06/09/14 SALVATION OR RELIGION

06/09/14 SALVATION OR RELIGION

One way to tell if you have salvation (a heart relationship with God) or simply religion (a head and ritual commitment) is based on, "how far it goes."

Salvation goes all the way to the cross, the empty tomb, the throne of grace, and permeates the life with the purity, purpose and power of Christ.

Religion (often times) cannot even reach the tongue, therefore the religious person may speak both kindness and corruption, truth and deceit, sweetness and bitterness, dignity and degradation, blessing and cursing.

Religion is a belief in g(G)od, and the systematic worship and service to that g(G)od.

True religion (salvation) includes a life giving, love imparting, spirit empowering relationship with God through faith in Christ.

PASSAGES...
(concerning the tongue)

James 1:26-27
(26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
(27) Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Psalms 34:12-14
(12) What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
(13) Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
(14) Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Proverbs 6:16-19
(16) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
(17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
(18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
(19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 21:23
(23) Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 26:28
(28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

James 3:2-11
(2) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
(3) Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
(4) Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
(5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
(6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
(7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
(8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(9) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

(dlg note... According to verse 8, no man can tame the tongue. This does not mean the tongue cannot be controlled. Christ in us delivers us from the tyranny of the tongue. Many Scriptures indicate that followers of God are empowered to control their tongues. This passage points our our need for Divine deliverance.)

1 Peter 3:8-12
(8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
(9) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
(10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
(11) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
(12) For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.