Don't Be Judged By Religious Ritual

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect…” (Hebrews 10:1)

This was directed at the Messianic Jews who had believed and followed Jesus as their Messiah.  They were considering returning to the Law and its rituals as the way to righteousness.  The writer was reminding them that the Law nor the rituals surrounding the obedience to it could make them perfect. 

Gentiles who had believed in Jesus were being encouraged by some of the Messianic Jews to observe the rituals of the Law. So Paul tells them that they should not allow these Jews to judge them by religious rituals...

“Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Sometimes we Christians need to remind ourselves that we will not be judged, nor rewarded, concerning our attendance at Church, envolvement in its ministries, nor its associated rituals.  We will be judged by whether we believe "the word" of  Christ Jesus that he is the SAVIOR of the world.  Jesus said…

“If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.…” (John 12:47-48)

And what is the “word” which Jesus spoke which will “judge him” who rejects it?

His word that he has come “to save the world”.  And he will SAVE it and all those who have been part of it because that is what he came to do.  He says he did not come to judge and condemn the world.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:17)

Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world will be “judged” WRONG and be ashamed when in fact Jesus returns and saves the world of sinners by resurrecting them from the dead. At that time all will give account "before the judgment seat of God" as to why they did not believe that Jesus is the Savior (among other things) and then ALL WILL CONFESS AND BELIEVE which brings "glory o God"…

“God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father… For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:8-12)

The Word Of Reconciliation

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

So what is this "word of reconciliation"...

"He forgave us all our sins…which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken them away, nailing them to the cross…Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival...for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 2:12-3:1-4)

When Jesus was buried and raised it guaranteed our resurrection also. God now sees us as already resurrected and is "not counting" our sins against us. 

We are not to let those who have various religious rules and holy days judge us and tell us what we can and cannot do. We are no longer subject to religious rules and are guaranteed that when Jesus appears we "will appear with him  in glory".  

I know what some of you are thinking....So should we or can we just live any sort of lifestyle we want?

Come on man! How could one who is aware of what God has done for him live any longer selfishly for himself. It is my experience that this knowledge changes the way we live to one which is better for all those around us, starting with our families…and that pleases God!

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?...How shall we who died to sin still live in it?...we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts…but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:1-14)

“Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions...For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God...each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:1-2)

I have actually heard Christians say that if we are saved we will go directly to heaven and we will not have to give an account for our opinions or anything else. Most Christians apparently believe this.  Of course in saying that they have denied the above clear teaching in the Word of God, and they will, nonetheless, "give an account" to God for that opinion, among other things…assuming the Bible is true.

But as hard as it is for me, I am not to pass judgment on their opinions for it is at the judgment seat of God that opinions will be judged. I am OK and care deeply about being judged BY GOD for those opinions that I have as a result of my personal study of the Bible. And I am in the process of ridding myself of any opinions which I borrowed from others. But I also realize that most people form their opinions by listening to others so in posting my views I pray that what I have determined to be Truth is, in fact, the Truth and will not fuel the fire in that day I account to God...

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

The freest of people, the nobelist of people, the most virtuous of people, and those among mankind who reason the best and accomplish the most have one thing in common with the worst of people...they all die...and in time are forgotten. The writer of Ecclesiastes therefore reasoned...

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

The best that people of this world can do is to enjoy life as best they are able and simply do what they can to be the best they can be...then leave the rest to the Lord.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)