speakinglife2souls

[speakinglife2souls]

# **SPIRITUALITY NOT RELIGIOSITY**

# At this juncture in our study of **relational empowerment** it is important to make a **distinction **between what we have just described as “***spiritual enlightenment***” and simply being **religious**. Many people get the two “confused” because of the **natural human tendency** to equate spirituality and religiosity. To them, spirituality is simply a new lifestyle of “**religious activities**” such as church attendance, or membership and faithful involvement in a religious organization.

# Those who regularly engage in such religious activities or rituals are thought to be “spiritual” as opposed to those who do not.

# Because of this confusion it is best to “**operationally define**” our terms.

# **Religion may be defined** as a system of rules and customs based on orthodoxy that is generally imposed on individuals who are born into the system and raised to obey its practices without question. It has a tendency to formalize, ritualize, and legalize “**individual experience and expression**” of spirituality; and is generally concerned with understanding and applying some form of spirituality to improve the human experience while also reinforcing the religious rules and customs.

# **Spirituality**, on the other hand, is more fundamental than the various religions that may grow out of it. It is highly personal, unique to the individual, experienced from within, and cannot be explained or contained in a “***system of rules and customs***.” It is rooted in the “**spiritual nature**” of the individual, not in the collective experience of the culture. At its core, spirituality is the recognition of a spiritual reality, the personal realization of that spiritual reality, and the expression of reverence for that which is spiritual.

# **Because spiritual enlightenment is so vital to relational empowerment, it should come as no surprise that the enemy would seek to “undermine it with a counterfeit.”**

# In an effort to maintain our “***false identity***” in the flesh, the ***“carnal mind”*** immediately seeks to “**feign acceptability**” and, therefore, “***worth***” by turning all of ***its*** attention to becoming “***religious***.” ***It*** is all too happy to “***dress itself up and take itself to church***.” There ***“it”*** can engage in ***its*** own plan of “**self-improvement for *its* own glory**.”

# ***Remember, false assumptions of personal worth don’t always look false!***

# **The evil thoughts of *“I will be worthy if…”***can be completed with **“good looking *religious* activities”** such as church attendance, worship activities, and an outward compliance with a moral set of standards.

# **The end result of such infantile thinking in the baby or immature Christian is what Paul warned as *“falling from grace.”***

# **1) Such was the case for the Pharisees of Jesus day.**

# **2) In this sense *religion* has always been the “*enemy*” of the cross of Christ.**

# Biblical history records many examples of the terrible consequences of religiosity beginning with Cain murdering his brother, Abel. The fleshly attempt of Sarah and Abraham to fulfill the promise of God through ***“their*** ***own natural means***;” the repeated failure of Israel as a nation to keep the law of Moses; the rejection and persecution of the prophets; and the “**continual opposition**” of the Pharisees to the **grace** and ***truth*** of ***Christ*** all illustrate the historical tendency toward and ***dangers* of *religiosity*.**

# **Satan being able to transform himself into an angel of light and his servants into ministers of the gospel demonstrates the *deception* of *religiosity*.**

# His most subtle lies are based on “**half-truths**” that often sound religious and, on the surface “appear” to be good. The “**seducing spirits**” Paul warns of in **[2 Timothy](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A12-15&version=NKJV)** are “**religious in nature**” suggesting that we may “**guarantee our worth**” as persons by a flurry of religious activities, emotional experiences, and intellectual insights.

# **The blinding power of Satan “*always involves*” turning our “*attention*” away from the “*good news of all that God ALONE has done for us*” to focus on “*what we need to do, feel, or think*” to make ourselves “*worthy*.”**

# **This is the “*core of religiosity*” that literally “*denies the gospel*” and blasphemes the work of *Christ* on *our behalf*.**

# As mentioned above, religiosity may be defined as a system of rules and customs based on orthodoxy. It is developed by the “**natural tendency**” to formalize, ritualize, and legalize individual experience and expression of spirituality. Those who are “**trapped**” in religiosity are generally concerned with understanding and applying some form of spirituality to improve the human experience; but, are also “**compelled**” to reinforce the “religious rules” and customs they have developed. Maintenance of the rules and ***“appearances”*** becomes their ***“top priority”*** as opposed to **“trusting *God* and *Loving* others.”** As a result, most of the historical crimes against humanity were committed in the name of religion (witness the period of crusades as well as the modern-day jihads).

# **Spirituality**, on the other hand is more fundamental than the various religions in that it is **rooted** in the ***“spiritual nature”*** of the individual. **True spirituality **cannot be explained or contained in a “**system of rules and customs**” because it originates in the ***“spiritual nature”*** of the individual, **“*NOT* in the collective experience”** of the culture.

