Practicing Religion vs. Knowing Jesus
"If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless."
"But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:4-8 CSB
PRACTICING RELIGION VS. KNOWING JESUS
Fear of Punishment No Condemnation but Transformation
Critical / Judgmental We love because He first loved us
Christian life is obligation Its not "have to" but "get to" with Jesus
Need Praise & Position Not here to be served, but to serve
Strive for Comfort Live for sake of others
MY GOAL IS TO KNOW JESUS - PERSONALLY
"My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:10-14 CSB
