Tradition

 AATHAVAN 🖋️ 660 ⛪ November 18, 2022 Friday

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." ( Luke 3 : 8 )

Today's verse says that if we are boasting about the congregations we belong to and about ourselves without living a repentant life, then it is of no use. When John the Baptist baptized, many came to him to be baptized. It is to them that John addresses today's verse.

The Jews had a pride in calling themselves the people of Abraham. We read that in many places in the Bible. For example:-

"And they said: Abraham is our father". (John 8:39)

"They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man" ( John 8 : 33 )

"Are you greater than our father Abraham?" They said. (John 8:53)

Only to these people John say, Do not say that you are the people of Abraham, instead, live a repentant life.

In the same way, even today, people boast of their various traditions and their congregation  and fail to know the truth and do not live the repentant life that the scriptures say.

Catholic Christians say, "We are the Church formed by Jesus Christ. All others were only split from us; we are originals. We have a history of church leaders from Peter to the present Pope." They say.

Churches like CSI and Lutheran say, "Our church is the church with the right doctrine. Martin Luther has corrected the wrong doings of Catholic Church and reformed us. We alone have the teachings of the early church created by Christ."

Pentecostal churches that claim themselves to be the only spiritual churches say, "Ours is the spiritual church. We are the ones who do spiritual worship as the scriptures say. All others are nominal churches." They say.

This is how Jesus Christ rebuked traditional boastful people. Looking at such men, he said, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." ( Mark 7 : 13 ).

Beloved, there is no point in boasting about our congregation. That pride cannot redeem us. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can save us. What is important is that one should receive the assurance of sins washed away by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the redemption experience. A person who has experienced Christ's redemption will not boast of vain traditions. He will live with a heart that loves all men (even non-Christians).

Let us turn from traditional boasting to the Lord Jesus Christ; Let's experience redemption and live a life of witness.

Message :- Bro. M. Geo Prakash Contact- 96889 33712