12-19-07 Bible study entitled "The Difference between Christianity and Religion"

[Aspros_Tigris]

<Tigre_blanc> Tonight's Bible study is entitled"The Difference between Christianity and Religion"
<Tigre_blanc> First Let's look at the differences between Christianity and Religion
<Tigre_blanc> Religion is based on outward appearance and following a bunch of rules and regulations
<Tigre_blanc> and it's something that you practice.
<Tigre_blanc> In Religion you do things for two (2) reasons:
<Tigre_blanc> 1: because you're suppose to do it because either:
<Tigre_blanc> A: the Bible says you suppose to do it.
<Tigre_blanc> B: the pastor of your church said you were suppose to do it
<Tigre_blanc> 2: Everyone else in the church does it and since they're suppose to be "good Christians"
<Tigre_blanc> you do it also just to show them that you're a "good Christian"
<Tigre_blanc> Christianity is based on the heart and having a personal relationship with God.
<Tigre_blanc> and it's a way of life you don't practice it you live it. 24/7
<Tigre_blanc> In Christianity you do things because you want to because:
<Tigre_blanc> A: It shows God that you love Him
<Tigre_blanc> B: It brings glory and honor to God
<Tigre_blanc> C: It pleases God
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Luke 18:10-14
<TheRanger> Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
<TheRanger> Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
<TheRanger> Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
<TheRanger> Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Luke 18:14
<TheRanger> Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
<Tigre_blanc> In the above verses we see that the Pharisee when he prayed was calling attention to himself
<Tigre_blanc> all of his statements in his prayer started with I and he was boasting how he was better then everybody else
<Tigre_blanc> the publican didn't call attention to himself. He just asked God to be merciful to him
<Tigre_blanc> A couple of other places in the Bible that show the difference between Religion and Christianity
<Tigre_blanc> In the following verses Jesus' points out what the ones who practice religion do:
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Matthew 23:1-4
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works for they say, and do not.
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Matthew 23:5-7
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
<Tigre_blanc> The Pharisees had a bunch of rules and regulations that they expected everyone to follow yet they themselves
<Tigre_blanc> did not follow them They do things so that they can be seen by others.
<Tigre_blanc> they liked to sit in the best seats and to be greeted in public.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Matthew 23:23-26
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and ***min, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Matthew 23:27-28
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
<TheRanger> Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv 2 Timothy 3:5
<TheRanger> II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away.
<Tigre_blanc> These verses show that those who practice religion look good on the outside but on the inside they're not
<Tigre_blanc> the following verses show how we're to act as Christians:
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Matthew 6:1-4
<TheRanger> Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
<TheRanger> Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
<TheRanger> Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth
<TheRanger> Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
<Tigre_blanc> here we see that when you do something good for someone
<Tigre_blanc> you shouldn't do it just because people can see you doing it.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Mark 10:43-45
<TheRanger> Mark 10:43 But so shall it not be among you but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister
<TheRanger> Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
<TheRanger> Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
<Tigre_blanc> We're to be a servant
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Luke 14:8-11
<TheRanger> Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
<TheRanger> Luke 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
<TheRanger> Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
<TheRanger> Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
<Tigre_blanc> We're to be humble
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Philippians 2:3-4
<TheRanger> Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
<TheRanger> Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
<Tigre_blanc> We're to consider others better than ourselves
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Romans 15:1
<TheRanger> Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
<Tigre_blanc> We should help those who are weak in faith and not just please ourselves.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Galatians 6:1-2
<TheRanger> Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
<TheRanger> Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
<Tigre_blanc> We're to lead those who stray back to where they're suppose to be and to carry each other's burdens
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv James 5:16
<TheRanger> James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
<Tigre_blanc> We're to pray for one another.
<Tigre_blanc> !Kjv Ephesians 2:8-9
<TheRanger> Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God
<TheRanger> Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
<Tigre_blanc> It's not what you do that gets you into heaven.......It's what He did.