The Marks of the Religious (minded) Man: Relationshipless

 

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

 Religion is a man-made attempt to reach God. Religious tradition is humanity's attempt to approach God on its own terms. Religion creates carvings of stone, temples, and altars as a means to connect with God. Religious tradition relies on experience, what has been passed down from others, and their own understanding to explain who God is and what He is like.

 In examining the anatomy of religion and tradition, we have seen that religion is powerless. Religion cannot transform lives. Religious tradition explains away the supernatural, and thus they walk without the power from on High. Religion is Faithless. It can't access the power of God, and doesn't even believe it is possible. It is rooted in much unbelief.

 Faithless religion also relies on works and performance, attempting to earn what was freely given. Religion is knowledgeless. Religion is ignorant of the Cross, the Finished Work, and who God is. They walk in inconsistencies and place blame on God for tragedy and tribulation. 

 Religion is also loveless and Graceless. They put their rules and principles and traditions above compassion and believe they must be kept, or God won't hear your prayer. Religion is about works and performance; religion says do, and Jesus says done.

The Missing Element: Ritual Without Relationship

And at the core of all of this—beneath the powerless rituals, beneath the works and the rules—lies the most tragic mark of dead religion: it has form without fellowship. It has rituals without relationship. It goes through motions but never connects with the Majesty on High, our Lord Jesus. 

Religion can quote verses, recite prayers, and observe ceremonies, yet never encounter the heart of God. It replaces intimacy with instructions, fellowship with formulas, and the living Christ with cold creeds. Religion can sing about Jesus while never knowing Him, serve in His name while remaining strangers to His grace. It turns Christianity into a schedule, a system, a ceremony—anything but a Savior.

 Lastly, the worst manifestation of religion is that it has no actual relationship with God. We have seen these marks or this anatomy of religious tradition in John 9. We see how the religious leaders claim to know God and speak for Him, and yet they deny the works of God performed and demonstrated right before them. 

 They completely rejected God in the flesh, God Almighty manifest before them. Jesus said they were blind. They had no relationship with God. They presumed they were following God, and yet they were in opposition to Him and His works.

 One powerful illustration of this mark of religion, which Jesus gave us in Matthew 7, is often misunderstood and misapplied, perfectly demonstrating relationshipless religion. Many attempt to use these passages to promote eternal insecurity and a performance-based faith. Jesus was actually giving us a glimpse of dead religion that has no relationship with God

 In this passage, Jesus tells us what the fruit He is referring to. He is speaking of the teachings of leaders, not merely a warning about performance or behavior. In context, He is referring to the teachings of men. 

 This gives us the key to understanding what He refers to when He tells some to depart from Him. He said to these religious people who claim to do great works for God, I never knew you. He was not teaching the loss of salvation. He said I never knew you, not I once knew you, but now I don't know you. This is key to understanding in seeing what Jesus was revealing.

 Jesus showed us that religion can exist apart from God and without a relationship with Him. In religion, people can attend meetings, be a part of gatherings, and join temples and other religious fellowships, and not have received eternal life, not trusted in Jesus, and not received the new birth.

 Modern Culture: A New Religion With the Same Old Problem

And today, religion has simply changed clothes.
Culture has baptized its own beliefs and called them righteousness.
Sin has been renamed “authenticity,” rebellion has been renamed “identity,” and compromise has been renamed “compassion.” Modern culture preaches a gospel of self, of feelings, of universal acceptance—yet none of it is Jesus. Good is called evil, and evil is called good, and because the language sounds spiritual, people think it is holy. But any gospel that removes the Cross, the Blood, repentance (change of mind), and the new birth is not the Gospel—it is just another form of relationshipless religion.

People can gather and claim the name of God, of Jesus, and promote what current culture calls justice and righteousness, and be completely lost. People can come together for whatever “cause” or current “thing” the world determines is good or bad, but this doesn’t mean they are following God. Men can gain a following and proclaim universal salvation and inclusion, but this isn’t the Gospel.

The Gospel is about trusting in Jesus’ Finished Work, nothing else. The Gospel is about the Grace of God pledged through Jesus, demonstrated by His sacrifice at Calvary. The Gospel is the realization and acknowledgment that, apart from Christ, we are lost and in need of a Savior.

In Summation

Religion is a man-made system that offers no help, no hope, and no happiness. Religion is powerless, Faithless, knowledgeless, loveless, Graceless, and is not the way to find a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Religion is man’s attempt to work toward God. The Gospel is God’s work reaching toward man. Religion takes, Grace gives, and God never takes away. Christianity isn't religion. Christianity is God reaching out to man, with the price paid in full, offering hope, help, healing, and life eternal. 

