I don't have Religion, I have A RELATIONSHIP!

I don't have Religion, I have a Relationship  Oooooooh Jesus speak through me!!!!! I feel this one. I had a conversation the other day with a friend. Now slight background this friend had gone back to church prior to me going back to Christ. (notice I said he went to church I went to Christ)  Anyhoo we were speaking about the fact that I recently decided to be bold in my step of celibacy by signing a purity covenant and joining the PinkyPromise Movement. (I'll dig into that in another blog)  As I explained this to him, the sideways comments began. And granted I know some people don't mean any harm in the things that they say when it comes to the changes I'm making in my life. I see that it comes from a lack of information and understanding.  My people perish for lack of Knowledge Hosea 4:6 Hence why many of us are still in bondage and living in darkness. But I didn't expect this from him! Because he is a Christian! He's in church!?!  When I explained that I was going to wait until marriage, his response was "oh and you think the guy is going to be waiting? Just cause he's not sleeping with you don't mean he isn't sleeping with someone! Having Religion won't stop him from cheating, and a man is going to be a man" What!!!!!!! Hold the phone and pump the brakes! (insert Sidestare)  Are you kidding me!?!  First let's get one thing straight, My Adam will not have religion. My Adam will have Relationship!  A true man of God who has a relationship with the Lord will understand the choice I have made.  I don't have Religion I have a Relationship. Being a Christian and having a relationship with God is personal. My walk with God is my own.  When I chose to step up to that alter call, it was because the Lord touched my heart to do so.  And the Lord knew exactly when to step in because the phone cut off!  And I went home and dug into the Word to research this a bit more.  So here's a breakdown  Religion vs Relationship With Jesus Christ Religion can be very different than having a Relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Religions are man made, and are based on trying to get to God through rules and regulations and works. Man made religions all are based on people's efforts at reaching God and being made right with Him through their own efforts. God's plan for man's salvation and for being right with Him is told throughout the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God's plan is not based on people's efforts and good works, but is based on His amazing Love and amazing Grace for us; His plan involved His precious Son Jesus paying the price and cost for our sins on the cross. You need to put ALL of your trust and faith in Jesus and in what He did for us on the cross, and not in any religion or in your own efforts. Simply put all of your trust and faith in Jesus, and accept His gift of salvation and eternal life, and experience the joy of having a right RELATIONSHIP of love with God. Religion (Self Effort, Works) Goal: reach out ot God, try to work your way into heaven Means: diligent service & works, with hopes of a reward (heaven) Power: good, honest effort through self-determination Control: self-motivation and self control Results: apathy, failure, chronic guilt, eternal separation from God   Salvation Through Faith In Jesus Christ (Personal Relationship) Goal: trust fully in Jesus, then live to please Him Means: confess sins, repent, yield self to Jesus   Power: the Holy Spirit does God's work in and through us   Control: allow the Holy Spirit to control & direct our lives   Results: love, joy, peace, freedom, power eternal life in heaven,... When you have Relationship you strive with each day to take on more and more of the spirit of Christ. And in doing so you die daily to things in your spirit that aren't Christ like.  It doesn't happen overnight!  And it isn't easy, if it was everybody would be doing it! Hello!  “When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12 (NLT) “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4 (NIV) “He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." Romans 6:10-13 (NLT) As you spend more and more time in the Lords presence (that doesn't mean at church) 1on 1 time with Him.  God grants us new mercy with each new day given. When we look back over our lives and see how He has favored us, because when we were living in darkness much of what we were doing should have taken us out! But we are still here because we have been called out for a purpose! We are new creatures in Christ and live our lives to Glorify Him.  We were bought with a price and the price that was paid we could never repay. So we work to build His kingdom. We are a walking bible for those who don't know Him. So they can see His light shine through us. For His light to shine through us we walk and he orders our steps to His Will.   I have a relationship, I know I'm a spiritual being having a natural experience not a natural being having a spiritual experience.  I'm in this world but not of it. So the things that this world has going on don't take president in my life.  As I get deeper in the word I want nothing more to than Please God, Because in the end I want Him to say Well Done.  I'm not living to please Man.  Going to church is not what makes me a Christian.  Accepting God as my Lord and Savior and having an intimate and personal RELATIONSHIP with Him does.  So as I said earlier my friend went back to Church! I went back to Christ!