From Religion to Relationship: Embracing God's Love

Devotional

Day 1: God Descends to Meet Us

Description:
Religion often feels like a staircase where we strive to reach God through our efforts. In contrast, Christianity teaches that God descended to us through Jesus, making a relationship with Him possible. This fundamental difference shifts our focus from earning God's favor to accepting His love. The metaphor of the staircase versus the elevator helps us understand that while other religions emphasize human effort to reach the divine, Christianity is about God's initiative to come down to us. Romans 5:8 beautifully encapsulates this: "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." This act of divine love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith. [02:14]

Bible Passage:
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection:
Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How does the idea that God descends to meet you change your perspective on that experience?

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Day 2: Paul's Transformation from Law to Grace

Description:
Paul's life exemplifies the shift from religion to relationship. Initially, he tried to earn God's favor through strict adherence to the law. However, his encounter with Christ revealed that true righteousness comes through faith, not works. This transformation led Paul to value his relationship with Christ above all else. In Philippians 3:7-11, Paul expresses how he considers everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus. This shift from law to grace is a powerful testament to the transformative power of a relationship with God. [03:30]

Bible Passage:
"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection:
Reflect on an area of your life where you might be trying to earn God's favor through your actions. How can you shift your focus to nurturing your relationship with Him instead?

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Day 3: Justification and Sanctification

Description:
Justification is the moment we are made right with God through faith in Christ. Sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. Understanding these concepts helps us see that our obedience is a response to God's love, not a means to earn it. Justification happens instantly when we put our faith in Jesus, but sanctification is an ongoing journey that involves daily choices and experiences. This distinction is crucial because it helps us understand that our good works are a response to the grace we've already received, not a way to earn it. [06:02]

Bible Passage:
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection:
Identify one area in your life where you see God working to make you more like Christ. How can you cooperate with Him in this process today?

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Day 4: Obedience as a Response to Love

Description:
Our actions, such as taking communion and tithing, are not performed to gain a relationship with God but because we already have one. This understanding transforms our motives, making our obedience a joyful act of love rather than a burdensome duty. When we understand that our relationship with God is secure, our actions become expressions of gratitude and love. This shift in perspective can transform mundane religious practices into meaningful acts of worship. [07:13]

Bible Passage:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15, ESV)

Reflection:
Think of a religious practice you engage in regularly. How can you transform this practice into a joyful act of love rather than a routine duty?

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Day 5: Reflecting on Our Relationship with God

Description:
It's crucial to examine whether our relationship with God is driven by a desire to earn His favor or a response to His love. If you find that you lack a genuine relationship with God, seek guidance on how to enter into one. This relationship is the foundation of our faith and transforms our entire approach to life. Reflecting on our motives and relationship with God helps us align our actions with His love and grace. [07:13]

Bible Passage:
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection:
Take a moment to honestly assess your relationship with God. Is it driven by a desire to earn His favor or a response to His love? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound difference between religion and relationship, particularly in the context of Christianity. We began with a simple word association game to illustrate how different words evoke different thoughts and feelings. When it comes to "religion," many think of rules, rituals, and a distant God. However, Christianity offers a unique perspective that contrasts sharply with other world religions.

Imagine religion as a staircase where humanity is at the bottom, striving to reach God at the top through good deeds and adherence to rules. In contrast, Christianity is like an elevator where God descends to meet us at our level. Romans 5:8 encapsulates this beautifully: "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." This act of divine love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith.

We delved into the life of Paul, who initially tried to climb the religious staircase through strict adherence to Jewish laws. However, his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus transformed his understanding. Paul realized that a relationship with God is not earned through rule-following but is a gift made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. This shift in perspective led Paul to value his relationship with Christ above all else, as seen in Philippians 3:7-11.

We also discussed two key theological terms: justification and sanctification. Justification occurs the moment we put our faith in Christ, making us right with God. Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ through life's experiences and our obedience. Our obedience is not a means to earn God's favor but a response to the relationship we already have with Him.

Finally, we emphasized that our actions—such as taking communion, baptism, and tithing—are not performed to gain a relationship with God but because we already have one. This understanding transforms our motives, making our obedience a joyful act of love rather than a burdensome duty. As you reflect on your relationship with God, consider whether it is driven by a desire to earn His favor or a response to His love.

