About Religion…

THE BIBLE TEACHES 

False religion and true religion is never mentioned in God’s word. Instead, we are warned against false doctrine and false prophets. We are commanded to love God and have faith in Him.

Religion – θρησκεία – Due to the wide range of its usage, the English word “religion” (from Lat. religio) is not easily defined. SEE Religion

“Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Being in Christ Compared to Being in A Religion

The word ‘Religion’ is only found four times in the Bible.

Three of the mentions of religion concerns an already established religion of the Jews. Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13-14, James 1:26. We are never told to be religious, join a religion, follow a religion or religious movement or to be faithful to a religion. Instead we are told:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12:5

Are we to be in a religion or in Christ?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul put much emphasis on being in Christ. He wrote:

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

Paul uses the phrase, “in Christ” seventy-five times in his writings.

Of himself he wrote:

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

When he wrote an epistle, he often referred to those in the church as those who were “in Christ.”  

He understood that regeneration, or newness of life in Christ, is what makes a real and lasting change in a person’s life.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.  Galatians 6:15

and

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Paul, also fully understood the security that true believers have in Christ Jesus our Lord:

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Many people are trusting their religion, but life is found in Christ!

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22

Because most people in the world lean to ideas of men rather than trusting or believing the Word as revealed in the Holy Bible, religion and spirituality has become common. Christianity is not looked upon with favor by those outside of Christ. Sadly, most people prefer to seek their own way and ideas rather than accepting the One Way Christ provides. For further study see – RELIGION VS CHRISTIANITY 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28