Free From Worthless Religion

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FREE FROM THE POWER OF SIN!
THE TRUTH AND WORTHLESS RELIGION

KEY PASSAGES

Micah 6:8 ESV... He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

James 1:27 ESV... Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV... Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

THE ONE ISSUE WE ALL DISLIKE... WORTHLESS RELIGION

• Let's be honest... no one likes worthless religion

• We see worthless religion all through the Bible... Jeremiah 5:30-31; Malachi 1:6-8

• No one encountered more worthless religion than Jesus... Matthew 23:27-28

• Only the truth can set people free from worthless religion... John 8:32

TRUE RELIGION ISN'T ABOUT RULES... BUT FAITH

• The #1 contributor to worthless religion is self-righteousness!

• The religious leaders often put heavy burdens on people... Matthew 23:4;15

• Salvation isn't a reward for the righteous... but a gift to the guilty!

• We are saved by our faith in Jesus' righteousness... not our own... Romans 10:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21

TRUE RELIGION IS ABOUT LOVING GOD AND LOVING OTHERS

• The Christian life was never meant to be complicated or burdensome... Matthew 11:28-30

• Jesus summed up the type of religion that pleases God... Matthew 22:35-40

• To love God is to obey Him... John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; John 15:10-11

• The commands of God are not burdensome... Micah 6:8; James 1:27

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION

• Where have you seen worthless religion being practiced?

• What type of religions is pleasing in the sight of God?

• Why aren't the commands of Christ burdensome to the believer?

• What challenge does Paul give in Ephesians 5:8-10?