Differences between Religion and Redemption

Religion is like looking at your sons and daughter and say that here’s a list of things, if you do them, I will love you and I will be your dad, if you don’t do them, I won’t love you and I will not be your dad. But redemption is God saying to us “I love you, therefore, love me, obey me, my commands are good, I will protect you.” Redemption says God loves you, and because God loves you, you can obey Him because He will change your heart, mind and life. Roman says His kindness will lead you to repentance.

Religion also says that the world is filled with two kinds of people, good people and bad people. Redemption teaches that there are two kinds of people, repentant and unrepentant people. Redemption says there are bad people who repent and there are bad people who don’t repent, that’s the only difference.

Religious people care about your birth, did you grow up in a Christian family, did you go to a Christian school? Did you win the Bible quiz? Did you? Being born into a Christian family, having a mom and dad who loves Jesus and a grandma and grandpa who loves Jesus. That’s not a problem if you love Jesus. If not, there’s really no benefit at all because religious cares about your birth, but redemption cares about your new birth, that’s what redemption is all about. You need to get born again, spiritually born again. God needs to be your Father, the church needs to be your family, men and women who loves God need to be your brothers and sisters. You need a new life. Have you been born again?

Religion tells you it’s all about what you do, so do this and do that, but it’s not even in the Bible. Religious people love to make a long list of rules. Redemption says it’s not about what you do or what you don’t do, it’s about what Jesus has done, that’s what it’s all about. Jesus went to the cross and on there He said, it’s finished, it’s all done, there’s nothing else we need to do because He has done everything.

Religion never leads to joy, or humility. Religious only leads to pride, “I did it,” or despair, “I can’t.” It never leads to Jesus, it never needs to humility or joy. Jesus alone is humility, Jesus alone brings joy.