Religion vs Christianity

In 1 Chronicles 17, the chapter starts out with David ambitious about building a house for God and the ark of the covenant.

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in…'” (1 Chronicles 17:3-4 ESV)

Then at the end of the chapter, we hear David say:

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you. (1 Chronicles 17:25 ESV)

The difference between religion and Christianity comes down to who is doing the building.

Religion is man’s attempt to build something for God. The construction materials may be good deeds, moral standards, charity towards others, or religious devotion.

Christianity is God’s redemptive plan to build something for us. The construction materials are the blood of Jesus Christ, His righteousness, His atonement, His sacrifice, and nothing less.

David had ambition to please God. But his ambition quickly matured into steadfast confidence in what God was building.

Are you confident in what God has already built? Or are you still struggling with ambition to please Him in your own religious efforts? Great peace comes to those who rest in God’s finished work on Calvary’s cross. I think the Apostle Paul understood the blueprints of God’s construction plan when he penned:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:7-14 ESV)

Find great courage and confidence in what God has already built for your past, present and future redemption!