The Difference in Religion and Regeneration

James 1


INTRO: How many religious people do we know that are really missing the mark? Religion has its advantages, but it is not the vehicle for reaching heaven. It is not a substitute for salvation or regeneration. Are you saved? Are you religious? Are you serious? Are you His?

I want to look at a few things about the Difference in Religion and Regeneration. God can make a difference in your life. You can know His Great Love that changes us, gives us a New Beginning or you can just become a religious church-goer.

James 1 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

 

As we look at some of the differences we see that we have a…
Shift of one's attitudes – vs. 2-4

Reserved instead of Reactive vs. 19

Humble instead of Haughty – vs. 9-11

Compassionate instead of Cranky - vs. 27

Glad instead of Gloomy - vs. 12

We experience…
Stability in one's ways - vs. 6-8

Anxious Attendee instead of an Ambivalent (wishy-washy) Absentee vs. 12

Studious Servant instead of a Slack Stand-in vs. 22

Praising God instead of Petitioning God- vs.

Calling for help instead of Complaining – vs. 13-16

Luke 6:44-45 44For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

And we see a different…
Source of one's ideals - vs. 5-

Spirit-filled instead of Singular (can't do it alone)

Starving for God’s message instead of Satisfied to make your own - vs. 22

Trusting in God’s provisions instead of Testing or Trying it out vs. 22-25

Practicing serving God instead of Pretending to know Him - vs. 26-27

So what is wrong with my being religious? I mean, we do mean well!

Because, it is just that, it is religion. It is external. It is more concerned with our actions and acting than what it needs to be. It is reacting and remembering a set of rules.

It will not, it cannot save us!

We need a personal RELATIONSHIP with God - through His Son Jesus! Something that can wipe the slate clean. Something that can help us keep it clean.

It is this relationship that will make us new creatures, it is this that will let us have a new beginning in our life that will last for eternity.

 

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 060604am - First used - 011198am