>>It is the work of God in us ... not our work ... not of us. Jesus alone has done it all. And what He gives to men, He gives freely. We will either receive it, or not. But the offer is extended to ALL people everywhere.
>
>First 4 words of your rebuttal are "its not about religion"....then in next 3
>sentences you mention:
>Jesus - 3 times
>Holy Spirit - 1 time
>'He' (meaning god) - 4 times
>God - 4 times
>Holy - 3 times
>
>Don't try to ... say it's not about religion, then spew out... that.


Religion is different. Religion is "I do this because God said to." Religion is "I pray before every meal because God said to." Religion is a thing people do ... because of something else.

Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is not religion. He changes men on the inside. That change is what brings forth the actions of praying before meals, or doing the things God said. It's not done for religion. It's done for love, for respect, because we now honor those things of God in a way that's from the inside and not from outward instruction, as through an instruction manual.

It's like if you had grandparents who didn't want you to wear your shoes in the house. Because you loved your grandparents, you would honor their request and take your shoes off at the door.

It's different with following Christ though. It's more complete, more full because it involves the Spirit and not just the mind (as it would be with your grandparents -- you would honor them even if you thought in your own mind it was a silly rule, because you loved them -- but being born again changes you on the inside so you no longer think as you used to, the belief you have now through faith brings upon your life a reality that defeats men's reason, men's rationale, men's explanation of things because God's Spirit is powerful and is literally truth ... we cannot help but follow Him because we now hear that truth, we know it, and we pursue it).

I pray someday this makes sense to you, Victor. Jesus is love. Love for you. Love for me. Love for the entire world. His hands are extended (literally) to all people. He wants a relationship, not a religion. He wants to restore men, not condemn them. But sin is heinous and evil. God is putting it away. Forever.