 Looking back to Matthew 7, Jesus spoke that only those who do the will of the Father will be known of God. What is His will? To simply believe in Jesus the Son, trusting that His work was enough! This is Christianity and the Gospel; it is not lifeless religion. 

Image by Łukasz Tekieli from Pixabay

The Marks of the Religious (minded) Man: Graceless

 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

 The Gospel is the Good News pledged by Jesus in His victorious, overcoming, and triumphant Finished Work. The Gospel, the Faith, has always been a simple, loving message of the Father's great Love for man. When they fell, He had a plan to restore, redeem, and rescue man from this sinful fallen state. 

 Jesus, God Almighty in the flesh, took upon Himself the sentence, the punishment, the sin of all humanity, and paid the price. He presented this once for all sacrifice to the Father, and the Father, being pleased once for all time, declared all who simply believe, Righteous, accepted, approved, and completely forgiven! 

 This is the Christian Faith. This is the simplicity in Christ. Now, mankind muddies the waters by wanting to add their own contributions. They add intellect, human reasoning, emotions, skepticism, and their own efforts, works, and deeds. This is the anatomy of religious tradition. 

 We have been examining the anatomy of man-made religious tradition. Religion is powerless. It can't transform lives, nor can it manifest the power of the Spirit. Religion is Faithless; it staggers at the promises of God in unbelief and substitutes Faith with works. Religious tradition is knowledgeless; it is ignorant of God's Goodness and gives rise to inconsistencies in its thinking. Religious tradition is loveless. It focuses on rules, not compassion or relationships.

 As we continue this look at religion, let's examine the next mark of religious tradition. Religion is Graceless. Religion focuses on our works and performance, placing our achievements at the center of it all. It isn't Jesus' work that brings the anointing, that prepares for successful ministry; no, it is our work that accomplishes this. 

 Looking again at our illustration of religion in John 9, we see Graceless religion in action. What really stands out in this event are these words of the religious;

28 Then they insulted him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. As for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” John 9:28-29 MEV

 This is the essence of religion. They follow after the Law more than Jesus. They focus on their work to earn what only God provided freely. Legalism or trying to deserve what God provides only causes frustration. Why? The Law is contrary to Grace and Faith. 

 Now the Law is good and holy and just, but it can't make us good or holy or just. The Law is only a mirror exposing our flaws and shortcomings. Its purpose is to simply show us the need for a Savior.

 You see, Moses gave us rules to live by, but Jesus the Anointed offered us gifts of grace and truth. John 1:17 VOICE

For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 AMPC

The Gospel is the Good News of Grace. We are not provided for by our efforts, or our sinlessness, or even our giving alone. We are saved, blessed, healed, and provided for by Grace through Faith! It's His Grace, not our works. 

 When we rely on our own performance or goodness, we will quickly come to the end of ourselves. We will lose momentum and "burn out." We will feel a heavy burden and sense that the Christian life is too hard, and we will want to give up.

 God didn't design us to live this way. God designed a relationship, not a religion, but a relationship rooted in Jesus' work alone. The New Covenant was cut between the Father and the Son, and when we believe, we are active participants in this Covenant. 

 Focus not on sins, shortcomings, failures, and flaws. Focus on the Finished Work. When we get our eyes on Jesus, we take our eyes off ourselves. Putting our focus on Jesus puts Him back in the center of it all. Then, as we focus on Him, we can allow Him to mature us.

 Come celebrate Jesus and not a dead, wearisome religion. Rejoice in all Jesus has done for us. With such amazing good news, we can't contain it and we will desire to share it with others. 

 Religion is Graceless, but Jesus is Graceful. Grace is the Gospel. Grace is the Good News. Jesus is the person of Grace. Embrace the Grace, and relinquish religion, and joy unspeakable will be the result in our lives. 

Image by Umut İzgi from Pixabay

The Marks of the Religious (minded) Man: Knowledgeless

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

 God's Goodness is revealed in Jesus Christ. God becoming a man and taking man's place, providing Redemption to whosoever will believe, is the Gospel, the Good News God wants heralded. The message is clear, transparent, and simple. Man, on the other hand, has sometimes added input. Thus, religious tradition was born.

 We have been examining the anatomy of religion and tradition. We have seen that religion in essence is man trying to come to God on their own terms. We have seen that religion is powerless and Faithless. Religious tradition brings no joy, no hope, and doesn't cause Faith to come. We have seen these marks illustrated In John 9.

 The next mark of Religion we want to examine is knowledgeless. Religion is ignorant of so much of God's Word and God Himself and the work of Jesus on our behalf. God doesn't want His children ignorant of Him or His works. 

