The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

RELIGION AND FAITH

Religion as an outward deed is natural to every man, but true Christianity is a profession of faith. The faith makes you a believer in Christ and that reckons you to be a child of God. It is beyond intellectual knowledge or external observance of the law. Christianity is the life of Christ enabled from within by the Holy Spirit. In this circumstance, the knowledge of the word of God leads us into deeper, spiritually fruitful relationship with God. The Pharisee in our text who represents the religious body of those days had asked a candid question as to which commandment is the greatest. The Lord resorted to the Scriptures in response. The Pharisee’s answer in verses 32 and 33 shows that he too was conversant with scriptures but, of course, not sufficiently to discover Christ as to repose faith in Him as the only Lord and Saviour. For his prudent answer and knowledge of the truth, the Lord declared him “Not far from the kingdom of God.” He was near because he knew what was required of him, but he was all the same still outside the kingdom because he had not the experience of doing it. Entrance into God’s kingdom is not merely the possession of intellectual knowledge of the Bible or being a member of a good church. It is faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, obedience and love from the heart towards God and fellowmen. To be satisfied with religion without genuine salvation from sin is to cut oneself off from the kingdom of God. The only pathway to the kingdom of God is repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world. Self-pity, crying or intense religious activities will avail nothing. It is only faith in Christ which delivers from sin and continuing faith in Him which saves to the uttermost. Prayer: I will no longer be enslaved to sin. Further reading: Mark 12:28-37 Read through the Bible: Nehemiah 11 & Luke 17