# At its core **TRUE SPIRITUALITY** is the recognition of a spiritual reality **(OUR FOREVER UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS VIA BEING BORN OF GOD BY GOD’S GRACE ALONE BY HIS GIFT OF FAITH ALONE IN JESUS CHRIST)**, the personal realization of that spiritual reality, and the expression of reverence for that which is spiritual. By definition, then, ***“true spirituality”*** is the result of an ***authentic* and *personal* faith** rather than a **toxic faith**.

[speakinglife2souls]

THE HOLY DIVINE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

God's* *Holy Divine Agape Love* is, Unconditional, Sacrificial, Eternal/Consistent, Initiating, and Intelligent

# This Love, God’s Love, “forever fully and completely” satisfies the **“need”** of the ***"soul"*** of a person for Love and respect, security and significance, i.e. worth or value as a person. God’s Love is freely and forever given by God’s grace alone by and through God’s gift of faith alone in the risen Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord, God the Son, The Son of God.

Fallen Natural Human love* is: Conditional, Needy, Convenient, Passive/Reactive, Temporary and Codependently Romantic

# This so called “love,” is based on natural human selfish deceitful lust, toxic relational co-dependency and self-centered pride always with one goal. That goal being, in order to obtain by any means or cost, satisfaction of the **“need”** of the ***soul*** of a person for Love and respect, security and significance, i.e. obtain worth or value as a person. Fallen natural human “so called” love, must be earned in some way shape or form by those seeking to obtain it in order to feel worthy or valuable as a person.

In this [(eternal) union and fellowship with Him], (Agape Divine) Love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment (GK: krisis) [with assurance and boldness to face Him (always)]; **because as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in (Agape Divine) Love **[dread does not exist]. **But perfect** (complete, full-grown) [Agape Divine] **Love drives out fear,** because fear involves [the expectation of Divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment/punishment] is not perfected in (Agape Divine) Love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s Love]. We (Agape Divine) Love, because He first Loved us. ***1 John 4:17-19 Amplified Bible (AMP) - [Expanded and Amplified for a greater "fullness of meaning" rendering of the Biblical passage for greater and more complete understanding]**

# Christ Jesus is the embodiment of the fullness of the Godhead and the holy infinite eternal Divine Agape Perfect Love of God. He by God's initiative and doing ALONE, by His eternal Holy Spirit truly forever lives in ***Perfect Love*** in all blood bought **"born again"** children of God! We truly forever are One and truly are forever inseparably joined to and with Him! We truly forever are in forever union with Him in our ***"spirits"*** as Christians! This treasure of Christ Himself forever living in us as Christians, is in jars of clay so that Christ Jesus receives all the glory, honor and praise for what, and all that God ALONE by GOD's grace alone, has done and will do for us and in and through us; that was and is impossible for us to do for ourselves! All in and by God's grace alone, by God's gift of faith alone in Jesus Christ that led to us as Christians being **"born again,"** ***born of God*** by God's Spirit from above; ALL in and by ***His*** **GREAT MATCHLESS **holy infinite eternal ***Divine Agape Perfect Love*, Life **and **truth** wherewith He first Loved, and truly **FOREVER Loves** us. We truly forever Love Him and He truly forever Loves us as Christians! **God ALONE has forever made that so through Christ! **

# ***Christ Jesus* Himself *IS* God's mysterious plan!**

# *For God **has NOT** **given us a spirit of fear,** but of **power** and of **Love** and of a **sound mind.*** **2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV) **

# ***[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us** with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor/by God's doing alone) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [before time began/eternal ages ago].*

# *[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us] through the appearing of ***our* Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled, abolished, dismantled, destroyed death *and made it of no effect and brought* Life and immortality (incorruptibility, imperishability, immunity to and from eternal death) *to light through the* Gospel.*** **2 Timothy 1:9-10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) - [Expanded and Amplified for a greater "fullness of meaning" rendering of the Biblical passage for greater and more complete understanding]**

# *Now, I pray that the God of peace Himself will make you holy [sanctified] in all aspects, [completely] [(**Gk: ἁγιάζω hagiázō** - "sanctify" and **Gk: ὁλοτελής holotelēs** - "in all aspects = all parts or segments of your entire total whole being ”) = that is to continue to completely consecrate and dedicate your entire being to God, as well as continue to separate you completely from profane things, as well as continue to purify and cleanse your whole being completely and totally through the complete and total renewal of your spirit, soul and body] and that [then] all your spirit, soul and body be maintained and be found flawless, blameless and beyond reproach until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God WILL make this happen, because the One Who has called you is FAITHFUL.* **1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - [Expanded and Amplified for a greater "fullness of meaning" rendering of the Biblical passage for greater and more complete understanding]**

