Scripture is rich in truth, and it is life. Finding truth is an individual journey and can only be found with the guidance of the Spirit of God. Simply following the tenets of any religion will not lead to the depth of truth that results in really knowing God. Billy Graham once said that religion was like an immunization shot; it gives you just enough to keep you from getting the real thing. I can attest to being ‘immunized.’ It wasn’t until I separated myself from religion and immersed myself in the Word that I experienced true salvation.
Every religion has its own set of ‘doctrines’ which congregants/members are expected to follow. These ‘man-made laws’ (Colossians 2:22-23) are much like the laws given by God to the Israelites in the desert after being led out of Egypt. Laws and doctrines can be good, albeit ineffective. Paul points out; “the Torah…lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate…” (Romans 8:3). It is for this reason that sin is still pervasive in the modern-day church.
Paul’s letter to the church in Rome illustrates the difference between following Torah (law) and the new covenant with Yeshua offering his life as the sacrifice for sin. Reading the entire letter is enlightening, although chapter 8 provides a concise explanation. “Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants. For those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom [peace].” (Romans 8:1-6, Complete Jewish Bible)
So how does one get past ‘immunization’ to a real relationship with God? The best illustration of this process is explained by Peter. “For this very reason, try your hardest to furnish your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with perseverance, perseverance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (II Peter 1:5-7, Complete Jewish Bible)
It starts with faith; believing that Jesus came to earth as a human to be the sacrifice for sin. Scripture then encourages us to furnish faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. The list is cumulative, and goodness, knowledge, and self-control can all be found in the ‘immunized’ life of a Christian. Then comes perseverance. As I pointed out in a previous post, patience is not an adequate translation for perseverance because ‘patience’ is passive, while ‘perseverance’ is active. This calls for actively seeking God and is an individual choice, not something that can be taught, accomplished by attending church/prayers, or following man-made laws.
When an individual chooses to diligently pursue a relationship with God through his Son, it leads to godliness, brotherly affection and love. Even though it may look very much like goodness, knowledge, and self-control, it really is quite different. The difference is between self-righteousness and relying on the righteousness of Christ. It begins by realizing there is no good in us, but only God is good. “Yeshua said to him, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good but God!” (Luke 18:19, Complete Jewish Bible) Jesus gave us himself as an example to follow by being completely reliant, submissive and obedient to his Father while on earth, and he continues to be so; “We know that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, never to die again; death has no authority over him. For his death was a unique event that need not be repeated; but his life, he keeps on living for God.” (Romans 6:9-10, Complete Jewish Bible)
“…let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4, Complete Jewish Bible) Perseverance works to ultimately bring us to a love that can only be attained through Christ. “But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven…” (Matthew 5:44-45, Complete Jewish Bible) I would argue that it is humanly impossible to genuinely love those who hate and wound us, although Jesus is making it clear that through him this is possible, resulting in becoming “children of your Father in heaven.”
“the secret hidden for generations, for ages, but now made clear to the people he has set apart for himself. To them God wanted to make known how great among the Gentiles is the glorious richness of this secret. And the secret is this: the Messiah is united with you people! In that rests your hope of glory!” “My [Paul] purpose is that they may be encouraged, that they may be joined together in love, and that they may have all the riches derived from being assured of understanding and fully knowing God’s secret truth, which is – the Messiah! It is in him that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” (Colossians 1:26-27, 2:2-3, Complete Jewish Bible)