 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6a MEV

Therefore My people go into captivity because they have no knowledge Isaiah 5:13a MEV 

 Religion lacks knowledge of God's Word and His Goodness and all that His Finished Work provided. Now I can hear the objections. Some in religious circles can literally quote the Bible verbatim. How is that ignorance? That is a very good question.

 Allow me to illustrate this to answer this question. I can quote the United States Constitution verbatim. However, if I don't really understand what is being said I wouldn't be able to take full advantage of what rights the Constitution guaranteed. 

 So it is with the things of God. Religion lacks knowledge, that is full understanding of the Word, and this gives rise to the many inconsistencies of traditional religion. Let's begin unwrapping the areas of ignorance of the religious minded.

 Religion is ignorant of who the enemy is. The enemy, satan, (no I will not capitalize his "name", Jesus defeated Him!), doesn't even exist to some religious Christians. He is merely an allegory of evil, or worse some fairy tale figure. Therefore all that happens is automatically attributed to God.

 The enemy is the tempter. He is the one accusing and condemning. We as believers must take these thoughts captive in light of the Finished Work of Christ. We are accepted and approved in Christ. We are in perfect right standing with God. Reject condemnation and accusation.

 Religion paints satan as some lackey who God uses to "perfect" the saints. Some say God uses satan to put hard times on believers to build them up. This is nonsense. The enemy is a spiritual rebel who is defeated and he is not working for God.

 Religion is ignorant of God's character. They believe God ordains or causes Sickness and disease to come upon His children. They believe God sends plagues, pestilence, and pandemics to perfect or punish whichever is needed most.

 Religion sees God as the sovereign ruler of all the universe, which He is, but they see this as God controlling all aspects of life. Therefore, the car wrecks, the earthquakes, the heartaches are His handiwork. They are sent for some mysterious purpose that we will finally understand when we get to Heaven, this is traditional nonsense.

 God is a Good Father. Jesus perfectly demonstrated the Father's will and ways when He walked the earth. Jesus brought life, healed bodies, raised the dead to life and brought miraculous provision. He was Good and went about doing Good. He demonstrated mercy, love, kindness, accepting the weak, the broken, and lost. He offered redemption and forgiveness to all who came. He is always Good!

 Religion is ignorant of the New Covenant and Finished Work. Religion still sees the Church as under portions of the Old Covenant Law. Religion sees the Cross as a partially completed work. 

 Religion says Jesus paid it all, but expects you to make up for it when you fail. Religion still sees God sending wrath and judgment on cities, lands and nations as punishment for their sins. Religion says it is paid in full but keeps believers in guilt and shame through preaching how God is displeased and disappointed continually at His Church.

 Jesus is enough. When He said it was Finished He meant it. He didn't say still more for you to do. He didn't say I started this now you complete it. He who began the good work in you is Faithful to complete it. 

 Religion is ignorant of God's Word, His nature, who the enemy is, the Cross and His Grace. They may quote whole portions of Scripture but they don't have the light of those Scriptures. The Holy Spirit said in Psalms, in His light we see light. Religion clouds and covers the light, producing confusion and inconsistencies in the Faith.

 Religion says God makes you sick, or afflicts you with disease, to teach you, to mold your character, or for some other mysterious purpose. They say things like God had to put you flat on your back so you can look up. 

 Yet, after the diagnosis, they encourage you to go the hospital, to seek medical treatment, to seek relief from the disorder. See the inconsistency there? 

 Religion says God makes you sick to teach you but then tells you to go to the doctor to get better. This means you would be removing what God put on you to teach you. Isn't that contrary to what God "wanted?"

 Religion says God remembers your sins no more, but when you do sin, He is withholding fellowship with you. They say He remembers your sins no more, but won't answer your prayers because you sinned. Which is it? He remembers your sins and holds them against you, or He doesn't remember them? 

 Religion is knowledgeless. It doesn't have the light of the Word. It just knows what the Bible states, but they don't have the understanding of the living Word. Religion serves the great I Was not the great I AM. 

 Where has religion left you feeling lost or confused in your Christian life? Have you experienced the inconsistencies religion promotes? 

 When you study God's Word, pray for your understanding to see His Light, and to open your understanding of the Word. When you hear the Word taught, check the Word for yourself to determine how true it is. This is how you learn, grow, and gain the knowledge of God and reject religious tradition. 

Image by 🌼Christel🌼 from Pixabay

The Marks of the Religious (minded) Man: Powerless

 

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

 Religious tradition makes God's Word ineffectual. Religion weakens and renders the Church impotent in a fallen world. We have defined religion as a man-centered philosophy rooted in rigid rules, rituals, and rites. 

