Man's self-centered nature will not allow the plan of salvation to be simple, complete, or 'out of his control'. Organized religions (including many mainline denominations) dictate that you must adhere to their doctrines and rituals for a relationship with God to exist.
We complicate the Christian faith with our egocentric need to negotiate the terms. Mankind refuses to let the completed work of Jesus Christ end with a 'period' ... insisting that a 'comma' is necessary.
On Calvary's cross, our Lord used the only acceptable 'punctuation mark' concerning your redemption ...
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. John 19:30
God does not advocate 'self-reliance' ...
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8
You may have placed your trust in Christ, but if it is not in Him 'alone' there remains an idolatrous dependence on 'self' that needs to be extinguished. It is Jesus ... 'period'.
Michael Svigel - The center of Christianity has always been Jesus Christ. It is not the Bible. It is not expository preaching. It is not a personal response to the gospel message. As important as all of these are for supporting the center, the focal point of right Christian faith is God the Son who became man, lived a life of perfect righteousness, revealed the Father, died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, bequeathed the Spirit, and will come again.
Anytime you add a 'comma' after Jesus and start adding your religiosity to the mix, you subtract from what took place on the cross. Essentially, you are saying 'Christ is not enough ... He did His part; I'll do the rest'.
You are to 'do' nothing ... but surrender to His Lordship.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Repent of those 'commas', pilgrim ...
No comments:
Post a Comment