CHRISTIAN FAMILY FELLOWSHIP, PDO MUSCAT

 

TOPIC:  JUST BEING RELIGIOUS, OR BEING SAVED ?

 

Introduction:

It is a sad irony that more atrocities have been committed in the name of religion than any other. There is nothing more cruel than religious hatred and bigotry. The religious problem in Nigeria is a classical example -people are being killed in the name of religion. It is not possible to please God whilst we are filled with our carnal self. (Roma 8, vs. 8). We cannot serve God when we live in sin (John 4, vs. 24). Unfortunately, many Christians today are just being religious. There is nothing as wicked as Religion without Christ.

 

Being Religious:

Cain was very religious, and he acknowledged the existence/supremacy of God. He therefore offered sacrifices to God (Genesis 4, vs. 3). Yet he murdered his brother, Abel, out of jealousy. The Pharisees and Sadducees were also religious. They were to be found worshipping in the synagogues, and they performed all relevant religious rights. They fasted regularly and prayed to God (Matthew 9, vs. 14). Saul, before he became Paul, was certainly religious. He was burning with religious zeal, the same zeal he employed in persecuting Christians. Paul was not saved from life of overt sin, but from the sin of Religion. Paul is an example of God’s grace, having been converted from a religious bigot to one of the greatest apostles of our Lord Jesus.

 

The world of the Ungodly:

The world of the ungodly is often more fair and just than many of those who profess to represent the love of God. Jesus was illegally arrested, tried and condemned by the religious Sanhedrin. They would have killed him without a trial, but they knew it was illegal to do so. Therefore, they delivered Him to Pilate who tried diligently to free Jesus, but for fear of a riot by the religious mob led by the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. What an irony that the ungodly Pilate tried to free Jesus, but the religious bigots made sure he was condemned to death.

(Matthew 27, vs 22-24)

 

In a similar manner, Paul was mobbed and beaten by religious bigots who tried to kill him. A Roman army captain saved him (Romans 21, vs-30 - 32). Paul was attacked by a religious mob, but saved by an ungodly captain! These examples show that it is terrible for those who profess to be Christians, yet they are worse than the ungodly. Are we similarly religious, simply professing to be Christians? As long as we tolerate anything in our life, which is displeasing to God, the Holy Spirit will not fill us. And we shall be no different from the religious bigots!

 

Being Saved .........and filled with the Holy Spirit:

Every born-again believer has been baptized in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12, vs 13). This is a “once for all” experience, and no one can be saved without this experience (Romans 8, vs 9). If you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit, you have all of HIM. But now, the Holy Spirit wants all of You. The Holy Spirit wants to fill us completely. As we empty our heart of self, the Holy Spirit will take its place. If a bottle of water is emptied, air rushes in. So it is with the filling of the Holy Spirit. How can the Holy Spirit fill us when we are still full of carnal sins?

 

There are some steps we must take to become filled with the Holy Spirit. First, examine your heart. Then confess everything you know is wrong or doubtful to God. Is it some habit, secret practice, pride, jealousy, sharp tongue or an uncontrollable temper? Is it gossip or an unforgiving spirit ? What about judging and criticizing others? Tell God about it. Confess that sin to Him, tell Him you want victory and you are trusting Him to deliver you. Every believer must then seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit for greater service and fruitfulness. The fruits of the Holy Spirit become manifest in our lives - love, joy, peace (Galatians 5, vs 22 -23.)

The evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is given in Ephesians 5 vs 19:

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord’

 

You can completely empty yourself, and yield fully to the will of God. This is the abundant life that Jesus speaks about (John 10, vs 10):

 

I am come that they may have life (that is the result of being baptized in the Holy Spirit) and that they may have it more abundantly (that is the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit).