Man loves religion. It might seem like that less and less today but people are supplementing one type of religion for another even today. Romans 1 tells us that every person has a religious system in place. In a man centered, man created religion more emphasis is placed on the external. Do this. Don't do this. And man expands and grows that list not just for personal use but to have a check list for others. This can be seen in a lot of man centered religions - Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology, etc. The works are always they key feature and it's also what others within those systems can come down on those who aren't doing enough.
We, Christians, can also fall into this man-centered religion. Mind you, the Bible does not tout this system of works based salvation or works based living. The Christian life is not man centered, man focused. It is God centered and God focused. When we switch the two around we subvert God's rightful place for man. Romans 1 condemns us for the sin of idolatry. When we read God's Word and say this is what I must do and this is what I must not do AND I have to keep track of others around me and make sure they are living the "right" way, we are no longer concerned with God's Will. God's Will is for us to inwardly change and grow into the likeness of Him. Then from that change, outward expresses of that love for God shows (aka fruit of the Spirit). God does not desire us to have "narcis-gesis" (reading ourselves into God's Word). That is where man's religion resides. We must read God's Word and realize that He is the standard we should conform to and that starts with His greatest desire - the inward person.
Watch today's Ministry Moment segment as Pastor John Samuel Barnett shows us what man centered religion looks like.
https://youtu.be/ttIYjWWhMEo (From 2015JUL12 - HFG-11 - What is God's Law & What Parts are Still Binding on New Testament Believers - None, Some or All?)
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