# ***If I can supernaturally speak various human languages ​​and even angel languages, but I have no Love, I am like a clanging metal or a ringing bell, I am annoying and irritating.*** *I can have the gift of prophesying and knowing all the secrets of the universe and all of creation. I can also have all knowledge and have a faith that moves mountains. But if I don't have Love, I am nothing. I can give everything I have to help others, including the poor and even offer my body to be burned.* **But, if I don't have *Love,* that is of no use to me at all, it does not gain or benefit me at all.**

# ***Love is*** *patient, Love is kind. Love does not envy or boast, nor is it proud. Love does not dishonor others; is not selfish (self-seeking-selfishness); Love does not get angry easily; Love does not keep or cling to any record or history of mistakes, harm, injury, wrong or injustice suffered; that is, it does not take into account or hold against a transgressor an evil that has been suffered [does not pay attention to an evil that is suffered]. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes (it is always assured and confident) and Love always perseveres.*

# ***Love (Agape)* never fails.** *Someday, the gift of prophesying will cease. The gift of speaking in tongues will end. As for knowledge, it will pass [it will lose its value and be replaced by truth / the gift of special knowledge will disappear / Love will remain long after the words of knowledge are forgotten]. Now only partially, or in part do we know and prophesy, but when the perfect comes, all that is in partial or in part, will be finished and will end.*

# *When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. But as an adult, I stopped thinking, reasoning and behaving like a child. It is the same with us spiritually in our souls as sons and daughters of God. Now we see everything as the dim reflection of a dark mirror, but when the perfect comes, we will see and know God face to face. Now my knowledge is partial and incomplete, but later my knowledge will be complete. I will know God as He knows me.*

# *Now these three things remain: faith, hope (certainty / confident expectation of the future) and Love, but the greatest of all of these is* ***Love (Agape).*** **1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - [Expanded and Amplified for a greater "fullness of meaning" rendering of the Biblical passage for greater and more complete understanding]**

# *Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!* **2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)**

# *Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].* **2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible (AMP)**

# *Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.* **2 Corinthians 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV)**

# *Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.* **2 Corinthians 5:17 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)**

# *And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you... At that day you will know that I Am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.* **John 14:16-18, 20 New King James Version (NKJV)**

# *“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are One: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have Loved them as You have Loved Me.* **John 17:20-23 New King James Version (NKJV)**

[speakinglife2souls]

[speakinglife2souls]

[speakinglife2souls]

**The Omnipotence of God**

Every theologian is sooner or later asked a question by a student that is posed as an impossible nut to crack. The old query is this: Can God make a rock so big that He cannot move it? At first glance this question seems to impale the theologian on the horns of an insolvable dilemma. If we answer yes, then we are seemingly saying there is something God cannot do; He cannot move the rock. If we answer no, then we are seemingly saying that God cannot build such a rock. Either way we answer we are at first glance seemingly forced to place limits on God’s power.

The short quick simple answer is to anyone asking that seemingly intelligent sounding rigged "gotcha" question is, "NO," God cannot make a rock so big that He cannot move it! But, NOT for the reasons you think! God is INFINITE, Omnipotent (infinitely Almighty), Omniscient, Omnipresent, etc! There is and can be nothing or no one bigger or more or stronger or smarter or greater than infinite by definition!

This problem resembles the other teaser: What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? We can conceive of an irresistible force. We can likewise conceive of an immovable object. What we cannot conceive of is the coexistence of the two. If an irresistible force ever met an immovable object and the object moved, it could no longer properly be called immovable. If the object did not move, then our “irresistible” force could no longer properly be called irresistible. We see, then, that reality cannot contain both—an irresistible force and an immovable object.

Meanwhile back to the immovable rock. The dilemma posed here (as in the case of the irresistible force) is a ***false dilemma*.** **It is false because it is erected on a false premise.** It assumes that “Omnipotence” means that God can do anything. Yet, as a theological term, Omnipotence does not mean that God can do anything. The Bible indicates several things that God cannot do. He cannot lie **([Hebrews 6:18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+6%3A18&version=NKJV)).** He cannot die. He cannot be eternal and created. He cannot act against His nature. He cannot be God and not be God at the same time and in the same respect.

