Sunday, March 10, 2013

What was the first act of religion in the Bible? What are some religious acts today? 547-2 - 24-4

Genesis 3: 7 “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

Genesis 3:10 “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself”

Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

Having a relationship with Jesus is Jesus reaching down to man and religion is man's attempt to reach up to God. The first act of religion in the Bible was the desperate attempt by Adam and Eve to cover their sin of disobedience with fig leaves. In his concern for his creation, God sewed skins of animals for Adam and Eve to wear both to protect their bodies and to demonstrate that a blood sacrifice would be needed to redeem mankind. That blood sacrifice would be the seed of the woman thus starting the scarlet thread that is woven throughout the Bible culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus.

It seems today that many cannot accept the simple gospel of the Bible. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV I was reminded of this last Sunday as I attended church and was privileged to partake of Holy Communion.

Even Martin Luther was a victim of the fear that the Roman Catholic Church seems to generate in its members. Martin Luther seemed to be obsessed by the question, "How can a man find favor with God?" Habakkuk 2:4, "The just shall live by faith" started him on a path to the Reformation. Habakkuk 2:4 led Paul to write his trilogy of epistles. The Book of Romans tells us who the Just are; those who live by faith. I completed the book of Galatians some time ago and it was reassuring to know that we live by faith and not the legalism often promoted by churches, most notably the Catholic Church. I'm looking forward to taking Hebrews later this year thereby completing this trilogy. Romans 8:2. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

What are some religious acts today? The Quran teaches that by dying while committing jihad one is immediately transported to Paradise. The Mormons believe that by good works they can become as gods someday rule their own planet.

I've been told that Catholics believe that they have been granted salvation through the death of Christ on the cross; however, it is not a forever thing. One must continue saying masses to keep their salvation and after death be purified in purgatory.

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