• What fig leaf religion is:
    • Genesis 2:16-17
    • A religion that attempts to cover shame
    • A religion that is insufficient in content and outcome
  • Fig leaf religions
    • Calvin’s TULIP is fig leaf religion
      • Total hereditary depravity - a shame in accusation that God created man evil (James 1:13-14
      • Unconditional election - a shame in saying that God is a respecter of persons (I Timothy 2:4
      • Limited atonement - a shame in saying the blood of Christ was not offered for all (Hebrews 7:25
      • Irresistible grace - a shame that God would overcome the will of man that He gave man (Titus 2:11-12
      • Persistence of the saints - a shame in saying that God is weak (II Peter 2:9
    • Faith only is a fig leaf religion
      • Faith only takes away obedience (I John 2:3-5
      • Faith only takes away discipleship (Luke 14:26-27
      • Faith only takes away true faith (James 2:19
    • Praying through is fig leaf religion
      • Praying through nullifies obedience (Acts 8:35-37
      • Praying through omits God’s will (Acts 9-10
      • Praying through discounts the blood-bought relationship offered to believers (I Peter 3:12
  • Some of our brethren are practicing fig leaf religion.
    • A greater, grander work
      • A world-wide effort (Matthew 7:21-23
    • A religion to please people
      • “Preach the man, not the plan” (III John 9
    • The method of understanding scripture is outdated
      • Purpose, principle, precedent (I John 4:4-6
  • Do we practice fig leaf religion?
    • Do we put our wants ahead of God?
      • No time for study, too busy (I Peter 3:15
      • No time for worship, too much to do (Matthew 3:13-15
      • No time for visiting, I miss “my life” (Isaiah 28:9-10
      • No time for mentioning Jesus to others (Isaiah 28:16-17
  • Conclusion
    • There certainly is shame to cover (Acts 2:36-37
    • That shame can only be covered by God (Romans 2:4-11
  • What religion are we practicing?