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Key Takeaways

1. **Religion vs. Relationship**: Religion often feels like a staircase where we strive to reach God through our efforts. In contrast, Christianity teaches that God descended to us through Jesus, making a relationship with Him possible. This fundamental difference shifts our focus from earning God's favor to accepting His love. [02:14]
2. Paul's Transformation: Paul's life exemplifies the shift from religion to relationship. Initially, he tried to earn God's favor through strict adherence to the law. However, his encounter with Christ revealed that true righteousness comes through faith, not works. This transformation led Paul to value his relationship with Christ above all else. [03:30]
3. Justification and Sanctification: Justification is the moment we are made right with God through faith in Christ. Sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. Understanding these concepts helps us see that our obedience is a response to God's love, not a means to earn it. [06:02]
4. Obedience as a Response: Our actions, such as taking communion and tithing, are not performed to gain a relationship with God but because we already have one. This understanding transforms our motives, making our obedience a joyful act of love rather than a burdensome duty. [07:13]
5. Reflecting on Our Relationship with God: It's crucial to examine whether our relationship with God is driven by a desire to earn His favor or a response to His love. If you find that you lack a genuine relationship with God, seek guidance on how to enter into one. This relationship is the foundation of our faith and transforms our entire approach to life. [07:13]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Word Association Game
[02:14] - Religion as a Staircase
[03:30] - Paul's Transformation
[05:04] - Paul's New Perspective
[06:02] - Justification and Sanctification
[07:13] - Obedience as a Response
[08:00] - Reflecting on Our Relationship with God
[08:30] - Call to Action
[09:00] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 5:8, what did God do to show His great love for us?
In Philippians 3:7-11, what does Paul consider worthless compared to knowing Christ? [05:04]
How does Paul describe his righteousness in Philippians 3:9? [05:04]
What are the two key theological terms discussed in the sermon, and what do they mean? [06:02]

Interpretation Questions

How does the analogy of the staircase versus the elevator help us understand the difference between religion and relationship in Christianity? [02:14]
What was the significance of Paul's encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus in transforming his understanding of faith? [03:30]
How do the concepts of justification and sanctification shape our understanding of obedience in the Christian life? [06:02]
Why is it important to reflect on whether our relationship with God is driven by a desire to earn His favor or a response to His love? [07:13]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Do you see your relationship with God more as climbing a staircase or riding an elevator? How does this perspective affect your daily walk with Him? [02:14]
Paul valued his relationship with Christ above all else. What are some things in your life that you might need to consider "worthless" in comparison to knowing Christ? [05:04]
How can you actively participate in the process of sanctification in your daily life? What steps of obedience can you take this week to become more like Christ? [06:02]
Think about your motives for actions like taking communion, baptism, and tithing. Are they driven by a desire to earn God's favor or as a response to His love? How can you shift your perspective if needed? [07:13]
Identify one area in your life where you might be trying to earn God's favor through your actions. How can you transform this area into a joyful act of love and obedience instead? [07:13]
How can you help others in your small group or community understand the difference between religion and relationship in Christianity? What practical steps can you take to share this message?
If you find that you lack a genuine relationship with God, what steps can you take to seek guidance and enter into one? Who can you reach out to for support in this journey? [07:13]

Sermon Clips

1. "See, religion is a set of rules you need to follow in order to climb the staircase in hopes to getting close to God. The more you do correct, the higher you'll climb. But the more mistakes you make, the further you go. It's a constant battle to try to work hard enough to gain the approval of God at the top of the stairs. Christianity has one key difference. Instead of a staircase, I want you to think of an elevator, where God is on the top floor and you on the bottom." [02:14] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "See, God showed Paul that we don't follow a strict set of rules so we can gain access to God, but we've been given the opportunity to have a true relationship with God because of the sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This fundamental shift changed everything for Paul. After this encounter, he stopped persecuting Christians. He stopped trying to follow the rules to gain access to God. And then he truly had a relationship with the Father through the Son, and Paul was obedient to the Father out of respect and love brought by a close relationship to the Son." [03:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Christianity does carry with it some physical acts God calls us to, like taking communion, believer's baptism, attending church with other believers, and giving of our tithes and offerings. But I want you to see that unlike people of other faiths, Christians obey these commands not to gain a relationship with God, but because they have a relationship with God." [05:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "See, there are two big words that I want to bring some clarity to today. And the first is justification. This happens at the moment we put our faith in Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives. This word conveys that we are justified to or made right with the Father through the Son. This is how our salvation is obtained. The second word is sanctification. This is a lifelong process of God using the situations in our life and our steps of obedience to mold us into something that looks a lot like his Son." [06:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We try to climb the staircase out of obedience to Christ because we do have a relationship with him. This understanding changes the motive behind keeping the faith. We need to obey the commands that we see in Scripture. If we're only obeying them to hopefully gain something from God, we'll do them begrudgingly. And it's easy to fail at that point." [07:13] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Yet, when we recognize that God loves us and desires to be in a relationship with us, we obey him out of a desire to bring him glory. Even if we're tired or we feel down, we can still find joy in submitting to his will because it's all for him and not for our selfish motives." [07:13] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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