Avoiding the Train Wreck

By definition religion is man trying to do for God. Biblical Christianity is God doing for man. We love Him because He first loved us. We know Him because He chose to reveal himself to us. We have His life because He made us alive. Everything that we do in obedience to the Holy Spirit we do because He works in us. Therefore all the praise and all the glory go to God alone. That's why according to Revelation 4:10 the redeemed in heaven will cast their crowns at His feet because he alone is worthy.

This is why religion always hates the absolute sovereignty of God because it strips away the pride of man's accomplishment. In this entire passage Jesus undermined everything these people were trusting in. They thought they were already chosen of God. They thought they could obtain the favor of God by what they did. The attitude of the Pharisee in the temple praying with himself "God I thank you I am not like other men" was in the heart of every one of these people. It is only when we embrace the sovereign purpose of God that we can with confidence freely proclaim His mercy to the world.