KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:10 KJV “The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.”

Humans are so religious that, they would attack God’s interest, thinking they are doing a great service to Him. The apostle Paul put it this way; Romans 10:2 KJV “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” What kind of knowledge do they not have? They lack God’s terms and standards for righteousness? God’s kind of righteousness is faith that worketh by love. The impotent man was healed and carried his bed around. The Jewish religious leaders asked him. Today is the sabbath day and you must not carry your bed around. This man has suffered almost throughout his lifetime and should have been celebrated. They rather came accusing him of something that posed no disobedience to God in any way.

The foundation of religion is self-righteousness.

This brings a sharp difference between real Christianity and religion.

The foundation of Christianity is justification by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5:1

It gives no man any grounds to boast.

In theology, that is the study of God, religion is defined as faith in a divine being, with its corresponding practices, rituals and laws. By this definition some may say Christianity is a religion, yet there is a sharp difference in the practice of conventional religion and Christianity. In conventional religion man strives to obey certain laws and also to observe rituals stipulated within that faith so that he would be accepted by God. In Christianity we count on, or believe in the finished work of our Lord Jesus to be justified. We trust in the Holy Spirit to express His life through us. The Holy Spirit in us makes us Holy and so we are called saints. (1 Peter 1:2 “We do not compare ourselves with anyone, neither do we judge or condemn anyone.”)

These Pharisee were religious zealots who would find faults with others and were very strict in upholding the laws, although they faulted in many aspects. John 8:9 KJV” And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

The religious people’s act of defending God’s law, even to the point of killing offenders, does not proceed from a love for God, but rather a justification of themselves and condemnation of the offender. Religious people have no true love.

Sadly, there are many ‘Christians’ who are very religious. Sadly, such people are not saved, if they fall within the explanation said about religious people. If you are in such a state just repent and surrender to Jesus, before it is too late.

THOUGHT: ANY TIME YOU SEE YOURSEĹF AS BETTER THAN OTHERS, THEN YOU, HAVE FORSAKEN THE GRACE OF GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 18:11 KJV” The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

John 8:3 KJV” And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.”