The word religion has gone through difficult times in recent years, many have tried to turn religion against faith, saying that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship, that sounds good, but it is not. Faith and religion are not mutually exclusive, they are complementary Christianity is a religion based on a relationship with Jesus Christ, in fact Christianity is the only true religion in the world because it is the religion established by the one true God. Religion is the life that encompasses the trust, worship, follow-up, and love of God and love for one’s neighbour, made possible by the regenerative and strengthening work of the Holy Ghost, and established in our relationship with Christ, through the Gospel, only through grace and faith. Only.
However, we are very critical of religion when it comes to artificial religion. When we talk about such a religion, we are talking about all the false religions of the world, such as Islam and Buddhism, or we are talking about the religious rules that exist. Men add to the scriptures and with which they seek to unite our consciences. The last type of religion was the religion of the Pharisees and, later, that of the Judaists; however, the fundamental problem of the Pharisees and Judaists was not that they had too much zeal for religious orthodoxy, but had invented their own religious orthodoxy. Based on their legalistic humanist inventions, they judged hearts and tyrannized those Christ had given. And that’s exactly the problem with all forms of legalism in our churches today. we invent laws around God’s law, we try to turn our preferences into God’s principles. We say, don’t we, when God says “you can. “
- At the same time.
- We must also understand what legalism is not.
- Legalism is not obedience to God and his law.
- Legalism does not teach us to obey all that Christ has commanded us.
- Legalism does not seek holiness.
- Legalism does not seek to please God and glorify Him in everything we do.
- Legalism is not being jealous in our good works and bearing fruits worthy of repentance.
- Legalism is not a mistake of Christianity.
- But it is a completely different religion.
- Legalism draws attention to ourselves.
- But the religion of the gospel draws attention to Jesus Christ.
- Legalism gives us glory.
- But the religion of the gospel gives glory to God.
- Legalism has its roots in one’s own righteousness.
- But the religion of the gospel has its roots in worship of God.
- And the irony of legalism is that it no longer makes people want to work.
- But wants to give up.