Human Trafficking in the Church — Part 18
Recognizing the Six Characteristics of the Religious Spirit of Babylon
“And they said, ‘Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven’”—Genesis 11:4 (NASB)
4. Working for Spiritual Approval
Those who built the tower of Babel sought a way to reach heaven through human effort. This is the basis for every false religion that has ever existed since then.
But Jesus has told us clearly that He alone is the Door to everlasting life.
“So Jesus said again, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).’”—John 10:7 (AMP)
There is no way to reach heaven through human effort. We must all enter through the Door that Jesus has provided for us.
“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.”—John 10:1 (AMP)
This is a foundational truth of Christianity. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. In order to reach heaven, we must place our faith in what Jesus has already done for us.
“God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift. It is not based on anything you have done. No one can brag about earning it.”—Ephesians 2:7-9 (NIRV)
Fulfilling the Law Through Love
Trying to win approval through human effort is a heavy yoke that takes its toll on people who subject themselves to it. We can never do enough to satisfy its demands.
Jesus calls us to make an exchange. He wants to relieve us of the heavy yokes we have been struggling under. In exchange, He invites us to take His yoke, which is light and easy to bear.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP)
When we accept Jesus and what He has already done for us, we, in turn, are accepted by God. We are accepted and loved totally, completely, just as we are. There is no need to keep struggling to be accepted. It is done forever. The struggles are over. We are His kids. Daddy loves us with all His heart.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”—Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV)
Before He died for us, Jesus prayed to our Father God and said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message… . May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:20-23 NLT).
Now, instead of serving a law of works, we are free to follow love. Ironically, now that we are free from service to the law, we can *fulfill *the law through love. This is the same law that we were *unable *to fulfill through human efforts.
“Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one’s fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].
“The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
“Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.”—Romans 13:8-10 (AMPC)
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”—Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)
