PERSONAL RELIGION VERSUS DENOMINATIONAL RELIGION
A personal experience in God is necessary to the salvation of every soul. This is strongly and repeatedly emphasized throughout the Scriptures of truth. The call of God primarily not to man in a community sense is but to each individual.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“And the Spirit and the, bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.
In response to this call there must be the exercise of a personal faith.
“If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath razed him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture said, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 10:9-11.
For the acceptance or rejection of this call every man is made accountable.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12.
And in the day of final reckoning every man will he judged according to his works, and the reward will be proportionate to the fruits of his labors.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works!” Matthew 16:27.
Of that day of final awards the prophet Ezekiel declares, “Though Noah, Daniel, and job, were in it, as I live, said the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 14:20.
One great danger which has threatened the church in every age is that this vital truth of a personal and practical Christianity would be forgotten. Israel of old forgot it. In consequence the form was
substituted for the substance, the letter for the spirit, and trust was placed in service and ceremony rather than in real heart work and personal experience.
Both the writer of these words and the readers thereof confront in their religious experience the same danger. We may indeed have a beautiful system of truth; we may be connected with a progressive movement. There may be much to draw out our interest, enlist our activities, and arouse our enthusiasm. We may even rejoice in the spread of the message through the printed page and gospel preaching. Furthermore. we may view with pleasure the large force of active youth in our churches who are preparing for service. All of this may make us confident that the movement in which we are engaged is of divine origin, and that its speedy and glorious triumph is assured. But we may see all this, feel all this, and believe all this, and yet fail to comprehend the full significance of the gospel message as applied to personal needs.
We may have a sort of denominational religion, but fail in obtaining a personal experience in God. Against this we are warned in the message to
the Laodicean church as found in Revelation 3:14-2l.
Before his conversion Saul possessed a denominational zeal, but it took a personal revelation of Christ to show to him his own individual need and to transform him into the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter was foremost in proclaiming his loyalty, but not until Christ looked on him, and his heart was broken, did he reach a saving personal knowledge of Christ. The apostle Paul recognized his danger, even as a gospel messenger, of being a castaway. Our danger is equally great.
No Substitution
Belief of a system of doctrines or faith in the triumph of a cause cannot be substituted for faith in a personal Savior. Faith in the conversion of others will not avail for the application of the blood of Christ to our own needs. We must see Jesus as our personal Savior, as the one who forgives our sins, and who speaks peace to our souls. He must dwell in our lives by His blessed Spirit, purifying our purposes, subduing our iniquities, and conforming us to the likeness of the divine example. With this personal knowledge of Christ in our lives, we shall be able to bring others to the same fountain of cleansing and blessing.
The need of the church of God today is not a denominational religion but a personal, living faith, which will apply individually the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give us hearts to seek for this personal experience. We should take time to cultivate the Spirit’s graces. As gospel laborers, Bible workers and even as ministers, we are in danger of forgetting God while engaged in His work. Let us take time from life’s busy activities to become acquainted with Jesus. This will prepare the way for the in flowing of the Spirit, for the glorious manifestation of divine power, which will attend the labors of His remnant church. This experience will make us more loyal to the truth, more eager to carry the gospel to those in darkness, more zealous in placing our property and our very lives upon the altar of service as an evidence of our love for the One who has taken us into such close and sweet communion with Himself. This personal relationship can be attained through the confession of sin, through consecration and submission, through prayer and faith and
watchfulness, through the study of the Word, and the blessed ministry of the Holy Spirit. God is anxious to unite with us in bringing it about. May we avail ourselves of the means which He places within our reach,
and of the present opportunity to gain in Him that experience which will make our efforts effective here, and bring to us personal salvation in His kingdom.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“And the Spirit and the, bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.
In response to this call there must be the exercise of a personal faith.
“If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath razed him from the dead, thou shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture said, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 10:9-11.
For the acceptance or rejection of this call every man is made accountable.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12.
And in the day of final reckoning every man will he judged according to his works, and the reward will be proportionate to the fruits of his labors.
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works!” Matthew 16:27.
Of that day of final awards the prophet Ezekiel declares, “Though Noah, Daniel, and job, were in it, as I live, said the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 14:20.
One great danger which has threatened the church in every age is that this vital truth of a personal and practical Christianity would be forgotten. Israel of old forgot it. In consequence the form was
substituted for the substance, the letter for the spirit, and trust was placed in service and ceremony rather than in real heart work and personal experience.
Both the writer of these words and the readers thereof confront in their religious experience the same danger. We may indeed have a beautiful system of truth; we may be connected with a progressive movement. There may be much to draw out our interest, enlist our activities, and arouse our enthusiasm. We may even rejoice in the spread of the message through the printed page and gospel preaching. Furthermore. we may view with pleasure the large force of active youth in our churches who are preparing for service. All of this may make us confident that the movement in which we are engaged is of divine origin, and that its speedy and glorious triumph is assured. But we may see all this, feel all this, and believe all this, and yet fail to comprehend the full significance of the gospel message as applied to personal needs.
We may have a sort of denominational religion, but fail in obtaining a personal experience in God. Against this we are warned in the message to
the Laodicean church as found in Revelation 3:14-2l.
Before his conversion Saul possessed a denominational zeal, but it took a personal revelation of Christ to show to him his own individual need and to transform him into the apostle to the Gentiles. Peter was foremost in proclaiming his loyalty, but not until Christ looked on him, and his heart was broken, did he reach a saving personal knowledge of Christ. The apostle Paul recognized his danger, even as a gospel messenger, of being a castaway. Our danger is equally great.
No Substitution
Belief of a system of doctrines or faith in the triumph of a cause cannot be substituted for faith in a personal Savior. Faith in the conversion of others will not avail for the application of the blood of Christ to our own needs. We must see Jesus as our personal Savior, as the one who forgives our sins, and who speaks peace to our souls. He must dwell in our lives by His blessed Spirit, purifying our purposes, subduing our iniquities, and conforming us to the likeness of the divine example. With this personal knowledge of Christ in our lives, we shall be able to bring others to the same fountain of cleansing and blessing.
The need of the church of God today is not a denominational religion but a personal, living faith, which will apply individually the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give us hearts to seek for this personal experience. We should take time to cultivate the Spirit’s graces. As gospel laborers, Bible workers and even as ministers, we are in danger of forgetting God while engaged in His work. Let us take time from life’s busy activities to become acquainted with Jesus. This will prepare the way for the in flowing of the Spirit, for the glorious manifestation of divine power, which will attend the labors of His remnant church. This experience will make us more loyal to the truth, more eager to carry the gospel to those in darkness, more zealous in placing our property and our very lives upon the altar of service as an evidence of our love for the One who has taken us into such close and sweet communion with Himself. This personal relationship can be attained through the confession of sin, through consecration and submission, through prayer and faith and
watchfulness, through the study of the Word, and the blessed ministry of the Holy Spirit. God is anxious to unite with us in bringing it about. May we avail ourselves of the means which He places within our reach,
and of the present opportunity to gain in Him that experience which will make our efforts effective here, and bring to us personal salvation in His kingdom.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Wednesday, January 11, 2006
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