Christianity is about a relationship we have with Christ Jesus. It is not a tradition or a religion. There is no routine or repetitious prayers needed, just you and God. I get so tired hearing people say "this faith or that faith". We all serve one God. Man has stepped in and created the division we see now by labeling churches this or that. We are all God's children and we are all under His law. There are no differences. The bible is God's Word, His truth, His instruction. There are no variations of it other than "versions" which simply helps a reader "understand" the language. So much confusion has been created and even strife over who is "right" and who is "wrong". We get into some meaty discussions during our weekly bible study over various "practices and beliefs". I get sad when I see some react defensively or angrily when we should all be able to discuss it rationally and with maturity. If we all continue to approach this topic of church division with stubbornness and pride nothing will ever change. We welcome all to our study and some leave overwhelmed or confused if they were raised conservatively. We pray in tongues (well some who have the gift) some weeks, we take communion, we teach and we share with one another. The center of our group is God and our love and our desire to know Him better. For those that truly know God, should know that we cannot earn our way to heaven, it is but through Jesus and His gift of grace. He is holy and righteous and just and only He can save us. Nothing man can do or say can earn his own way "in". And all religions teach the opposite of this ..that man can earn his way to God.
Exodus 20:3-5 says, 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me".
The reason why these are the first 2 Commandments of God is throughout history the bible teaches us the number one sin of man is idolatry. And this is the reason why people need to repent not only from their sins but from their "religion". If there could be any other way for man to be saved, then why did God have to come down in the person of Jesus Christ and suffer and die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins? Let us never forget that it is not what we can do to earn right standing with God, it is what God already did for us through the blood of the Lamb that was shed.
Acts 4:10-12
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’[a] 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:10-12
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’[a] 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Galatians 1:8-9
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Revelation 22:6-9
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy[a]prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard[b] these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For[c] I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
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