Not a Checklist, but a Relationship

INTRO:

“Christianity is not a checklist to complete, it’s a relationship to cultivate.”

Works reveal relationship—but they never replace it.”

Title of the Sermon: Not a Checklist, but a Relationship

It’s not about the implementation, it’s about the intimacy! 

It’s not about the work of putting a plan into action (implementation)

It’s about intimacy!

I know that men have a hard time imagining intimacy with Jesus!

I get it!

In everyday American culture, people often use “intimacy” as a polite or indirect way of referring to sex or sexual activity.

However, strictly speaking, intimacy is broader than sex:

It’s a deep emotional closeness, vulnerability, and being truly known by another person—with or without anything sexual. 

So: in our culture, intimacy is frequently defined or assumed in sexual terms, but its actual meaning is about closeness not just sex.

You might ask then in the context of Christianity “what is intimacy?”

Intimacy is a close, deeply personal connection in which people are known, accepted, and safely vulnerable with one another.

Let me say it again like this: Intimacy is a close, deeply personal connection in which (Jesus and You) are known, accepted, and safely vulnerable with each another.

Put another way: intimacy is the experience of being truly “seen” and understood, and still loved—sharing thoughts, feelings, and even weaknesses without fear of rejection.

Summed up like this ….. “God doesn’t want minions he wants a bride.”

 Your relationship with Jesus is not a checklist to complete, it’s a relationship to cultivate!

Lets look and see what scripture has to say about this …..

Have them stand for the reading of God’s word!

BODY:

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

I want to make a statement that I think may shock some of you ….. or a better case may be you may have never really thought of it like this!

Christianity is a “one of a kind” religion.

There are some things (Six) that backs this statement up ….

Salvation by grace, not by human effort

We are really going to unpack this statement this morning.

The person and claims of Jesus Christ

Christianity centers not just on Jesus’ teaching, but on who he claimed to be: the incarnate Son of God, equal with God the Father, yet truly human (John 1:1,14; Philippians 2:5–11).

Jesus claimed unique authority: forgiving sins, redefining the Law, accepting worship, predicting his death and resurrection, and claiming to be “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Other faiths may respect Jesus as prophet, teacher, or enlightened one, but Christianity treats him as Lord and God, not merely a guide to God.

God as Trinity: one God in three Persons

Three distinct Persons, One divine essence.

The centrality of the cross and resurrection

Forgiveness of sin on the cross

No other God has resurrected itself.

A unique view of revelation and Scripture

Christianity sees the Bible as a unified story centered on Christ: the Old Testament pointing forward to him, the New Testament bearing witness to his life, death, and resurrection.

God Dwells within us!

More specifically, The Holy Spirit longs to dwell within us.

Mind blowing right?

The Jews don’t even believe this!

The difference can be summed up as this …

Judaism: The “Holy Spirit” is God’s holy power or presence, which can inspire, guide, or rest upon people at times, and is not a separate Person of God who permanently indwells individuals. 

Christianity: The Holy Spirit is a distinct divine Person who comes to live within believers, transforming and guiding them continuously. 

Church, this is what we originally had before the fall (Sin entering the scene).