Religious Murders?

Pastor Jim Kilby • March 25, 2024

It doesn't seem quite right to see the words "religious" and "murders" put together, but the world is full of exactly that. This group of people are murdering that group of people in the name of their god. That group murders another in the name of another god. Religion can have that effect on people. The religious aristocracy who begged Pilate to order Jesus' execution did so from the front porch of the Governor's palace. You see, they couldn't enter the Roman building because they wanted to be ceremonially clean for their religious feast that evening! That night they ate the Passover meal with Jesus' blood on their "ceremonially clean" hands. And before we get too righteous, God's word says that if you or I even so much as "hate our brother" we are guilty of murder. I am not a religious man, and I thank God for that. To the contrary, I am a Christian man. There's a huge difference. A religious man is someone who is doing religious things and keeping religious laws in an attempt to earn God's approval. A Christian is someone who has God's approval based solely on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

"If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." Romans 6:5



Pastor Jim Kilby


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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 18, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 17, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 16, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 15, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 14, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 11, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 10, 2025
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By Pastor Jim Kilby July 9, 2025
Teens today spend huge amounts of time learning concepts that I probably didn't even learn in college. What's more, many solid Christian teens spend a few more hours a week learning theology and biblical concepts that some preachers probably don't understand. But in the end is any of it worth anything? On it's surface, knowledge is really great if you want to build rockets, or teach school, or fly planes, but does any of it teach us to do the two things God commanded above all else: Love God & Love others? Sure, learn all you can while you're in school, and put it to work for the good of mankind, but don't let it get you to thinking you're something special. If you forget to draw near to God, even a theology degree is worthless! "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves god is known by God." 1 Corinthians 8:1b-2  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
By Pastor Jim Kilby July 8, 2025
There's an old psychology concept called "I'm OK, You're OK" that basically teaches us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Of course, it was Jesus who first coined/invented the concept, but without getting stuck on that, I wonder how many would be Christians never really embrace the Lord because they think too highly of themselves. The "I'm OK" seems to move toward, "I'm awesome!" and the "You're OK" seems to move toward, "You're not as good as me." Well, the Bible has plenty to say on the subject, but the bottom line is this. Apart from God, we are far less than "Okay!" "What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'" Romans 3:9-13  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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