 We are examining the marks of the religious man-or rather, the religious-minded man. Our focus is the mindset of religion, not people, for no one is our enemy. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood. 

  In John 9, we see a perfect portrait of powerless religion. This is the story of the blind man made whole. They brought him before the Pharisees. The Pharisees were enraged because this work of Jesus violated their rules and the way they had always done things.

 Notice they were angry because Jesus broke their rules. They were cold and callous to the plight of the man; he was born blind, and that impacted all aspects of his life. That was of no concern to them, only that the rules be observed and never broken, no matter the reason.

 The reality is their cold religion was powerless to render help, healing, and wholeness. This leads us to identify one of the marks of a religious-minded man. Religion is powerless. The 6th mark of the religious-minded is "powerless."

 Religion is powerless. Religion has a form of godliness but has no power. Religion serves a god that is comfortable for the intellectually led and emotionally inclined-a deity shaped from human logic and limited compassion.

The Jesus of powerless religion's only ability is to forgive one of their past sins and allow the sinner to become born again. Apart from that, Jesus can't help you. While being forgiven of past sins and getting born again are vitally important, it is not truly good news if that's all He can do.

 What about your future sins? Are these left up to you to work for or beg for forgiveness? What about your life in the here and now? Are you on your own in this life? 

 Powerless religion seems to insinuate and proclaim this as fact, and if you ask for more in this life, then religion labels you a heretic and someone who seeks not God but happiness this side of Heaven. They call into question the sincerity of Faith and commitment to God for anyone who believes there is more for us in this life than just suffering and squeezing by in life, as if expecting goodness from God is somehow greed, covetousness, or discontentment! 

 One of the marks of the religious-minded man is powerlessness. Jesus can't help you is really what they believe and express in matters apart from initial belief in Christ. Powerless religion is a religious expression without any revelation. Jesus is a mere historical figure who used to work miracles, heal the sick and infirm, set captives free, and transform lives. Today, that is not what Jesus does, and if you have a need apart from accepting Jesus as Savior, well, sorry, Jesus doesn't do that anymore. He can't help you with that!

 That’s not just bad theology — this is the heart of powerless religion 

It’s a Christianity that preaches a historical Jesus, not a living Christ.
It knows about some of His words but not His presence.
It can quote the stories as historical events, but it has forgotten the Spirit that makes them real.

Powerless religion looks into the eyes of the broken, a sick mother, a grieving father — and says, “Sorry, that was for Bible times.”
But the Gospel of Grace says the same Jesus who opened blind eyes still mends broken hearts — the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead still gives life today.

 Powerless religion sees God's Word for the most part as a history book. A collection of events that detailed what God used to do. An account of a Savior who only intervened in people's lives to coldly prove He was, in fact, God in the flesh, not because of compassion and mercy, compelling Him to show up in people's situations and change them to bring about healing, wholeness, and restoration. 

 Powerless religion serves a savior that can't save completely, only partially. Powerless religion preaches a partial Jesus.

He can forgive, but He can’t restore.
He can pardon, but He can’t empower.
He can cleanse the record, but not redeem the life.

This brand of religion presents a Christ who died for sins — but not for sickness.
A cross that covers the past — but not the present or future.
A redemption that opens heaven for receiving the new birth alone — but leaves hell’s grip on earth untouched.

It’s a gospel that says:

• “He can save your soul, but your body’s on its own.”

• “He can forgive your sin, but not break your addiction.”

• “He can bless you spiritually, but not touch your finances.”

• “He can comfort your pain, but not cure it.”

Powerless religion presents a powerless Savior — one good enough to pity you, but not strong enough to help you. But the real Jesus not only came to forgive sin — He also came to undo its effects on earth and in the lives who trust in Him! 

 Powerless religion has entombed Jesus in a museum. Where His works are mere exhibits, serving as a reminder of what He once did, but no longer does today. They are memorials of a God who once changed circumstances and outcomes for the blessing and betterment of His people, but of course, that was not for the actual blessing, but merely to show He was a sovereign God who was capable of powerful acts and nothing more. 

 Has powerless religion ensnared you and your thinking? Has Christianity merely become an intellectual encounter, rather than a truly life-changing event? Break free from the shackles of powerless Christianity and know you serve a risen Savior who conquered death, hell, and the grave and rendered the enemy powerless and ineffective against His Church, the Body of Christ. 

 Do you have any experiences with powerless Religion you wish to share? Comment below and let your testimony inspire others.

