Religion Is Meaningless Without Jesus
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PAGE ONE |TROUBLE IN THE TEXT
Vanities of vanities retold by King Solomon: Self-indulgence, Living Wisely, Toil, Evil Under the Sun, Irreverent Fear of God.
Something is wrong in God’s world because then, as now, sin is present (Counterfeit Converts).
Problem in the text: Carelessness before God, audacious speech, unfulfilled oaths, irreverent fear (Ecc 5:1-7).
Solomon describes the predicament of a counterfeit converts who flaunt their religiosity. Religion without a relationship with God is vanity.
PAGE TWO | TROUBLE IN THE WORLD
Page two interprets the same trouble as page one, but in our world today.
Trouble in the world: The name “Christian” is labeled on anyone who claims to be one. On the outside these people look Christian since the church collects their offerings, hears their prayers, and remembers their vows and yet, their hearts are estranged from God.
One in four American is a practicing Christian. The counterfeit convert (43%) represents a larger population of than genuine believers (25%) (Barna: State of the Church).
Counterfeit converts practice what they do not out of their love for God, but other motives i.e., ignorance, self gain, fit in with the culture.
God is not fooled by the counterfeit converts in his church. He can spot out the real McCoy. (Pawn-star reference about calling in the expert).
Sometimes even genuine converts fall into this temptation and when we believe our religiosity is the way of being accepted by God. Practically through our acts we think that earned God’s favor and salvation. However that’s far from the truth.
PAGE THREE | GOD’S ACTION IN THE BIBLE
Only through God can our acts of righteousness be accepted and pleasing to God (Is.1:12-20).
Religion cannot save us or make us right before the Father. Only through God’s Son we can be set right with God.
God knew that religion kills, so he sent his Son to save you from it!
You once lived for sin and was named a fool, but by grace you live and now you can come into the house of God with no shame or guilt.
Jesus is the new house of God (John 2:19-21). His body is the temple where we approach the grace of God. Out of love for Christ, we can come in silence, pray genuinely to the God, and vow, and fear him with reverence because he loved us first.
When you live in God’s grace and accept your identity as his beloved, then you live according to his will.
PAGE FOUR | GOD’S ACTION IN THE WORLD
The Father, Son, and Spirit along with the church is equipping us the ability to be authentic converts and build his kingdom here on earth.
Action Step for Believers: (1) Listen to God’s Word more affectionately (Scripture Reading) (2) Limit your words to build one another in the faith (Language), (3) Pledge to God what is reasonable (Truthful).
Action Steps for non Believers: (1) Believe you cannot earn God’s grace - Jesus paid your debt and relieved you of your sins. (2) Accept the gift of salvation by believing, confessing, repenting and being baptized for forgiveness and union with God and his Body.
Religion Is Meaningless Without Jesus