Relationship, Not a Religion

You've probably been asked this question before:

"So what religion are you?"

I've always answered Christian, but I've never understood completely until this year that what I have with God is a relationship, not just a religion. Consider the definition of religion from Dictionary.com.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion

It's basically a set of beliefs and practices. Do you ever feel like maybe that's not all there is to Christianity? God teaches that He doesn't just want us to read the Bible and sing and go to church - He wants us to get to know Himself and talk to Him and listen to what He says. Doesn't that sound like a relationship?

Consider 1 John 1:3
"That you may also have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
-Fellowship entails a relationship. It requires talking and socializing. When it says that our fellowship is with the Christ, it means that we must also be talking and socializing with him. This is why we pray to God; it is our way of communicating with Him and building our relationship. You can't have a good relationship with one of your friends if you don't talk to them, right?

Isaiah 59:2
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God."
-Our sin separates us spiritually from God, though, so how can we have a relationship with someone we are separated from?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."
-God desires a relationship with us. He offers forgiveness and new eternal life WITH Him if we believe and put all our faith in Him. Even though we have sinned and we are separated from Him, if we acknowledge this and accept Christ as our Savior, He takes us in and offers a way to Himself just because he loves us that much. How do we get to this place?

Romans 10:9
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
-If we believe that God died on the cross to save our sins and open a way to Himself for us, we will be saved and able to have a direct relationship with God. Think of it this way...if you have ever wronged someone, you may have felt ashamed and unworthy of their friendship. But, if that person offers forgiveness to you and loves you, why would you turn away that friendship? We have all sinned against God and feel unworthy of His love, but He came down to this earth to die for our sins that we might see how powerful his forgiveness and love for us is. Why should we not accept that? No one of this earth can offer such a love, and I sure don't want to miss out.

So pray. Worship. Spend time with God and get to know Him. If you have accepted Him as your Savior, talk to him. He loves you and wants you to be closer to Him...and someday He wants you to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Caralee