The Marks of the Religious (minded) Man: Faithless

 

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJ 

Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men’s thoughts and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. Colossians 2:8 TLB

They act as if they worshipped God, yet they do not let God's power work in their lives. Keep away from people like that. 2 Timothy 3:5 WE

 What is religion? What is the religious tradition of men? Religion is man coming to God upon His own terms. It's human philospohy, emotional reasoning, and the system of ritual and human effort. 

 Religion builds its trust and hope in man's experience instead of what God actually said in His Word. Religion has a form and fashion or appearance of Godliness, but it is powerless. Religion doesn't transform; it just goes through ritual to satisfy rules and expectations.

 We are examining these marks of the religious man. Remember that no man is our enemy. The enemy is a system of wrong believing created by the spirit of error and not the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 

 The first mark of the religious-minded Man is powerless. Religion is powerless to save and transform. Religion is powerless to transform and renew. Jesus is powerful, and He is the victorious reigning King!

 The next mark of the religious-minded man is Faithless. Faithless religion substitutes faith with performance.  It replaces trust in God’s grace with confidence in man’s effort. It boasts more in human achievement than in Christ’s finished work.

  Faithless religion believes salvation is by grace, but living victoriously is by works. Once one receives Jesus, religion shifts the focus from Christ’s sufficiency to man’s striving. It begins to measure righteousness by behavior instead of believing.

  In John 9, we see a vivid image of faithless religion. The religious leaders were "investigating" the healing miracle of the blind man. Instead of rejoicing at the Goodness of God in healing, they hardened themselves. They chose to reject this miracle, clinging instead to their traditions. 

Faithless religion always hardens itself against the work of Grace. Jesus perfectly purchased Redemption through the Finished Work. It's a completed work. Yet faithless religion downplays this, favoring performance and achievement over Grace.

 Faithless religion also doesn't take God at His Word. Faithless religion acts like God's Word is not true. Faithless religion believes God's Word intellectually but not practically.

 Faithless religion talks about God, but doesn't draw near to Him. Faithless religion talks about God but doesn't trust Him. Faithless religion talks about God but lacks the expectancy that He will do what He said He would. 

 Faithless religion prays but doesn't trust that God will respond. Faithless religion prays intellectually, asking for God to provide, but doesn't believe that He actually will. Faithless religion claims there is power in prayer, but doesn't believe Faith can actually change situations and circumstances. 

 Faith takes God at His Word. Faith isn't the currency of Heaven. Jesus' shed blood and perfect work of Redemption, and the Finished Work of Grace, is what procured and purchased our salvation, provision, blessing, wholeness, deliverance, healing, Righteousness, and eternal security. Faith is the means by which we receive these things that Grace procured and provided. 

  Faith sees God's promises, provision, and plentious Redemption in the unseen realm. Faith sees the unseen and doesn't focus on the seen. Faith believes. Faith takes God at His Word, Faith acts like His Word is true, and is fully persuaded. Faith speaks. Faith is in agreement with what God said. Faith receives. Faith receives what Grace freely purchased and provided.

 Faithless religion doesn't see. Faithless religion looks at the seen, being ignorant of the unseen. Faithless religion doesn't believe. It doesn't take God at His Word, not being persuaded of what God said. Faithless religion doesn't agree with God. It disagrees with what God said about the circumstance or situation.

 In summation, Faith is the hand by which we reach out and receive all God has for us. Faith isn't about striving or earning. Faith is about resting and freely receiving. Grace says it is done, just receive it. Faithless religion says perform to be found acceptable. Grace says Faith in Jesus is what made you accepted and approved. 

Image by Vicki Hamilton from Pixabay