Jesus Beyond Religion

[Aquila]

When talking about conditions...

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are to be perfect as God is perfect. We are branches upon the Vine (Jesus). His agape love must flow through us. We must spiritually abide in Him through the Spirit by that love. Love born through the Spirit produces fruit:

love
joy
peace
longsuffering
gentleness
goodness
faith
meekness
temperance

When we abide in Him and partaken in His nature (divine love and power), these fruit are produced. One need not even "try". When growing fruit... one need not struggle to produce the fruit... one need only to water the vine. We cultivate a life in the Spirit through prayer, spiritually abiding by faith, worship, and study of God's Word. Peformance based religion takes our minds off of what we are and focuses upon what we do. With God... He isn't so focused on what we do... He's focused upon what we are. Because if we are what we should be and in alignment with His indwelling nature... fruit comes natural.

We have no dress codes, we have no dietary codes, we have no required holy days, we have no archaic rituals, even the Ten Commandments (which are holy) cannot even produce the holiness God desires in us. For example, you can obey "Thou shalt not kill." and refuse to kill your neighbor...but yet not LOVE him. God desires that you LOVE your neighbor. And if you LOVE him... you will not harm him. You will not lie to him. You will not commit adultery with his wife. You will not covet anything that is his. And if you love God, you will not have other gods. If you love God you will not have idols. And if you love God you will not blaspheme His name. If you love God...you will set aside time to worship.

God's standard/condition is... LOVE. Plain, simple, and to the point.

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”