Because Of You
“...because of you the name of God is being blasphemed among the nations.” (Ezekiel 36:22; Romans 2:24)
Ezekiel told this to the Jewish religious leaders, not the ordinary like you and me. To blaspheme means to slander by saying false things about someone. The Jewish religious leaders were blind to their own unrighteous condition. Much of their teaching "blasphemed" God. By the time of Jesus's birth the traditions taught by these Rabbis had been elevated to the status greater than the Word of God. Jesus accused them of...
"... making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which you have delivered..." (Mark 7:13)
Christian religious traditions have also been elevated to the equivalent of Scripture. Most church members know a lot about tradition but not much about Scripture. Christian tradition generally promotes self-righteousness rather than humility. Paul knew, for he had been "zealous" about those "traditions"...
"I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:14)
But Paul gave them all up to preach what Jesus had revealed to him...
"...God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles." (Galatians 1:15-16)
"...no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11)
A foundation built on mankind's "free will" manifests itself in the following "traditions of men"...
1) God saves and rewards only those who join the Church.
2) Faithfulness to the Church is equal to faithfulness to God.
4) Worship happens at Church.
5) The Church's great commission is to convert mankind to Christianity.
6) Prayer changes the will of God.
All these things are sincerely done - but no one gets saved or pleases God by following "traditions" of men. Instead, they will be...
"...always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth..." (2 Timothy 3:7)
It helps me to think about the words of Jesus...
"...you did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit...This is my command to you: Love one another. " (John 15:16; John 15:17)
and to meditate on what Jesus revealed to Paul about bearing "fruit"...
"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." (Galatians 5:22)
The salvation of sinners is the "gift of God". Teach the truth, not the traditions of men.
Ezekiel told this to the Jewish religious leaders, not the ordinary like you and me. To blaspheme means to slander by saying false things about someone. The Jewish religious leaders were blind to their own unrighteous condition. Much of their teaching "blasphemed" God. By the time of Jesus's birth the traditions taught by these Rabbis had been elevated to the status greater than the Word of God. Jesus accused them of...
"... making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which you have delivered..." (Mark 7:13)
Christian religious traditions have also been elevated to the equivalent of Scripture. Most church members know a lot about tradition but not much about Scripture. Christian tradition generally promotes self-righteousness rather than humility. Paul knew, for he had been "zealous" about those "traditions"...
"I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:14)
But Paul gave them all up to preach what Jesus had revealed to him...
"...God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles." (Galatians 1:15-16)
Paul was humbled by the truth that God will not save anyone according to the traditions of "Judaism", but as a gift of His Grace through Christ Jesus.
“For it is by Grace you have been saved...it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast... trust in the living God who is the Savior of all mankind...God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them...through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of his cross...who gave himself a ransom for all people." (Ephesians 2:8-11; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:6)
Christianity started with this message, but soon the traditions of men changed it to an "offer to save", an offer which must be accepted by a persons free will. That "tradition" lays the foundation for salvation on a person's free will rather than on "Jesus Christ". Nevertheless, the truth remains that...
“For it is by Grace you have been saved...it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast... trust in the living God who is the Savior of all mankind...God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them...through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace through the blood of his cross...who gave himself a ransom for all people." (Ephesians 2:8-11; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:6)
Christianity started with this message, but soon the traditions of men changed it to an "offer to save", an offer which must be accepted by a persons free will. That "tradition" lays the foundation for salvation on a person's free will rather than on "Jesus Christ". Nevertheless, the truth remains that...
"...no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11)
A foundation built on mankind's "free will" manifests itself in the following "traditions of men"...
1) God saves and rewards only those who join the Church.
2) Faithfulness to the Church is equal to faithfulness to God.
4) Worship happens at Church.
5) The Church's great commission is to convert mankind to Christianity.
6) Prayer changes the will of God.
All these things are sincerely done - but no one gets saved or pleases God by following "traditions" of men. Instead, they will be...
"...always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth..." (2 Timothy 3:7)
It helps me to think about the words of Jesus...
"...you did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit...This is my command to you: Love one another. " (John 15:16; John 15:17)
and to meditate on what Jesus revealed to Paul about bearing "fruit"...
"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." (Galatians 5:22)
The salvation of sinners is the "gift of God". Teach the truth, not the traditions of men.