Weekly Devotional 12-12-16 Are You Merely Religious
Many today are deceived into believing that because they are religious they are of the kingdom of heaven, but are they? Are you? The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39, for instance, was a religious man. A proselyte of Judaism which required him to adopt and live according to the religion of Israel, but it was not of the kingdom of heaven. Cornelius, a Roman centurion (Acts 10), a devout man, a man that feared God with all of his house, was generous to those in need, was fervent in prayer, but this was not of the kingdom of heaven. Lydia in Acts 16:14-15 worshipped God, but this was not of the kingdom of heaven. Eight thousand plus of the Jews in Acts 2-4 who had gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost were very religious, but they were not of the kingdom of heaven. Nicodemus, a man elevated to office of Pharisee, a religious ruler of the Jews, as recorded in John 3:1-9, was not of the kingdom of heaven. Why?
Jesus gives the answer to this question in His dialogue with our friend Nicodemus mentioned above. Consider the back and forth between them, and then determine whether or not you are merely religious or of the kingdom of heaven. “1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ 3Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’” (John 3:1-9 NKJV).
Did you see it? A person must be born again if he or she is to be part of the kingdom of heaven. Being religious apart from being spiritually alive does not qualify one for heaven. Jesus’ words piqued the interest of Nicodemus, for he asked; “How can these things be?” Have these things, all that have been written herein so far, piqued your interest and caused you, like Nicodemus, to wonder how being born again or being made alive spiritually is possible? If that is the case, consider Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus; “10Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’” (John 3:10-18).
The answer to Nicodemus’ question, and perhaps yours, is that a person must believe or trust in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. There is just no other way. If Nicodemus would have failed to believe Jesus’ exhortation, no matter his religious status, he would remain condemned. Fail to believe or trust in Jesus and His sacrifice, and you will fail to be part of the kingdom of heaven.
You may say, “I want to believe. I want to trust in Jesus, but my heart is so hard. I am so entrenched in the things of this world. I just don’t want to let go.” Have you considered that you cannot keep anything of this world forever, no matter how precious? Why hold onto something that you can’t keep; especially if it steels your heart against God?
Think of this; “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV). From this we can gather that it is not God’s will that anyone perish, but that all become part of the kingdom of heaven. He desires this so much that He gave His only begotten Son as payment for the sins of those who will trust in His Son’s sacrifice.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man