A Relationship, Not A Religion!

A Relationship, Not a Religion!

Introduction

What kind of relationship do we have with God? Or do you just have religion?

• A past relationship

• A once a month relationship

• A once a week relationship

• A long-distance relationship

• A present relationship

A Past Relationship, via our Old Nature!

As a Debtor

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Epheshians 2:8

Do you see your relationship with God as a gift that is so great that you feel that you would never be able to repay that gift?

Do you see your relationship with God as a debt that you can never repay?

Or, do you see yourself as;

As a Dead Man

Do you see yourself as dead to sin, that sin no longer has control over you?

Or, do you see that it’s alright to live and play like the world.

That there is not really any harm in it, because God loves everyone and besides I’m a pretty good person.

Certainly not!

How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

3Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

4Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

7For he who has died has been freed from sin. Romans 6:2-7

As a New Man

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

A Present Relationship, via our New Nature!

As a Citizen

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

As a Steward and Ambassador

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

As a Family Member

"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

A Prophetic Relationship, via our Promised Nature!

As an Heir!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5