Image by Laz Georgoulas from Pixabay

Why declaring God's Word works: Renewing the Mind

Because of what they say a person can fill their stomach. What their words produce can satisfy them. Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words. Proverbs 18:20-21 NIRV 

 Words matter. What we speak carries either life and blessing or cursing and calamity. Words can change our circumstances for the better or prolong them for the worse. 

 What we are saying can minister grace to the hearer, or they can bring hurt or cause strife. What we say can locate whether we are in Faith or in fear, in panic or at peace, wallowing in self-pity or rejoicing in victory. This is why we must be mindful of our words.

 Knowing how vital words are, exploring why declaring or confessing God's Word works. We have seen that when we declare the Word over our lives, Faith comes. Faith comes by hearing God's Word. That means someone has to speak the Word for it to be heard. The greatest way to hear the Word is to hear yourself say it.

 The second reason why declaring God's Word works is that it renews the mind. When we declare what God says, we cause our mind to shift from fear to Faith, from despair to joy, from sadness to gladness. Our thinking begins to align more with God's thoughts on the situation.

 What are God's thoughts? His thoughts are what His Word reveals about our current situation or circumstances. We can realign our thinking with His when we declare what He already said in His Word.

 We begin to think His thoughts when we read His Word, study His Word, and declare His Word and promises. What are His thoughts? They are revealed in what He declared in the Word, what He promised, and what He provided in the Finished Work of Redemption.

 God's thoughts on sin and wrongdoing? He tells what's right and wrong behavior. God's thoughts on sin also reveal that He forgives sins and brings newness of life to those who call upon Him. 

 God's thoughts on condemnation and guilt? Jesus' shed blood is the shame remover. He is satisfied with the perfect Redemptive work of His Son. God's thoughts are of forgiveness and redemption and acceptance, not condemnation.

 God's thoughts on catastrophe and calamity? His Word declares He is a Good God and only does good. He isn't the architect of tragedy, trials, or tribulation. His thoughts of peace, of comfort, and being our stronghold in times of trouble and heartache. He doesn't send the earthquake, but he heals the heartbreak!

 God's thoughts on sickness, disease, poverty, and lack? His Word declares He is the healer and the provider for His people. Jesus bore our sickness and carried our diseases. He is not for sickness and disease; He is for wholeness. 

 He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. He became a curse to redeem us from the curse. He bore the curse of poverty. He took our poverty and gave us His riches on the Cross. God's not saying everyone is going to be a millionaire, but He is saying He is our provider and wants our best, our blessing, and an abundant life. 

 When we declare His Word, His promises and provisions in the Redemptive work, we are renewing our minds to His Thoughts.

Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete. Romans 12:2 VOICE

We are transformed by the renewing of the mind. This means replacing the default setting of defeat, depression, and despair with victory, peace, and joy we already have in Christ. We can conform to the world or allow the Word to reprogram our thinking to life and wholeness. 

We can have a world-renewed mind or a Word-renewed mind. We can have a world-conformed mind, or we can have a Word-conformed mind.

 When we speak out God's Word, we are adding our agreement with what He says. The more we speak in agreement with what He says, our thinking will begin to shift. We will move away from the devil's and world's system, stinking thinking, to glorious transformation in our thoughts. 

 When we declare God’s Word, we are not just speaking into the air. We are reprogramming our minds with His truth. So let's not let the enemy have the last word in our minds. Let's agree with what God says about us. Speak only what God says about our situation. Speak what God says about our future.

Every time we declare His Word, our minds are being renewed, our faith is being built, and our lives are being transformed. That’s why declaring God’s Word works—because it changes the way we think until we see as He sees and believe as He believes.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Trust Fund

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. But if it is by works, then is it no longer by grace; otherwise work would no longer be work. Romans 11:6 MEV

God is a Good and Gracious Father. The gifts He freely gives—eternal life, perfect Righteousness, and total forgiveness—are not wages earned, but unearned, undeserved, and unrepayable. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: not what we do for God, but what He has already done for us. And yet, so much of modern Christian teaching has drifted from this truth, placing the spotlight back on us—our efforts, our sacrifices, our performance. But Grace flips the script. Grace reminds us: it's not about what we do, it's about what He did.

 Christianity is rooted in the once-for-all perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus. It is not rooted or built upon the foundation of our sacrifices, pledges, or promises to God. It's about the finality of the Cross and the glorious, triumphant resurrection of Christ. It's never been about our work, performance, or striving to earn God's favor, acceptance, and approval.

 Think of this. Sometimes a parent lays up an inheritance for their children. When they reach a certain age, those funds are made available to them. We call this a trust fund. This is a fund in the natural realm. 

