even attended Catechism (Catholic doctrine teaching/classes) for years but never heard what I needed to hear. That is because many Christian churches only teach “religion, rituals, and traditions” and not the gospel or how to have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, our Savior. In other words, I was taught that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, live amongst us to experience life as we do, set an example to follow and then be crucified on a cross for my sins. So what? What did this mean to me personally? Why was His death significant? Jesus died on the cross to be punished for my sins (and the sins of all people). I heard that for years but still never “really” understood why Jesus did this for me. Jesus explains in the Bible that He did this for me because He loved me. Jesus goes on to say that if I believe that I am spiritually dead, disconnected completely from God, and I am in need of a Savior who could die for my sins so that my “sin debt” could be paid, and accept Jesus as my Savior, I will be saved. Yes, so I humbled myself, admitted that I am a sinner in need of a Savior, accepted that Jesus died for my sins so that I could be saved and made “spiritually alive.” This is where the term, “born again” comes from. It’s a spiritual connection back to God, dying to my sins as well as made alive new in Christ. Until I made this decision, I remained spiritually disconnected, not accepting God’s provision for salvation in Jesus, and would not be a child of His, going to heaven. Jesus did not suffer and die to start a religion. He suffered and died to restore our relationship with the Father and Him.
Many people refuse to humble themselves enough to make this decision. Most everyone believes that we just have to be “good enough” to be saved and go to heaven and that is completely NOT true! (I explain more on why, on my Salvation blog page)
The devil continues to deceive people to believe that they don’t need to make a conscious decision to accept Jesus as their Savior, and that they just need to try to be good enough. Did you know that just ONE SIN makes us not good enough? Yes, one white lie is a sin and will keep us from going to heaven. We need to stop believing the devil and believe what God says. His plan for salvation is very simple but not easy for people. People are prideful and arrogant and reject God because they don’t want to be accountable to Him or anyone. They are afraid they may have to change or give up things they enjoy. These are all lies from the devil that we have believed for way too long!
I do not have enough time in this lifetime to explain all of the supernatural and amazing things God has done in my life that has brought me joy, peace, protection, love, pleasure….and so many other wonderful things. God has given me so much – but more important than anything – He has given me HOPE. I know without any doubt that if I died today, I would spend eternity in heaven with my Savior! Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. It must be accepted and received.
This is why I chose a “relationship” with Jesus over “religion” which continued to get me nowhere in my life.
Do I go to church today? Yes, I do. I attend a church that focuses on my relationship with Jesus Christ. My church teaches from the Bible, God’s plan for salvation, how to understand it, and why a relationship with Jesus is all that matters in this life.
Why would I want to gain the whole world but lose my soul? IT IS A CHOICE, A CONSCIOUS DECISION! Will you make this decision today?
The word “religion” is only mentioned six times in the entire Bible. Nowhere does God encourage “religion.” Instead, God sent His Son to live amongst us and then die for us. Jesus longs for a personal, intimate relationship with Him. It’s not about a set of rules that we “have to follow”. It’s about understanding that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to take upon our punishment for our sins so that we get to have an abundant life in Christ.
Allow me to get more personal. I grew up going to church – a Catholic church. I followed the protocol of that faith which involved receiving my First Communion, going to confession, refraining from communion when I hadn’t been to confession, wearing a covering on my head when I attended church, and receiving my Confirmation. These things made me “feel good” on the outside for others to see, but I was empty in my heart. Why? Because God is interested in a “relationship,” not “religion!” Most who follow religion are lost, don’t understand God’s plan for salvation and often can be hypocrites. I know this, because I was one, and I still struggle with this at times. God says in Ecclesiates 3:11 that He put a desire for me to know HIM – to personally know HIM – in my heart. Until I do, I will continue to search for something to satisfy this desire. For years, I searched and searched because I knew something was missing. I never found “it” (this soul satisfaction and intense spiritual connection with God) until I heard the “gospel” – the GOOD news – God’s plan for salvation. (Please refer to my blog page titled “Salvation” where I explain in greater detail what this means. I wrote that straight from my heart).
I had attended church and listened to countless sermons and even attended Catechism (Catholic doctrine teaching/classes) for years but never heard what I needed to hear. That is because many Christian churches only teach “religion, rituals, and traditions” and not the gospel or how to have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, our Savior. In other words, I was taught that God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, live amongst us to experience life as we do, set an example to follow and then be crucified on a cross for my sins. So what? What did this mean to me personally? Why was His death significant? Jesus died on the cross to be punished for my sins (and the sins of all people). I heard that for years but still never “really” understood why Jesus did this for me. Jesus explains in the Bible that He did this for me because He loved me. Jesus goes on to say that if I believe that I am spiritually dead, disconnected completely from God, and I am in need of a Savior who could die for my sins so that my “sin debt” could be paid, and accept Jesus as my Savior, I will be saved. Yes, so I humbled myself, admitted that I am a sinner in need of a Savior, accepted that Jesus died for my sins so that I could be saved and made “spiritually alive.” This is where the term, “born again” comes from. It’s a spiritual connection back to God, dying to my sins as well as made alive new in Christ. Until I made this decision, I remained spiritually disconnected, not accepting God’s provision for salvation in Jesus, and would not be a child of His, going to heaven. Jesus did not suffer and die to start a religion. He suffered and died to restore our relationship with the Father and Him.
Many people refuse to humble themselves enough to make this decision. Most everyone believes that we just have to be “good enough” to be saved and go to heaven and that is completely NOT true! (I explain more on why, on my Salvation blog page)
The devil continues to deceive people to believe that they don’t need to make a conscious decision to accept Jesus as their Savior, and that they just need to try to be good enough. Did you know that just ONE SIN makes us not good enough? Yes, one white lie is a sin and will keep us from going to heaven. We need to stop believing the devil and believe what God says. His plan for salvation is very simple but not easy for people. People are prideful and arrogant and reject God because they don’t want to be accountable to Him or anyone. They are afraid they may have to change or give up things they enjoy. These are all lies from the devil that we have believed for way too long!
I do not have enough time in this lifetime to explain all of the supernatural and amazing things God has done in my life that has brought me joy, peace, protection, love, pleasure….and so many other wonderful things. God has given me so much – but more important than anything – He has given me HOPE. I know without any doubt that if I died today, I would spend eternity in heaven with my Savior! Salvation is a FREE GIFT from God. It must be accepted and received.
This is why I chose a “relationship” with Jesus over “religion” which continued to get me nowhere in my life.
Do I go to church today? Yes, I do. I attend a church that focuses on my relationship with Jesus Christ. My church teaches from the Bible, God’s plan for salvation, how to understand it, and why a relationship with Jesus is all that matters in this life.
Why would I want to gain the whole world but lose my soul? IT IS A CHOICE, A CONSCIOUS DECISION! Will you make this decision today?