True Religion

Religion is defined by the dictionary as a belief system. It is usually used in believing in God or a Supreme Being and people who will receive the value (worship) in the hope of gaining some favor. More relevant to Jews and Christians, religion is a reference to what we believe about God and our relationship with Him. Within Christianity alone there are over 200 recognized denominations, each with their own version of what is right or wrong in their beliefs. Unfortunately, as Jews, we often spend more time fighting about who is right and who is wrong when we should engage the world about salvation, which is accessible to all faiths through Jesus Christ and the struggle against Satan and sin that hinders our relationship with God.

In Matthew 22:23-33, Mark 12:18-27, Luke 20:27-39, Jesus is always in the middle of last week before he was crucified for our sins. The Pharisees tried to trap him with a question and have been exposed as hypocrites. Now, the Sadducees (they are "See U sad" because they do not believe in life after death) to take a test to try to make Jesus ridiculous. During this year election, they remind me of some politicians. They are full of misconceptions in their religious beliefs. Let's see how Jesus straightened and consider what means to us.

Misconceptions abound - Matthew 22:23-28, Mark 12:18-23, Luke 20:27-33 The Pharisees failed but the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; decide to make an attempt to trap Jesus with one of their favorite arguments. They bring the challenge of Jesus with a point of Jewish law on marriage. If a man dies childless, his wife is to marry his brother and bear children for him through the brother. In their example, the brothers of man also died without children for him. The Sadducees take this to the extreme in a futile effort to try to prove that there is no resurrection. They ask Jesus about the woman who is married to eternity because she was married to all seven in this life.

Even in Christianity, we have over 200 names, each trying to explain some doctrine or practice of Scripture they chose to emphasize at the expense of other Scriptures, and often times to try all those who are not agree or comply with their beliefs. Far too often, the preachers spend more time condemning the beliefs of another religious denomination that they are trying to fight the devil and evangelize the lost.

God is the Authority - Matthew 22:29, Mark 12:24, Luke 20:34 The Sadducees quote Moses, who received his law of God. Likewise, Jesus cites God as the supreme authority in this case. Jesus takes the initiative to tell the Sadducees they are mistaken in their beliefs about the resurrection. It will follow its statement with proof of a source to prove that they recognize that they must change their thinking.

There are times when we need to address what other Christians believe and do clarify and maturity in our faith. We do not want to commit ourselves to put down, but examine the Scriptures together in a spirit and effort to find the truth of the Gospel. We must seek a mutual openness if our beliefs are wrong, go to the Scriptures with them and try to build harmony on what the Bible teaches that we can live together in harmony rather than fighting with them. Remember that our goal is to reach the lost for Christ, not spend time fighting between them about things that do not matter in eternity.

Life After This Life - Matthew 22:30-31, Mark 12:25-26, Luke 20:35-37 Jesus is not shy talking about it and believe in the resurrection. He first informs the Sadducees that marriage is for this life. There is no marriage in eternity. Therefore, their argument is based on false information. He also cites passages the Old Testament the Sadducees to know and believe as a proof to them that there is a resurrection and it is very different from the limits keep us on this earth.

Most religious teachings result from taking one or two issues and the construction of an entire faith system around them. We all want to please God and do what is right before Him. In doing so, we sometimes focus on one or two lessons Scripture by the indifference or outright exclusion of other scriptures in the Bible. This does not mean that we are wrong, but often a particular issue will obscure our understanding of education itself from the rest of Scripture. If we use this to divide us, then we problems. Our enemy is sin and Satan, and not other believers. Instead, we should seek to understand and accept one another and fight against the devil rather than the other.

God Lives Forever - Matthew 22:32-33, Mark 12:27, Luke 20:38-39 Finally, Jesus concludes this verbal exchange stressing that God is eternal. God speaks about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as they are still alive. This shows its power and the fact that there is a resurrection for which we await with impatience.

If God is the Supreme Being who created us, then there is no problem for him to live forever and to give eternal life to those who will follow his commandments. Our hope is that our state Eternal is well beyond what this world can offer. Our joy is knowing that we are forgiven because we have accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Lord and Savior. If God lives forever and we are His sons through Jesus' death on the cross for our sins, then there is no problem we live with them forever in eternity. May God bless and have a great week!