15/03/2013 - THE DIFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS OF GOD AND OF MEN

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The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 19.8

From the human perspective, not all religions are bad. In a way, they are necessary in places still unreached by the Word of God to prevent people from doing whatever they want. But no religion can give its followers salvation or forgiveness of sins. On the other hand, despite not being a religion, the gospel makes of those who believe in it good citizens and they receive eternal salvation.

The sole purpose of statutes deemed as good is to maintain those who keep them within social normalcy. Because they are part of a religious code, fulfilling them does not give us any merit before God. And that is why we need to preach the gospel to every creature. If people listen to the Word of God, they will be blessed and freed from sin and eternal damnation.

There is a huge difference between the teachings of God and of men. The teachings of men are not always right, but those of the Lord are, so people who fulfill God’s statutes find that there could not be anything more perfect than them. But those who are guided by religious rules obey them out of fear of punishment, while those who fulfill God’s statutes are acting out of love, as they rejoice in doing it.

The same is valid for the commandments of the Lord in relation to those of men. Everything that is created by religion, in addition to being mystical, is threatening. But the commandment of the Lord is pure and those who obey it live in peace. They also find that they become more intelligent and wise as they practice the Word of God. The understanding of Christians regarding all things is infinitely greater and better than the understanding of a religious person.

The best thing one can do in life is to obey what God says with all his heart. Those who act this way will get to the end of life with joy, without fear of being condemned when the great day comes. Nevertheless, those who are religious will expect the Lord to be kind to them, despite not having been able to fulfill his commandments. He who believes in the gospel passes from death into life (Jo 5.24).

There is no other option: you either believe in what the Creator says or will be lost forever. If this were not true, God would not be true and we would be lost forever. But the reward for those who believe is that they will see the glory of God.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares