GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY ACTS OF HOLINESS .

 Matt 23:23AMP Bible “ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law — right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.”

      Jesus clearly opposed the hypocritical display of acts of holiness by the religious folks of His time. Man-inspired religion seeks to please God based on human standards as demonstrated in the excessive demand for tithe by religious leaders while society reels under injustice, hatred and infidelity. These religious duties may be right but the motives ill-conceived . The place of holiness in our actions cannot be overemphasized. However, God is against the idea that says our actions could produce a right relationship with God ,thereby placing the burden of salvation on man.

     This is contrary to the principles of salvation by grace through faith which can only be attained by a person humbling himself or herself  to recognize our need for a saviour. (Titus 2:11,Eph. 2:8). The acknowledgement of salvation produces by default a holy character in us. (1Pet.2:9,Rom. 6:22).

      Holiness is the aftermath of our salvation experience. It is like the aroma from a well cooked meal. It does not appear on its own until the ingredients are cooked according to specification. Likewise, God’s holy nature can’t be perceived until one accepts the free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus opposed every outward portrayal of holiness by the religions folks  of His time  Matt 23:28” Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”  A true Christ- like life comes from the inside out. A good heart will change a man's actions, but a man's actions cannot change his heart.

       Religion's greatest trademark is the doctrine that says you could become right by acting right, this is the bases of many self- help steps in building great relationships but they often lead to disappointments.  Many persons have made great resolutions to turn a new leaf in life but soon fell short. This is so because man is spirit and cannot be changed from the outside; this is the absolute truth about life.

        The born again experience is a process of the regeneration or rejuvenation of the human spirit by the Holy Spirit, thus holiness is a by-product and not the way to a relationship with God. This is the fulcrum upon which the message of salvation by grace revolves. Man- made religion the world over is premised on falling moral standards that must be adhered to, but only Christianity offers salvation through a Saviour. To say holiness can be attained by any other way outside it being consequent on the regeneration or rejuvenation of the human spirit is a denial of the lordship of Jesus Christ and blasphemous. This kind of salvation is by self-help and is a recipe for disaster. It does more harm than good as witnessed in the degree of chaos among the so-called religious countries of the world mainly in Africa, Asia, and the middle east (Col2.19-23).  Let's put our trust in God and walk in the power of His saving grace by which we shall subdue every satanic influence over our lives in Jesus name.
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