Moving from Religion to Relationship

In everything we do, we want to look at the world through the eyes of Jesus. We do not want to see God, the world, and each other through the eyes of religion. Crossview wants to see as Jesus sees. This must then be demonstrated in the way we live:

It is Gods will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life (1 Thes 4:3-7 emphasis mine).

We realize that we cannot develop this kind of character on our own. Only God, by His grace, can make that kind of change in a person. But because we stand justified (just-as-if we'd never sinned) before our Father, we make it our aim, our obligation, to live the Spirit-controlled life.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Rom 8:8-17 NIV).

Because we are heirs, sons and daughters of God, our Vision is to be like our brother Jesus.

What Do We Mean By “Religion”?

Religion is the ongoing process of man trying to get on God's good side. It's been going on since the Garden, and by the time Jesus comes on the scene, religion is a full blown enterprise with the Pharisees and other Jewish officials leading the way. Matthew 23 is the most comprehensive condemnation of organized religion in all of Scripture. Religion tends to focus on what I do; discipleship focuses on what God does.

Jesus was the greatest opponent of religion in the first century. He has always wanted the heart first, because He understood that once you get the heart, the rest of the man will follow.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

A relationship with Jesus is more important than religion. It is the most important relationship you will ever have in life. It is the most important relationship you can have for eternity.

Feel free to contact us with comments, suggestions, or questions.

 

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