What Omnipotence does mean is that God holds all power over His creation. No part of creation stands outside the scope of His Sovereign power and/or control. Therefore, there is a correct answer to the dilemma of the rock. The nut can be cracked. The answer is no. God cannot build a rock so big that He could not move it. Why? If God ever built such a rock, He would be creating something over which He had no power. He would be destroying His own Omnipotence. God cannot stop being God; He cannot not be Omnipotent (infinitely Almighty). But, again, focus on the simple truth that God is INFINITE, Omnipotent (infinitely Almighty), Omniscient (infinite in knowledge, wisdom and understanding), Omnipresent (infinite eternally [from everlasting to everlasting] in presence in space, place and time), etc., that are all created by God! There is and can be nothing or no one bigger or more or stronger or smarter or greater than infinite by definition!

When the virgin Mary was puzzled by Gabriel’s announcement to her of the conception of Jesus in her womb, the angel said to her: *“For with God nothing will be impossible”* **([Luke 1:37]**

Here the angel was reminding Mary of God’s Omnipotence. I guess even angels are capable of using hyperbole. Narrowly considered, the angel expressed bad theology. But the broader Biblical understanding points to the meaning that God’s power reaches far beyond that of the creature. What may be impossible for us is possible with Him.

**To say that nothing is impossible with God means that *He can do whatever He wills to do*.** His power is not limited by finite limitations.

**Nothing or “no-thing” can restrict His power.** ***Yet His power is still restricted by What and Who He is.***

Sin is impossible for God because God cannot sin without willing to sin. Sin is impossible for God that alone is Immutable (unchanging) with no beginning and no end, eternal, “from everlasting to everlasting.” God is the Sovereign Self-Sustaining uncreated Creator Omnipotent, Omniscient, All Wise, Omnipresent God. God is the perfectly eternally righteous and holy God by Gods very immutable nature, essence and character of God being infinite Almighty Holy Divine Love. God as such, possesses eternally the absolute infinite security and significance of God by nature and essence that is intrinsic with and of Gods nature and essence. By Gods nature, God cannot sin because God never has, never will and can never have any use whatsoever to, or for sin.

Sin by definition is “unbelief,” not taking God at God’s Word, not trusting God and/or not believing God, God the Father or God the Son Jesus Christ or God the Holy Spirit. Sin is also not believing in God the Father, in God the Son Jesus Christ and in God the Holy Spirit. God cannot do this either. God cannot not believe God or not believe in God. God does what God wills in perfect Divine Love, truth, justice, knowledge, wisdom, righteousness and holiness with all power and authority over all that God created. God does what God wills without any confidence and/or capability, inadequacy and/or dysfunction issues as is normal with fallen corrupted humanity. God cannot sin because God never wills it by God’s immutable (unchanging) nature. Furthermore, God alone being infinite Almighty Holy Divine Love, alone defines what sin is as the eternally Sovereign Almighty All Wise Perfectly Righteous, Just, Faithful and Holy Triune God with all power and authority over all creation. Thinking, believing or saying that, the only One True and Living Triune God could ever sin against or is against God, this God cannot do either by God’s nature. It’s a “*false argument and assumption*.” God is not now, or ever has been, or ever will be corrupt or corruptible, dysfunctional and self-destructive as is the current natural fallen corrupted creation and any current natural fallen corrupted humanity without Christ Jesus. God has never and cannot ever commit sin because God never wills it, God never can will it; and God never can sin, are however all true of God, by the truth of God’s very immutable infinite eternal nature. Job got to the heart of this matter and subject of God’s omnipotence when he said: *“I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You”* **[Job 42:2

For the Christian, God’s Omnipotence is a great source of comfort. We know that the same power God displayed in creating the universe is at His disposal to assure our salvation. He showed that power in the Exodus from Egypt. He displayed His power over death in the resurrection of Christ. We know that no part of creation can frustrate His plans for the future. There are no maverick molecules loose in the universe that could possibly disrupt His plans. Though powers and forces of this creation, world or universe threaten to undo, we have no fear. We can rest in the knowledge that nothing can withstand the power of God. He is the One Who is Almighty.

**SUMMARY**

**1.** Omnipotence does not mean that God can do anything. He cannot act against His nature.

**2.** Omnipotence refers to God’s sovereign power, authority, and control over the created order.

**3.** Omnipotence, though a threat to the wicked, is a source of comfort to the believer.

**4.** The same power God exhibited in creation is displayed in our redemption.

**5.** Nothing in the universe, in all creation can thwart or frustrate God’s plans.

# **Biblical passages for reflection:**

# **[Genesis 17:1]

# **[Psalm 115:3]

# **[Romans 11:36, 3:19-31, 5:17, 7:7-12, 14:23]

# **[Ephesians 1:11]

# **[Hebrews 1:3, 13:8]

# **[1 John 1:5, 3:9, 5:18, 4:7-8, 16-19]

# **The bulk content and construct of this topical study was taken from *“Essential Truths of the Christian Faith”* – By R.C. Sproul**