(Genesis) Genesis 3:10 Intro
Satan's method of temptation is to sow doubt and unbelief, while God's approach to man is to begin with the heart and focus on the inside.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that religion can separate people from God. He uses the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to illustrate this point. When Adam and Eve heard the voice of God, they ran away, showing that religion does not lead to a true relationship with God. The preacher also distinguishes Christianity from religion, stating that Christianity is not about external rituals but about a personal relationship with Christ. He emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth and inner transformation, as opposed to merely outward appearances of religious practices.
Full Transcript
You see, Satan in this temptation wanted to come between the soul and God. In other words, he wanted to wean man from God, win man over to himself and to become the God of man. The temptations, you see, of the flesh would not have appealed to man in that day anyway.
He wasn't tempted to steal or lie to covet. He was just tempted to doubt God. What was the trouble if the rich young ruler didn't believe? You have the parable of the sower.
The seed didn't fall on good ground. Or the parable of the tares. You see, here are those that would not believe God.
Satan's method, you see. First, sow it was good for food. Second, it's pleasant to the eye and to be desired.
He works from the outside to the inside, without to within. And God begins with man's heart. Have you ever noticed that? Religion is something you rub on the outside.
God doesn't begin with religion. And may I make a distinction here? Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is Christ.
There are a lot of religions. And the Lord Jesus, He went right to the very fountainhead. He said, ye must be born again.
And then He said to the Pharisees who were very religious on the outside, He says, make the inside of the platter clean. Why, He said, you're just like a mausoleum, beautiful on the outside with marble and flowers, but inside dead men's bones. What a picture.
Their eyes were open, their conscience. And they knew they were naked. May I say to you, there's no really new style in fig leaves.
Men are still going to church and going through religious exercises and good works. And what happened? When they heard the voice of the Lord God in the garden, they ran from God. Religion will separate you from God.
And Adam's lost. The Lord God called unto him and said, where are you, Adam? Adam's lost. It's God seeking him and not man seeking God.
There's no confession on his part. Will you notice that?
Sermon Outline
- I. Satan's Method of Temptation
- A. Sow doubt and unbelief
- B. Work from the outside to the inside
- II. God's Approach to Man
- A. Begins with the heart
- B. Focuses on the inside
- III. The Problem of Religion
- A. External practices do not lead to true faith
- B. Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with Christ
- IV. The Consequences of Unbelief
- A. Separation from God
- B. Running from God
Key Quotes
“Religion is something you rub on the outside. God doesn't begin with religion. And may I make a distinction here? Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is Christ.” — J. Vernon McGee
“You see, here are those that would not believe God.” — J. Vernon McGee
“There are a lot of religions. And the Lord Jesus, He went right to the very fountainhead. He said, ye must be born again.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We must be careful not to let external religious practices separate us from God.
- True faith begins with a relationship with Christ, not just external practices.
- We must be born again to have a true relationship with God.