Christ Rather Than Religion

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Romans 10	Romans 11	Romans 12	Leviticus 3	Leviticus 4	Psalms 40	Proverbs 13

In the previous reflection I spoke of the failure of religion to make us right with God. Furthermore, it does not bring us the abundant life Christ came to give us.

In Romans 10 Paul stated that his "heart's desire and prayer to God" concerning his Jewish brothers was for their salvation. Yet they were very religious and Paul says of them that "they have a zeal for God." But their zeal was "not according to knowledge." He was telling them and us that misguided zeal for God, which is what simply being religious amounts to, is not sufficient.

David, in Psalms 40, spoke along similar lines saying, "You do not delight in sacrifice and offering . . . You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering." Coming to this realization, David did the thing that God does delight in - he presented himself to the Lord with a heart willing to do God's will. And he turned to scripture finding what delights God. In verse 7 of the Psalm David said, "Then I said, "See, I have come; it is written about me in the volume of the scroll." Though the meaning of this verse in Psalms may seem a bit obscure, the writer of Hebrews gave it clarity quoting the words of Jesus, "You did not want sacrifice and offering, but You prepared a body for Me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said, "See, I have come--it is written about Me in the volume of the scroll--to do Your will, O God!" (Hebrews 10:5-7) What David read in scripture pointed him to Christ. God's delight is not in sacrifices and offerings, but in sending His Son to do what sacrifices and offerings could not do and for us to give ourselves to Him.

Returning to Romans 10, Paul brings this altogether saying, "This is the message of faith that we proclaim: if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation."