Rituals, Religion, or Relationship

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

(Joel 2:13)

Joel is known as the prophet of religious revivial according to Dr. Charles Stanley. He stressed the need for repentance before revival! Even in this day, many are seeking to be someone or do some thing in order to be right before the Lord. The fact is we can do nothing but repent before the Lord . . . He wants our heart! No physical act or public display can ave us from sin. Consider Abraham . . .

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

(Romans 4:9-10)

Abraham had a heart for God . . . he purposed in his heart to follow the Lord's direction, despite not knowing the future. He acted by faith way before he was circumcised! Abraham's circumcision had nothing to do with how he was justified, it was solely based upon his faith. It is the same concerning water baptism. It will not save you. Many tell me "I was baptized in . . ." SO!!!! Baptism does not save a person . . . the Savior saves! Only one's faith in Jesus Christ will save you. That faith is what credits righteousness to you by the grace of God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

God's job is to save . . .man's job is to repent. Rituals do not forgive sin. Religion can not save anyone . . . only a relationship with the Savior works!