 I want to use a play on words and see what kind of trust fund we have. Do we have a "trust fund" deposited with God's gifts readily available for us to withdraw from? Or do we have a "trust fund" that has deposits of our own works, performance, and perfect behavior?

 In other words, where is your trust? So often we claim we trust in God alone, but the moment we go through a challenge, we shift to the default setting of looking at our behavior or performance to see if we have messed up. We default back to thinking we're being punished by God for messing it up again.

 Certainly, there can be negative circumstances directly attributed to specific choices we have made, but that is not much of a mystery. If you were speeding, it should be clear why you got a speeding ticket. That wasn't divine judgment; that was traffic officers enforcing the speed laws. 

 I am speaking more so of those times when we are praying and standing on the Word and don't see answers manifest. When the circumstances don't seem to be changing, or perhaps they are getting worse. The default religious setting is to critique our performance and behavior and adjust accordingly so we can be good enough to receive from God.

 It may sound elementary or far-fetched, but this is the focus of much modern Christian teaching. Our behavior becomes our savior and source of blessing. This religious default reveals to us where our trust is. 

 Our trust is not in Jesus' faithfulness but in our own. Jesus paid the price. He finished the work. He completed the task. His victorious death, burial, and resurrection are what procured everything we need to live in life and godliness. 

 So many place the majority of their trust in their church attendance, financial giving, devotional time, and abstinence from sin. Jesus and His perfect redemptive work take a backseat to man's effort. Christ's perfect work tends to pale in comparison to our own work. 

 Brothers and sisters, this is not the Gospel. This is not the Christian life we are called to lead. God wants us to behold Jesus in the beauty of His holiness, to look to His perfect redemptive work rather than our own, and to put our trust in Jesus' faithfulness rather than our own. 

 It has never been about our work, good behavior, or performance. It's all about Jesus. Grace is about putting Jesus back in the center of it all. It is remembering Jesus in His splendor and glory for the perfect sacrifice He made. 

This is the Good News—the best news! The work is finished. It is completely done. It is all about a free gift. Focus on Him, and trust in His work and faithfulness alone. 

 

 

Abundance of Grace: More than Enough!

 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY 

 There are various religions and spiritual paths that mankind has followed for centuries. Some follow philosophies, creeds, and reasonings. What distinguishes Jesus and Christianity from all of these voices in the wind? What is the distinction between the Gospel of Christ and the other religions? 

 Grace is the distinction from all the rest! Our Gospel is rooted in what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our Gospel is based on Jesus' work and not any other. The foundation of the Gospel is Jesus' perfect work of Redemption, and nothing we have achieved, nothing we are doing consistently, and nothing we can accomplish with enough consistency.   

 The Gospel distinction is that Jesus' work was more than enough. The Cross of Christ was more than enough to purchase and procure and provide for Redemption for whosoever receives. The Cross was more than enough to forgive our sins past, present, and future. The Cross was enough to permanently save us, securing our salvation forever. The Cross was more than enough to remove condemnation for all time and eternity.

 Traditional religion keeps looking at our sins, shortcomings, and failings. Grace keeps looking at our Savior and His completed work and the more than enough sacrifice that forgave those sins. Grace isn't making light of our sins but standing in awe of the forgiveness purchased by the shed blood of the perfect Savior, Jesus Christ!

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4 NASB

 There is complete Redemption and forgiveness in Christ alone. This Grace distinguishes Jesus from all the rest. No other religion, no other philosophy can provide this peace and reconciliation. No amount of charity and good works could merit this Love and mercy. No level of discipline or abstinence from wrongdoing could earn or achieve this forgiveness. 

 How does this abundance of Grace alter or affect our lives practically? What does the knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins and security in Christ produce? What is the benefit of focusing on this Grace? 

 To the child of God, the believer, and even those who are outside, lost in their sin and unbelief, it brings hope and brightens our path as a shining light, a beacon of expectation of goodness unparalleled and unmatched by anything. The focus shifts from ourselves and onto this Loving Savior and Good Father. The realization is we can trust in Him completely and know He is for us and will not hold our failures against us.

 It opens our eyes, that this Cross and work of Christ was more than enough. It leads us to the truth He paid it all in full. He has more than enough Love, mercy, forgiveness, and new life for us.

Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption Psalm 130:7 KJV

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7 NASB

 When we know there is plenteous Redemption for us we can lay down our own works and performance attempts to be loved and accepted by our Father. When we know there is more than enough Redemption the lost soul can stop running and run to the Father and find forgiveness and a new life. When we know there is abundant Redemption for us we can lay down worry and anxiety and know our Father is there caring for us and providing for our needs. 

