Religion Says Do, Jesus Says Done.

I hear the statement quite frequently, “oh, I’m not religious.” This is usually given in response to my explanation of who I am, why I’m in Portugal, etc. I’m not religious either; I have a relationship. The thing about religion is, it’s all about us trying to get to God. The thing about relationship is, it’s all about God reaching down to us. As a team we’re studying Hebrews, and we recently read through the book together. There’s a passage from Hebrews 10 that really shows this concept of religion vs. relationship.

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” (vs.1) We can’t be good enough. We can’t follow the rules - as imperfect humans, no matter how hard we try, it never works. And we can’t “do” anything to make up for the things we do wrong. We can’t do good things to try and make up for the bad things.

“Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.”(vs.2-3) Doing things, making sacrifices to God, making deals with God, doesn’t work. If it did, we could do one really good thing, and then we wouldn’t feel guilty for our mistakes. But trying to do things, to in a sense “buy” our way out, only reminds us of how broken and flawed we really are.

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (vs.4) It is impossible for us to do or give anything that could be enough to make us right before God.

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” (vs.11) How many people are caught in the lie of trying to be a good enough person, thinking that will make up for all the things we do wrong?

In the Old Testament, priests would make sacrifices to make up for the sins of the people. Today, we often try to do good things to make up for our sins. And yet, this passage says that that’s not good enough. It’s never been good enough, and it never will be good enough. You see, religion is all about us trying to get to God. It’s about trying to do something that will somehow make us better, and make us able go to heaven after we die, or rest in a state of peace. But the thing is, that doesn’t work. No matter what we do, we can’t do enough to make ourselves right with God. Give me a list of rules and, let’s be honest, odds are I’m not going to be able to keep all of them. Religion is about keeping all the rules, and trying to make up for it, to punish yourself or do something good in exchange, when you don't. That's not possible. That’s where the relationship comes in.

“But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time once sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”(vs.12-14) Jesus did it. He made the one sacrifice. I love the expression “Religion says do, Jesus says done.” Jesus made the one sacrifice and he said “it is finished.” (John 19:30) It’s not about religion - we’re not trying to reach up to God. He already reached down to us.