“Christians” in Hell (Amos 5:21-27)

“Christians” in Hell (Amos 5:21-27)

Amos once again attacks their religious observances.

God hates their religious services

In what seems to be an illogical series of statements God says how much He hates and despises all of their religious services. He goes into great detail about the things He hates. He hates their holy days and worship services. He hates their sacrifices and offerings. He hates their songs and music. It is very clear that God does not approve of any of their religious observances.

God desires justice

God then gives the reason why He despises their offerings, songs, etc. It is because they have refused to do what is just and right. They have not sought justice for the oppressed, and they have delighted in ungodliness. All of their religious actions were a slap in God’s face. While proclaiming to love Him they despised and oppressed His people.

They were worshiping a false god

Although they believed they were worshiping God they were, in fact, worshiping false idols. They had rejected Who God had revealed Himself to be. We can do this very easily. We can manufacture a god that is nothing more than a figment of our imagination. We can even twist Scripture so that our “god” is the God of the Bible. We can worship another “Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4.) This is simply idolatry. We must seek to know God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture and conform our lives and worship to what He has revealed.

True Christianity

Jesus taught that many of His “followers” He would personally condemn to hell (Matthew 7:21-23.) There will be an untold number of “Christians” in hell; people who simply followed a “Jesus” they made up. The fruit of salvation is not religious deeds; it is a life lived like Jesus. It is a life that seeks to implement all that Jesus has taught: justice, mercy, and righteousness. On the day of judgment the true believers in Jesus are easily distinguished from those whose profession is false. The distinguishing mark is how they treated the hungry, thirsty, immigrant, prisoner, etc. (Matthew 25:31-46.) These acts of mercy and justice did not save them; they were the fruit of salvation. Their faith is seen by their works (James 2:14-20.) Salvation is a heart that has been changed by the power that raised Jesus from the dead. This change will be seen in conformity to Jesus Christ, not just empty religious deeds.

Application

What does the fruit look like in your life? Are you trusting in dead religious deeds? Are you worshiping the God of Scripture? Will you repent and turn to Jesus?

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