True and False religion

The word 'religion' occurs only five times in the Bible and is used four times in a bad way, for example, "If anyone seems to be religious and does not control his tongue, his religion is useless."   The only time 'religion' is used in a good sense is as follows:- "Pure and undefiled 'religion' before God and the Father, is this, to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." [ James 1:26,27 ]

James was correct when he wrote, "If anyone seems to be religious."   The word 'seems' exposes their hypocrisy.  They wickedly want people to think they are good because they are religious when perhaps they're spreading gossip and always finding fault with others.  This kind of religion is really a form of superstition.  People deceive themselves into believing that if they go to church, keep its rituals and say their prayers it will act like a lucky charm and get them into heaven.  They may even try to live a good life in the hope that this will earn them a place in heaven but all this is useless religion.

Now let's look at 'pure religion' .  This springs from a living relationship with God through Christ's work of salvation completed on the cross.  This relationship never begins when people think they are good but when they know they are bad.  The Bible says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." [ 1 John 1:8 ]

A sincere person will humbly acknowledge in prayer that they have sinned.  They will then thank God for His kindness in sending His Son to die so that they can be forgiven.  This will bring the joy of forgiveness which will overflow in grateful service in honour of the King of Kings.

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