What is the difference between religion and biblical Christianity? One is about works. It’s about constantly working to acquire or maintain a right relationship with God. The other is a gift of grace. Which one describes your relationship with God?
Also, our reading in Proverbs says, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” It goes on, “What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” What kind of riches can a believer in Christ expect and how does the fear of the wicked come back upon him?
Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day.” This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the daily posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
Today’s Readings:
Leviticus 26 & 27
Psalm 29.1-6
Proverbs 10.22-25
Mark 7.1-13
Religion & Christianity: What’s the Difference?
Mark 7.1-13:
Religious Self-Righteousness
As we continue reading through the Gospels, we repeatedly find the Scribes and Pharisees looking for reasons to accuse Jesus. In today’s reading, they accuse Him of failing to teach His disciples to obey the traditions of the elders.
Instead of responding, Jesus accused them of failing to keep God’s law while they condemned others for not keeping their human laws. They had turned from the worship of the true and living God to religion!
Religion & Christianity: What is the Difference?
So, what is the difference between biblical Christianity and religion?
Religion is about what we can do. It’s believing that if we keep a certain set of rules, principles, or traditions, we will gain God’s favor and acceptance. It’s often hoping that our good deeds will outweigh our bad. Sometimes, it’s believing the things we do aren’t all that bad. In fact, we may think we are actually pretty good in comparison to other people.
Religion often revolves around a particular church or denomination. We may have been taught that it’s the “right” church and if we get baptized there, attend regularly, and check off certain other rituals, we’re OK with God.
As Christians, we acknowledge that we can never be good enough (Rom. 3.23, 6.23). In fact, there is nothing good in us and we can do nothing to save ourselves (Rom. 3.10). We can’t keep enough rules to earn our way to heaven. There is no divine scale where our good deeds can be weighed against our bad. We understand that we can only be saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2.8-9).
How Then Shall We Live?
Does that mean as Christians we can live any way we please? Actually, the opposite should be true. When we realize how much grace we’ve been given and all that God has done for us, we should want to live righteously (2 Cor. 5.9, 15; Eph. 2.10).
Yet even then, we know that we cannot do so perfectly. But we can change and grow and become progressively more like Christ when we step out in faith, obedience, and reliance on Him. And when we fail, we can go to the throne of grace and seek His forgiveness and help (1 Jn. 1.9; Heb. 4.14-16).
As you spend time in His Word and in prayer this week, ask Him to help you worship Him and not tradition and to fully understand the gospel. If you’re just beginning to understand these concepts or you have questions, feel free to leave a comment or question.
Today’s Other Readings:
Leviticus 26 & 27:
God’s Response to Repentance
God lays out the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience in chapter 26. The blessings of the Mosaic Covenant were conditional on their obedience, but even under that covenant, God was looking for repentance and genuine heart change. Verses 40-42:
But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt—then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land.
Today we have great assurances from God’s Word. One is the assurance that I mentioned above in the main section. As followers of Christ, if we “confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1.9). To confess is to agree with God about something, in this case, to agree that our thinking or behavior was sinful and to be willing to repent and turn away from it.
May we be quick to repent and seek God’s forgiveness when necessary. And may we seek to walk in obedience. While obedience doesn’t save us, it is the fruit of genuine salvation and brings us peace and joy in Christ (Jn.15.10-11).
Psalm 29.1-6:
Give Him the Glory Due His Name
Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (v. 2).
God is God even over the forces of nature as the rest of this passage illustrates:
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox (vv. 5-6).
What would cause Lebanon and Sirion to skip like a calf? An earthquake maybe? Think about the up and down motions as the earth’s plates shift and move. What would cause mighty cedars to splinter? A hurricane or tsunami? God is God over all of His creation and all of nature! Let’s give Him the praise and “the glory due to His name.”
Proverbs 10.22-25:
The Blessing of the Lord
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it… (vv. 22-24).
The richness God gives isn’t what the world usually considers rich, that is enough money to do whatever we want, to lavish it on ourselves, or to hoard it. It’s having more than enough, the peace to enjoy it, and the trust that God will continue to meet our needs.
On the other hand, “The fear of the wicked will come upon him …” Wicked people often obtain their wealth through sinful means and attitudes. They value others only to the degree it benefits them. Because they believe they’ve obtained their wealth through their own cunning, they must hold onto it in the same way.
In the end, God will not be mocked. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6.7-8). Eventually, there will be another innovative idea, a younger actress, a faster computer, a stronger athlete, a new social media giant, or a more cunning business person.
But when we put our faith and trust in Him, we can rest in the fact that He knows our needs and promises to take care of us (Matt. 6.25-34).
For Further Study:
If you’re anxious or having trouble trusting God in some area, you might want to check out this series on dealing with anxiety.
Introduction: Winning the Battle over Anxiety
Worship & God’s Kingdom: Winning the Battle over Anxiety Part 2
Prayer, Put-Offs & Put-Ons: Winning the Battle over Anxiety Part 3
Fear Versus Love: Winning the Battle over Anxiety Part 4
Trust in the Lord: Winning the Battle over Anxiety – Part 5
Rest & Remember: Winning the Battle over Anxiety Part 6
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about self-sufficiency, over-commitment, the adultery test, and the sovereignty of God.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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