Tree of Life, Week 1: Religion vs Christianity

Don’t miss this compelling look at the very first relational story in the Bible. Within this incredible story lies absolutes that define how we read and interpret the rest of the Bible but most importantly how we live as followers of Jesus. Title of message:  Religion vs. Christianity  (Genesis 2:9) (NLT) The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  (Genesis 2:16) (NLT) But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—  (Genesis 2:17) (NLT) except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”  (Genesis 3:1) (NIV) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:2-3) (NIV) The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” (Genesis 3:4-5) (NIV) “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:6) (NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.   The gospel is: The transformation on the inside of you that causes a change of behavior on the outside of you.   Characteristics of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: 1.    Victimization 2.    Shame  (Romans 8:1) (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus   Characteristics of The Tree of Life:             1.    Innocence  (Matthew 18:3) (NIV) And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.             2.    Freedom (Galatians 1:6) (NLT) I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News (Galatians 6:10) (NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.   Religion vs. Christianity: 1. Religion is spelled DO.       Christianity is spelled DONE.  (John 5:39) (MSG) You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.   2. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. Christianity is God’s attempt to reach man.  (Romans 5:8) (NLT) But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.   3. Religion focuses on the external (Matthew 23:26) (NLT) You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.             Christianity focuses on the internal  (1 Samuel 16:7) (NIV) The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.