Rules Without Relationship

Some people think that Christianity is all about the rules. God just tells us what to do, and it is too hard. Who would want to worship a God like that? Where do they get that idea from? As we continue our series called "Tested" we find that perspective was also quite common to some of the sects of Judaism in Jesus' day. But Jesus sets them straight. Faith in God is not about keeping all the rules and then you die. It is about a relationship with God that starts right now and lasts forever. When we die, God receives us into an even more glorious future life than we experience now. God has loving future intentions towards us that are beyond our imagination. If we miss the relationship with God part, and his loving good intentions, our view of God will shrivel into the concept that God is just an unhappy rule maker. Even from the beginning of the Bible, God has shown himself to be a God who gives those who trust him the more amazing lives than they could ever imagine.