Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. - Romans 4:23–25
Paul, seeking to magnify the spiritual (rather than physical) basis for his relationship with the patriarch Abraham, reminded the churches of Rome of the true foundation for a covenant with God. Circumcision (the sign of the old covenant) did not validate God's agreement with Abraham's descendants (otherwise, both Ishmael and Esau would have been included), rather that promise was based upon the faith of Abraham that our sovereign Creator reckoned as righteousness. The sign (circumcision) was only authenticated true belief.
Whatever religious practice a Christ-follower employs today must be subject to the same test. Our religious practice does not validate our faith. Instead, true faith alone authenticates our practice. This is not to say that religion is bad, it is just that it is useless if it is empty.
So, in the midst of the singing, serving, and sermons, it might be a good idea at some point to stop and ask what your "religion" has become, and what, if anything, validates that religion in the eyes of the Savior.
Religion today is not transforming the people - it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society - it is descending to society's own level and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smiling accepting its surrender. - A. W. Tozer
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