There is a Lot of Ignorance When it Comes to Biblical Religion

Many today speak in ignorance about religion without truly understanding what they are saying. People will teach against “religion” and “being religious.” They even go as far as saying “the devil created religion” or “to be religious is to be evil.” There is an entire movement of people that say “I hate religion, but I love Jesus.” Does this line of thinking line up with God’s word?

Let’s look at the definition of religion according to Oxford Dictionary. noun: religion

1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
2. ideas about the relationship between science and religion
3. a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

Synonyms:

faith, belief, divinity, worship, creed, teaching, doctrine, theology

Pure and Undefiled Religion

We children of light are to live in the pure and undefiled religion of God. We as followers of God and as the children of light in this religion are to be religious.

Acts 13:42-52

Within this portion of God’s word see the word “religious proselytes” which in this case were those converted unto believers on Christ;
those that received the gospel of the grace of God. We see that we are in truth “religious people”;
God said I will be their God and they will be My people.

We see an Example of the Warning the Lord Gave us When He spoke

Matthew 10:14-15

Mark 6:11

Jesus Called Out the False Religion of the Pharisees

Matthew 15:6-12

Matthew 23:1-39

Here we see a group of “religious people” that the Lord spoke to. He rebuked them with what many would say was being harsh and not Christ-like. He called them hypocrites that full well rejected the commandment of God thus making the word of God of none effect through their doctrines, traditions and the commandments of men. So are there those that are in “religion” and are as “religious people” doing the same in this age? Unfortunately, Brothers and Sisters, yes there are; therefore it is only when we have not just the knowledge of God’s word but the understanding needed can we recognize such “people of religion”. Our example was the Apostles; the Lord spoke to them.

There Are Many Professing to be Wise but Lack Understanding

Matthew 15:16

Mark 7:18

Mark 4:13

We all must have understanding for it is only through understanding that we can become fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:23

James 1:1-27

Defiled Religion is the Religion Without Christ

I saw the need to post this entire portion of God’s word for it holds so much as to who we are to be as followers of God and the children of light. Now we will address what God deems as “pure and undefiled religion”. It speaks to us visiting the fatherless in their affliction. It speaks to us visiting the widows in their affliction.  We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. In this age we do not see this taught by many but what we see taught is “I am covered by the blood of Jesus. When God looks at me He sees Jesus and not me”.  This type of theology all stems from the heretical teaching of Martin Luther:

“If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace;
if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin.
God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners.
Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly,
for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world.
As long as we are here we have to sin.
This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness, but, as Peter says,
we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory
we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.
No sin will separate us from the Lamb,
even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day.
Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small?
Pray boldly—you too are a mighty sinner.” (Martin Luther: vol. 48, Luther’s Works)

When one teaches that “we have to sin” “so be a sinner and sin boldly” “that we can commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day with no effect upon our salvation” “that you are allowed to be a mighty sinner.”

They teach another gospel, another Jesus, another spirit. For the word of God teaches us to:

1 John 3:6-12

James 3:1-12

They live on these words for they desire to speak anyway they desire with the mindset of, “I’ll ask God’s forgiveness later”. The tongue no man can tame but by the power of God, the grace of God through the Holy Spirit. The tongue can be bridled when we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. God says if your tongue is not bridled then you are deceiving your own heart and your “religion is in vain”.

“If any man preaches a different Gospel, let them be accursed”

Galatians 1:1-24

Paul speaks of “another gospel” that “perverts the gospel of Christ”.

Yes he was speaking to the Galatians who where returning back to following the Mosaic Law. But there are other ways of preaching and teaching another gospel, another Jesus, another spirit. Each and all will be accursed as well as those that receive them and keep them.

We have looked upon the words “religion” and “religious”. As with everything good thing there is a counterfeit that is evil. As I started with addressing the many who speak against “religion” and “being religious”. Going as far as saying “the devil created religion” and “to be religious is to be evil”. They speak in ignorance not completely understanding the roots of true religion and what that looks like in accordance to God’s word. Thus the need for truth being taught that God loves to see “religious people of a pure and undefiled religion” For the truth is “religious people of a pure and undefiled religion” are God’s people.

Now comes the last word on the matter. You have been taught the truth. Many of you know a brother in err of the truth. If you do not share this truth and convert that brother. You are in unrighteousness and that is a sin You as well will stand before God with their blood upon your hands.

God’s grace and blessings be with those that receive this message.