 Grace is the personal realization that Jesus' work was more than enough. This Grace has provided for anything we would ever need in this life. Jesus is our one thing! He is the only thing! He is more than enough!

 The Cross was more than enough, and the Father has accepted this once for all sacrifice. That means our sins are forgiven once and for all time, and they will never be accounted to us again. This also means that our Father is not against us but for us. That we are welcomed in the presence of God and celebrated there. 

 Embrace this abundance of Grace. It's all about Jesus. It is all about knowing and understanding Jesus' work was more than enough. This produces such gratitude and thankfulness for Jesus and His Redemptive work. This is true honor and glory given to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives will never be the same the more we focus on Grace and the More than enough Savior Jesus!

image by Grok,X AI 

Abundance of Grace: Abundantly pardoned

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Romans 5:17 NKJV

 For if, through the transgression of the one individual, Death made use of the one individual to seize the sovereignty, all the more shall those who receive God's overflowing grace and gift of righteousness reign as kings in Life through the one individual, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 WEY

 How much Grace is too much? Is there a specific point where we can confidently declare we have over-emphasized Grace? Is there such a thing as hyper-Grace? That is an out-of-balance overfocus on Grace?

 Grace is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ is the tangible embodiment of the Grace of God. Grace is the Gospel, the good news of permanent salvation and reconciliation, restoration, eternal life, and complete forgiveness of sins. We can never overemphasize all Christ has done for us in the Finished Work of Redemption.

 Grace is the truth revealed in Christ that apart from His work, we are incapable of pleasing God and being found acceptable and approved of Him. If we could attain and achieve a level of favor, acceptance, and good standing with God by some kind of good work or charitable deed, why would we even need Jesus? 

 One of the most amazing and powerful truths of the Gospel of Jesus is the complete and total forgiveness of all our sins. We are forgiven of all our sins not by our good works but by Jesus' shed blood. This blood was more than enough.

 God through Christ has revealed a plenteous Redemption! He has more than enough love. He has more than enough mercy. He has more than enough goodness. He has more than enough forgiveness and pardon for all our sins and transgressions. 

 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. Micah 7:18 NKJV

 He is the God who pardons our sins and iniquities. Look at this same passage in the Aramaic;

There is no God like you who forgives evil and passes over the sin of the remainder of his inheritance, and you do not hold a grudge to eternity because you have chosen grace Micah 7:18 HPBT

 God prefers mercy over judgment. He has chosen Grace as the way to purchase our salvation, redeem us from the enemy, and save us from spiritual death. Yet to so many this concept seems to be foreign to their thinking. They are quick to say His ways are not our ways, meaning He is high and lofty and looks down upon us with disdain, disgust, and disappointment. 

 Yet if we were look to the Word where the words are found my ways are not your ways, we would see a radical shift towards mercy and Grace and not wrath and judgment.

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:7-9 NKJV

 In context, it is clear what the higher ways are and what the thoughts are. He is saying man's ways are to hold on to grudges. Man's ways are to not forgive and not pardon. But the Father says, my ways are the ways of Grace. God's ways and God's thoughts are on the complete forgiveness of sins. God's ways are forgiveness and full remission of all sins. 

 Some of our Christian brothers and sisters who have a more religious traditional understanding would concur that God forgives. Yet traditional religious Christianity limits God's forgiveness to the believer's past sins only. 

 They will celebrate the total forgiveness of the sinner's past transgressions and evil deeds. They will readily proclaim that the sinner is a new creation with a "clean slate." After initial saving Faith, though, the "slate" is easily stained, blemished, and needs a new cleansing whenever it falters, fails, and fouls up. As a result of this teaching, a sense of shame, guilt, and condemnation weighs heavy on believers

 The Good news is that this is not the truth of the Gospel. When Jesus laid His life down for us, becoming the once for all sacrifice for our sins, His sacrifice was more than enough. We must not allow religious tradition to weaken the work of the Savior and limit the scope of this plenteous Redemption.

 Jesus Didn’t Die in Installments!

Jesus did not die one sacrifice at a time every time you sin! He died once for all sins—past, present, and future! If your future sins weren’t forgiven, Jesus would have to keep going back to the cross every time you messed up. But Hebrews 10:10 says He made us holy ONCE FOR ALL!

Religion wants you stuck in a cycle of guilt, confession, and fear. But Jesus came to set you free!

🔥 Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV) – “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember NO MORE.”

No more means NO MORE! God is not keeping a record of your sins. The only one who wants you focused on sin is the enemy. Why? Because if you’re constantly focused on sin, you won’t be focused on Jesus! 

