Meaningless Traditions

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Tuesday March 31, 2009

Mark 7:5-9 (NIV)
5. So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with `unclean' hands?" 6. He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "`These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9. And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

There are many religious traditions and regulations that are entirely man-made and have no Biblical basis. Here is what Paul told the Colossians:

Colossians 2:20-23 (NIV)
20. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21. "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22. These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Whenever a religion tells you not to touch, handle, or taste something because "God says so", they are imposing man-made guidelines on you. There are many such regulations outlined in numerous false religions, because, like the Bible says, they "have an appearance of wisdom!" But the truth is that there is no regulation on earth that will bring you closer to God! Christianity is not a religion, it's a way of life; a relationship with the Creator of the universe!

Many well-meaning Christian churches will tell you that in order to "be a Christian" you must act like "this" and "that", but Christianity is not about acting a certain way; it's entirely about having a relationship with God!

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
21. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23. Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Notice first that all those who God "never knew" are considered "evildoers"! Why? Because God didn't "know" them! I've heard a lot of confusion thrown into this by people who misinterpret verse 21:

Matthew 7:21 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
21. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Saying, "Lord, Lord" will not get you into Heaven! Only doing the will of the Father will get you into Heaven! The problem is that most people don't know what the will of the Father is; the thing that gets you to Heaven!

John 6:28,29 (NIV)
28. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Doing God's will means believing in Jesus Christ! That is the ONLY way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

1 John 5:1-5 (NIV)
1. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4. for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

John 1:12,13 (NIV)
12. Yet to all who received him, to those who BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13. children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

John 3:36 (NIV)
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

John 5:24 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

So how do we act on our belief in Jesus Christ, and get saved??? By confessing Jesus as Lord!!

Romans 10:9,10 (NIV)
9. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

It's time to throw off false religious regulations and traditions and simply get to know God; by spending time with Him in His Word, in prayer, and in worship!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your wonderful, life-giving Word. Help me comprehend Your Word and rightly divide it so I can allow You to govern my life completely.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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