Genesis 3:7 ( And the eyes of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewn fig leaves together and made themselves aprons)

After the fall of man in Eden, Adam and his wife couldn’t appear in God’s presence again because of the shame of their nakedness, they hid themselves among the trees in the garden and covered their nakedness with leaves.

God couldn’t find them in their original position, he called them out and they answered that they were not the same as they were again, fear of the unknown has engulfed them, they were afraid of the consequences of their disobedience, but God in his mercy made clothing for them to replace what they were covered with and chased them out of Eden forever.

The coat of skins God made to cover them instead of the leaves was the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world, to deliver them from self-righteousness, as they did not see anything bad in what they did but continued to shift blame.

This is the beginning of religion, when man hides behind the trees from the presence of the living God, fearing the repercussions of their deeds.

Religion won’t make you see yourself the way you are or the way God sees you but hide behind the trees to blame others for your predicament.

Religion made some people move from church to mountain to get rid of their invisible enemies while the real enemy is hiding under their clothes to torment them.

Jesus came to find man from his lost state and shed his blood on the cross to cover the nakedness of sin, he introduced himself as the only way to the Father, to clothe us with the garment of his righteousness instead of our own effort since the fall.

Religion is the enemy of the truth it fought against Jesus Christ at the inception of his earthly ministry, you wont see yourself but continue to see others to remove the specks in their eyes while the log in your eyes remains untouched.

Unfortunately, many churchgoers are still under the bondage of religion, they pay tithes, come to service daily, and even preach on the pulpit and they compare themselves with tax collectors out there and the prostitute on the street thinking they are holier than they are.

Religion sets your standards of holiness instead of following the standards of the living God.

A church where Religion is being practiced will never follow the truth of the gospel, and will definitely chase whoever is pursuing the truth out of their congregation.

The Bible declares that the world hates the truth because its works are evil, it’s the church that is under the control of the world that’ll hate the truth sent to bring them out of religious bondage.

Satan is the originator of all religions, that is why he was able to kill Jesus to protect the errors inflicted by it, he makes man find a way out by himself and he is the one who’ll bring about his own ways of finding God.

A religious man cannot serve God genuinely or worship him in spirit and in truth, it’s against his nature. He seeks after God to find his favour but in his own way, Jesus came to show fallen man the way to the presence of God. He seeks the lost, and whoever God brings to him will never be cast out.

No one can seek God himself, it’s whoever God finds that he’ll bring to Jesus Christ, whoever is not found by God will remain in the bondage of religion till he dies.

No rituals or religious penance can cover your nakedness unless you accept the sacrifice of the Son of God, the lamb slain from the foundations of the world that was meant to be your coverage.

All religion is a fig leaf solution to human depravity, they killed a ram and a cow to cover their sins, some go on fasting to remove their sin with its consequences, they perform rituals and bathe in the river or sea to take it away, all these only amount to self-righteousness which is like a filthy rag before God.

We search for God while hiding behind the trees so that we won’t be exposed to the truth. It’s not until Christ finds us out from all the hiding places of man that we are lost forever.

Some hide in the coven of witchcraft and some hide themselves in occult society to avert the judgment of God that is looming against humanity, they made a covenant with death and the grave so that the rod of judgment won’t locate them in their hiding place; all these only amount to fig leaf solutions to the problem of sin.

We hide behind good works, to give to the poor and help society just like Nicodemus but it’s all self-righteousness until Peter comes to introduce him to the truth in the lord Jesus Christ.

Religion is presenting your righteousness before God, it’s the righteousness of Christ that God sees in us to receive us in his presence.

Are you still hiding behind your good works? I can fast, I pay tithes, I’m a leader in my fellowship, I lead prayers in the church, these acts are not enough to earn pardon from God, it’s only by his grace that you won’t be consumed in his anger.

This is what originates other religions, I go to Mecca, I pray five times daily, I give offerings to the poor in society, all this is earning salvation by oneself and it will only invoke divine wrath on individuals, who neglect the rivers of living water provided by God to make a broken cistern for themselves.

Jesus Christ came to eradicate religion and introduce us to God as our father, he is the only way to God, looking for another way to meet God is like covering your nakedness with a leaf, which won’t last but wither and you’ll be more exposed to the danger of life.

Religion was established by the prince of the world for demons’ incarnation to exhibit their fallen nature to the fullest, that is why they will always oppose the truth, it’s only those who have the depth of God calling to the depths in their heart that’ll understand the truth about the saving grace of God and come out from its power.

Religious men nailed Jesus to the cross to cover their wickedness, it’s always the enemy of the truth.

Even if Jesus Christ should appear right now in our midst and walk the face of the earth the second time, it will be the religious people in the church that will kill him the second time, so that our wretchedness won’t be exposed.

Religious people chased men from the Synagogue if they confessed the truth and followed it, it’s still happening now in the church of God where truth is covered with the lies of the elders, they’re trying to nail Jesus Christ the second time to protect their errors.

Whoever practices religion instead of faith in Jesus Christ will surely nail him the second time; unfortunately, that is what we always do without blinking an eye.

We walk in disobedience against his law while finding our own way to justify it instead of his laid down rules, we do what displeases him and say it doesn’t matter because I’m working in his vineyard.

We substitute sacrifice for obedience, we resort to prayers instead of restitutions, religion gives false hope, never remove the consequences of your sin nor destroy its power over you, or remove its guilt.

Religion relies on the self but faith in Christ brings justification, it activates the flesh while faith in Christ destroys its power to energise the spirit.

Religion tries to obey the law to fulfil all righteousness but faith in christ that can make you prevail by relying on the power of his grace.

Prayer: Father lord deliver your children from the bondage of religion, let them worship you in spirit and in truth, in Jesus name amen.