 Stop Trying to Earn What’s Already Yours!

Let me be blunt: If you think you have to confess every sin to be forgiven, you’re saying Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough. You’re saying His work is incomplete. That’s not faith—that’s religion.

🔥 Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

You don’t lose fellowship with God when you sin. You don’t go in and out of salvation. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). If future sins were not forgiven, Jesus would have to die again and again. But Hebrews 10:14 settles it:

"For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.."

 Jesus did not purchase a partial salvation, a temporary redemption, or a forgiveness that expires with our next mistake. His work on the cross was final, complete, and eternal. The blood of bulls and goats in the Old Covenant could only cover sins temporarily, requiring repeated sacrifices—but Jesus, our perfect High Priest, offered one sacrifice for sins forever. If all our sins were in the future when He died, then all were fully dealt with by His blood.

 To say that future sins are not forgiven is to say that Jesus’ work was incomplete, that His sacrifice was insufficient, and that we must somehow finish what only He could do. But the Gospel is good news precisely because He finished it all! This is the abundance of grace!

Let religious tradition say what it will, but God’s Word is clear: “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:8). Our sins are not only forgiven; they are removed, forgotten,, and never counted against us again! This is the extravagant grace of God, the abundant pardon He freely gives. Stand firm in it. Declare it boldly. Walk in it fully—because you are forever forgiven!

Here is more Scriptural proof of complete and total forgiveness of all sins to ponder and meditate on.

14 who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins Colossians 1:14 TLB

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. Colossians 2:13 NLT

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Colossians 3:13 AMP

Image by Joshua Lindsey from Pixabay

Thinking God's thoughts

 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

The importance of right thinking is an essential element in living the victorious life in Christ. Christ purchased and procured our redemption and complete victory at Calvary. Yet we will never experience it fully if our thinking isn't aligning with God's.

 That is a strong statement. It is but is it true nonetheless. For example, Christ paid the price for our forgiveness. Yet if one thinks their sin is too great for God to forgive, they will cower in God's presence. They will shrink back from Him, disqualifying themselves, and seeing their sin as a barrier between themselves and God. 

 We must renew our minds to think God's thoughts. We must relinquish the thinking of the world system and embrace God's thoughts. We must pull down strongholds of traditional religious thinking and wholeheartedly accept and receive God's thoughts. 

 Sometimes our thinking is born out of negative experiences we have endured. We must allow our experiences to be challenged by His Word. We must align our lives with His truth and not our experience. 

 True freedom and victory are only found in embracing God's thinking. When we renew our minds to who God is, what He has said about our circumstances, our identity, and how He sees us and has forever accepted us in Christ we will walk in His fullness and promises. Thinking His thoughts bring hope and peace that surpasses human limitations.

 So how do we think God's thought? First, we have to know Him. I would never know someone's thoughts on a given topic if I didn't know them, or didn't spend quality time with them. 

 How do we get to know Him? First, look at Jesus. Jesus revealed the Father to us. I like how one minister described Jesus, the will of God in action. If we have seen Jesus we have seen the Father. 

 I don't see Jesus condemning people. I don't see Him sending disasters or plagues. I don't see Him causing someone's death. I don't see Him bankrupting businesses or making someone sick. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the enemy. 

 Secondly, we need to know the Word of God. We need to know it  rightly divided between the Old and New Covenant. We need to know the Word revealed through Jesus and His Grace and the Goodness of God. 

 Jesus is perfect theology. He perfectly revealed the Father. He revealed a Good Father whose desire is to do good and heal all who were oppressed by the enemy. Supernatural provision, deliverance, raising the dead, forgiving sins, and bringing the gift of no condemnation revealed a loving Savior and a Good God. This is who Jesus is.

 Thirdly, we need to receive of God's gifts to the Church, the fivefold ministry. No, not ministries blinded by tradition but ministers who are anointed and have received the fullness of the Gospel of Grace, understand His Goodness at all times, and are full of Faith and not unbelief. God's gifts help break the bread of life so we can freely feed on God's Word. Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.

 We will renew our minds by fellowshipping with God in personal prayer time. We will renew our minds by looking at Jesus and seeing the Good Father He revealed to us. We will renew our minds when we read and study the Word of God rightly divided. We will renew our minds by feeding on God's Word taught by ministers of Faith and Righteousness. 

The more we continue in this, the longer we do this, and the more attention we give to this, we will see a radical shift in our thinking. We will be able to rightly divide the Word from tradition to truth. We see a Good Father who is for us and not against us. We will embrace a different outlook concerning our circumstances. We will trust in Him and see Him as the help and hope rather than the one ordaining difficulties.   

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay