What is the religion of Jesus? Jesus believed and followed the Old Testament law of God. Jesus was born into and practiced Judaism. When he began his early ministry he became a Rabbi and taught what was/is consistent with the law God had given to Moses. Many Christians dismiss the Old Testament because they have not understood the history in context. Quick example would be the ten commandments. Many read the ten commandments and interpret them to be rule based, “Thou shall not….”
and out dated.
However, when the ten commandments were given to the Israelites who had spent 400 years in Egypt where the gods of the Egyptians mistreated, robbed, murdered, stolen and raped their wives and daughters the word from God that said, do not lie, do not steal, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not envy was pleasing and comforting words. God was letting the Israelites know that he was not like the gods of Egypt. He would not mistreat them, and therefore, he did not want them to mistreat one another.
THE RELIGION OF JESUS
In the religion of Jesus loving God and loving others as you love yourself are the foundational values that distinguish those who follow him. Treating people with respect and dignity, e.g. the golden rule is another trademark of the religion of Jesus.
The religion of Jesus is about being generous with possessions and time. It is about servanthood and humility. The religion of Jesus is to repent (ask for forgiveness) when you have acted wrongly toward another and to forgive when you have been wronged.
The religion of Jesus leads to the awareness we are all God’s children and loved by God. The religion of Jesus is not about condemnation, but about liberation and redemption. The religion of Jesus is inclusive, not exclusive.
THE RELIGION ABOUT JESUS
Jesus described the religion about Him when he declared, “You honor me with your lips, but your heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8
The religion about Jesus is knowledge based, head knowledge; while the religion of Jesus is relational based, it’s knowledge put into action. Paul wrote a letter to his friend Timothy and described the religion about Jesus in 2 Timothy 3: 2-5 - “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
The religion about Jesus is a counterfeit for the religion of Jesus. While it boast of loyalty to Jesus, it doesn’t reflect the heart and will of Jesus to the world.
Here is the great difference between religion OF Jesus and the religion ABOUT Jesus: The religion of Jesus is a working of the Holy Spirit that transforms us into more loving, more compassionate, more gracious people. It is a working of the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts with a Joy and contentment this world does not provide. It is a change of heart and a change of thinking that transforms you and me into image bearers of Jesus reflecting his nature to the world. It is the interest to our worth. It is the paint in the painter’s art. It is the melody to our song. It is the ink to our story. It is the icing on our cupcake. It is the sprinkles on top of our ice cream.
It is an experience hard to describe as it is difference for each of us, but when you experience the religion of Jesus you will never let go!