The kind of religion we need today

In 2001 76.5% claimed to be Christians in the U.S. alone just because they claim it doesn’t mean they live it.

The Kind of Religion We Need Today
James 1:27:
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means … refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Greater is He that is with me than he that is in the world.

To keep ourselves from letting the world corrupt us, we need to commit ourselves to Christ’s ethical and moral system, not the worlds.

We are not to adopt to the worlds value system, which is based on money, power, and pleasures.

True faith means nothing if we are contaminated with such values.

This morning I would like to equip you with the kind of religion we need today.

1. Personal Religion
John 3:3:
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

The kingdom is personal, not national or ethic and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth.

A. Many in today’s world profess religion but have never experienced a spiritual and personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

Saul had a personal encounter with God. Read Acts 9 someday.

It will change you having a personal encounter with God.

We must live a life that demands an explanation.


B. We must be “born again” through repentance and faith. When God forgives our sins, He receives us into the family of God.

Romans 8:17:
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

In Roman culture, the adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child in his new family. He became a full heir to his father’s estate.

Likewise, when we became a Christian we gain all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family.

We are the master’s children; we share in great treasures as co-heirs. God has already given us his best gifts: His Son, His Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life: and He encourages us to ask Him for whatever we need.

In order to share in such an inheritance we must have a personal religion.

2. Purifying Religion

1 John 1:7:
7 … and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

In Old Testament times believers symbolically transferred their sins to an animal, and then sacrificed it, the animal died in their place to pay for their sins.

Real cleansing from sin came with Jesus “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He will wash our sins and make them as white as snow.

A. Many Christians have never totally committed their lives to Jesus Christ. They falter because they persist in having their own way.

Light and darkness cannot co- exist, one cannot be a little bit pregnant, we must be sold out to Christ 100%.

B. We must surrender our will unreservedly to God’s will. Doing so brings cleansing and the presence of the Holy Spirit (not my will but yours)

1 Thessalonians 5:23:

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

The spirit, souls, and body refer not so much to the distinct parts of a person as to the entire being of a person. We must have God involved in every aspect of our life.

Christ must control all of us, not just a religious part.

By surrendering our all to Him will give us a purifying religion.

3. Positive Religion

Who’s going to Heaven?

A. There is a lack of sureness in today’s religion. Many are vague and uncertain about their spiritual state. They declare, “I guess so or I hope so.

B. We can be positive, for we “know in whom we have believed. No argument can refute the “I know”, or “I have” response.
2 Timothy 1:12:
12 …for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

Have you ever known something for a fact and someone was questioning you and you said I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am right and it doesn’t matter what they said you were certain… well that’s how we need to be with God.

To have a positive religion is simple we just have to believe.

2 Kings ch 5 story about a great hero named Naaman, who was used to getting respect.

- Had leprosy, -went to Elisha for a healing,-Elisha just sent a massager told him to go dip in the Jordan River, a very small and dirty river.

- Naaman was outraged thought Elisha should of met him and performed some magically thing.

- he was a hero and expected some heroic cure

- Full of pride and self will, Naaman could not accept the simple cure of faith.

- Sometimes people react to God’s offer of forgiveness in the same way.
-just to believe in Jesus Christ somehow doesn’t seem significant enough to bring eternal life.

- Just as Naaman had to humble himself to wash away his leprosy we must humble ourselves and allow God to wash away our sins.

Once are sins are washed away we need to be positive and know beyond this world that we will one day spend eternity with Jesus Christ.

Regardless the lies that Satan would try to tell you.

4. Powerful Religion
1 Peter 1:5:
5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power …

A. Much modern religion makes no claims concerning its power to save, sanctify, and sustain. It is a powerless religion.

B. The need is for a religion with power- God’s power. He is able to forgive sins, cleanse hearts, heal the sick, and “keep that which we have committed unto him..

2 Timothy 1:12:
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

No matter what setbacks or problems we face, we can trust fully in God, because we serve a powerful God who is able to do immeasurable more than we could ever ask or imagine.

5. Productive Religion

John 15:16:
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

A. Many Christians fail to work diligently for God. Some are unconcerned: some are neglected. Others are spiritually lazy.

B. We must be about the Master’s business. Jesus is coming soon. We should pray for the needs of others, assist the less fortunate, and share Christ with the unsaved.


Acts 1:8:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 9:37-38:
37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us.

Isaiah 6:8:
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Will you be productive and answer the call?