Both rest and liberty flow from the pure grace gospel of the all-sufficiency of Christ and His cross-work for us, and His ongoing work within us. This also means that, though you certainly may, you’re not required to attend or participate in its religious activities of any church organization.

Assembling in genuine non-judgmental fellowship with just a few others in a home is what we are usually limited to these days since so few will embrace the truth of Paul’s “gospel of the grace of God.” A home gathering, however small, is an assembly of “the church… the body of Christ.” Meeting to study His word of truth in spirit is what is important. Scripture reveals that in Paul’s time, his grace believers met only in homes, untying themselves from the Synagogues of Apostate Israel. Paul wrote that a home gathering of the believers constituted a meeting of the church and that they all could function in an unscripted way;  “How is it then, brethren? … when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying (building up). (1 Corinthians 14:26)

When most pastors of the organized church hear the truth of God’s pure grace and the functioning of the members of the body of Christ it signals a threat to him and to his very livelihood. I’ve actually had a Pastor say, “Art, I agree about the grace you are sharing…. but if I don’t preach a little law these people won’t come to church.” That statement lets the cat out of the bag. In manmade, man controlled, religious organizations, the pure Bible truth of the Lord is not at its center, consequently, a man resorts to holding it ‘his church’ together by employing “the LAW.”

Why is this? It’s because men love the authority and power of their religious fiefdoms… this appeals to the flesh of man. By contrast, under Paul’s pure grace gospel there’s no need of religious authoritarianism.

If the liberating “word of truth” is “rightly divided,” and taught in accord with the order that Paul explains in his epistles, “the Spirit of life” will touch and move within the genuine believers hearts and they will live and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Under Paul’s message of pure grace we are rid of the liturgy and the undispensational doctrines and ceremonies of religion, such as water baptism, confession of sins, tithing, commandment keeping, Sabbath-day. These are all of Israel’s program and unnecessary for God’s salvation and favor today. Yet, Paul makes it clear that we are ‘not entirely lawless,’ for we as Christ indwelled believers now have the inner “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” leading, guiding, and restraining us from within.

Religions external laws, rituals, and practices do NOT apply to us during today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2).

At the time Jesus appeared on the scene ‘the Jews Religion’ had acquired many manmade ‘Religious Traditions’ that we not of God. They didn’t apply, so Jesus often offended them as seen in the four gospel accounts. Thus, Jesus said;

“in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)

“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” (Matthew 15:6).

Today’s denominations also have their own manmade religious rules to puff up men’s self-righteousness, but to God it’s all “filthy (menstrual) rags” (Isa. 64:6, cf. Isa 30:22). Just as a woman’s menstruation means no life is present, their religious works had nothing to do with the Lord’s life working in their Religious practices. That’s why some will say, “That church is dead.” – nothing there touches their hearts.

Paul says pure grace is totally apart from any ‘works requirement… for salvation’ … or to gain God’s favor. Under Paul’s grace gospel, man’s works are totally irrelevant! Faith alone …in Christ alone …is what God is looking for today if we are to be saved and thrive by enjoying the fruit of Christ’s life within us.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

“… for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom. 11:6)

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:” (Col. 2:16)

God’s favor or blessing is assured for all believers at all times because the words of Paul say;

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who Hath (already) Blessed Us With All Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places In Christ:” (Eph. 1:3).

To live under grace is to live by faith under the perpetual blessing of God. Our real blessings are not temporal, they are spiritual, unseen, and eternal. E.g., We have already been endowed with the very “mind of Christ” in our spirit (1Cor 2:16). We already have His “righteousness” imputed to us (Rom. 4:22-24) and we already have His “wisdom” (1Cor 1:30) available to us by His ever-present “Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2) is in us … to guide and enlighten us in dealing with the details of life.

So, we do not work for God in order to receive any blessing from God… for Christ already “hath given unto us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2Peter 1:3).

If one doesn’t see and appreciate the value of God’s Son crucified and His finished work of the cross, then God couldn’t care less about their so-called “good works”! Now, if you preach what I just wrote… most of the religious world will hate you. Jesus promised.  “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

The Lord Jesus Christ never hesitated in exposing religious error. He did it over and over and over again. Just read His scathing rebukes of Israel’s religious leaders in Matthew 23 and John 8. Look at Mark 7:7-13 and John 2:13-17. These words were certainly not the “Jesus-is-nothing-but-love-and-kindness” that we hear from shallow Christian preaching today. The Lord never took it lightly when people were deceived by Religion in His name and entangling them in Satan’s evil world Religious System. It was a very serious matter. He actually called some of His religious audience “vipers,” “hypocrites,” “whited sepulchres [graves!],” “children of the devil,” “children of hell.” Paul even named the names of those who had “forsaken” him and his “gospel of the grace of God.”

In Jesus’s earthly ministry He proclaimed the truth to Israel (Matt. 15:24, 10:5-6), announcing and presenting a foretaste of the Kingdom of God to come on earth. For “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17). Jesus’ unreligious way was offensive to Apostate Israel’s leaders. The light of the truth that Jesus was and taught exposed the darkness that had evolved within Apostate Israel, so they ultimately “killed the Prince of Peace.”

Let’s look again at 2 Timothy 2:24-26: “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶And (so) that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Sadly, most in those in religions organizations are actually deceived, held captive, stuck in Satan’s snare, the ‘religious’ law-trap… even thinking they need the organization. We need to be sure that we give these captives sound Bible doctrine, not with the intention of pointless contending, but with the purpose of allowing them the information needed to escape this “snare of the Devil.” We must be Spirit led. For, if we fail to approach the situation “in the Spirit” we could wind up in the flesh, finding ourselves in the snare of the Devil too... needing recovery for ourselves!

If you don’t get anything else from this study, remember, the fact is that Doctrinal Truth Divides Us from Religion and the Religionist! You can expect it.

Those in the liberal apostate ecumenical movement churches (those who believe nothing strongly) have already figured this out; so, they choose to fellowship around anything other than Christ and doctrine! They have their feel-good works, speculations, activism projects, their feelings, and they are united therein. These organizations are totally void of the word of faith, consequently, void of God’s power, they are wanting of sound Bible doctrine. The real power is seen only by faith in the words of God “rightly divided.”

Thus, Paul wrote beware of man’s religious “tradition” and stay with “the word of God” rightly divided.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

“… Faith cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)