In the five instances where the word religion occurs in the New Testament, it is always qualified by a modifier. Three times the word refers to the Jews’ religion (Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:13, Gal. 1:14). Once it refers to man’s religion (James 1:26). And, once it refers to “pure religion” (James 1:27). James 1:27 is the only passage in the New Testament that addresses “pure” religion. Pure religion is true, genuine, and approved by God. True religion is set in contrast to false religion. For some, there is no true religion. Sigmund Freud thought religion in general was an infantile neurosis or psychological defect. He believed that religion was an illusion. For him, it represented a sort of wish fulfillment and was not motivated by rational proofs. Freud’s view of religion has been adopted by many who believe that personal freedom requires an abandonment of all religion (Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, p. 223).
There is no doubt that false religion exists (II Peter 2). False religion gives true religion a bad name because all religion is grouped together as Freud mistakenly has done. The Bible is much clearer in giving us the essential elements of true religion. God defines true religion in His holy Word. In order for a religion to be true, it must exhibit all of the essential elements listed below. These essential elements contain the word “true” in the various passages cited. The word “true” indicates that which is genuine or the real thing as opposed to false religion. False religion stands out when the comparison is made to the true. False religion is counterfeit religion and consequently is vain religion. All false religion must be rejected and only true religion accepted.
First, there is one, living and true God. “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (I Thessalonians 1:9). Idols are false gods. Any religion built upon false gods is false religion and vain. God is the creator of all things and He is the savior of the world. Paul affirms that there is one God (Eph. 4:6). The Christian religion is monotheistic. All polytheistic religions are false. The Christian religion affirms that God is a Triune God consisting of three distinct persons in one undivided essence (essential Being). God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are affirmed in Matthew 28:19 and I Cor. 13:14 (as well as other passages). God reveals Himself through creation, miracles, the Scriptures, historical interactions with men, and Jesus Christ. Paul affirms that there is no excuse for not knowing God (Rom. 1:20).
Second, there is one true Light. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John the baptist was sent to bear witness of the true Light. The word “light” in the gospel of John always refers to Jesus. “The next day John Seth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I kin mew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, there am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven. like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34). John the baptist is an eyewitness to the deity of Jesus. Jesus is the true Light. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). The Light dispels darkness and reveals God to men. The Light enlightens men in the way of truth and righteousness and overcomes ignorance and iniquity. Any religion that denies the deity of Jesus is a false religion.
Third, there is one Spirit of truth. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14). Three times, Jesus refers to the Spirit of truth (see also, John 14:17; 15:26). There is only one Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4). The Holy Spirit is the one true spirit and a part of the godhead (Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 13:14). The Holy Spirit reveals the body of truth which is the Word of God (John 17:17). Any religion that teaches that the Holy Spirit is merely an influence and not a member of the godhead is a false religion.
Fourth, there is one, true gospel. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9). There is only one faith (Eph. 4:5). The gospel consists of facts to be believed, promises to be received and commandments to be obeyed. The gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16). The gospel answers the question, “what must I do to be saved?” In Acts 2:38, Peter said, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Paul declares, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). The word of truth is the gospel. The facts of the gospel center upon the life of Jesus Christ and focus on His death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:1-4). The promises of the gospel involve our salvation and all spiritual blessings (Mark 16:16; Eph. 1:3). The commands of the gospel are that we hear God’s word, believe God, love God, repent of our sins, confess Jesus as Lord and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins. Any religion that teaches another gospel (faith only for instance or the sinner’s prayer) is a false religion.
Fifth, there is true worship. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:21-24). Worship involves the right object–God. Worship involves the right attitudes and the right actions. In worship, we must respect who God is and what He has ordained as worship. The Samaritan woman worshipped in ignorance. Such worship is vain. Her ignorance was attributable to the fact that the Samaritans did not embrace the writings of the prophets. They only accepted the Pentateuch. There was much about God that they did not know. Everything that we do in matters that pertain to religion require biblical authority (Col. 3:17). We have authority in the New Testament to: sing (Eph. 5:19); pray (I Thess. 5:17); preach the word (Acts 20:7); read Scripture (Rev. 1:3; Col. 4:16); partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-27; Acts 20:7); and give (I Cor. 16:1-2). We must engage in worship with our whole heart, mind, and spirit (Heb. 12:28). You cannot worship by proxy! Any religion that adds to or takes away from these statutes regarding worship is a false religion.
Sixth, there is true holiness. “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Holiness in us reflects the holiness that characterizes the nature of God. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:14-16). The true gospel calls us to holiness (I Thess. 4:7). To be holy is to be righteous. To be holy involves our sanctification in Christ and necessitates putting of the old man of sin and putting on the new man created in Christ Jesus. Paul elaborates on this spiritual transformation in Eph. 4:20-32. Put away: lying, uncontrolled anger, stealing, corrupt communication, and any sin that would grieve the Holy Spirit. Eliminate all bitterness, wrath, clamour, evil speaking and malice. Put on: truthfulness, controlled anger, honest labor, good communication that edifies and administers grace to the hearer, kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, and love. The contrast between the old man and the new man is stark. Holiness involves the pursuit of right conduct before God and in harmony with His perfect, sinless, nature.
Seventh, there is true grace. “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand” (I Pet. 5:12). One of the best definitions of God’s grace or lovingkindness is, “when a person from whom you have no right to expect anything gives you everything.” Grace is God’s unmerited favor. God’s grace is actively involved in our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). However, God’s grace is appropriated through the right attitudes and obedience to His holy Word. Peter makes the conditional aspect of God’s grace plain when he states, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Pet. 5:5). God’s grace is appropriated through a humble heart. If God’s grace were not conditional, we would have to accept universal salvation. While God’s grace is available to all men, all men do not believe on Him nor obey Him. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Pet. 1:22). Peter did not believe that God’s true grace and man’s obedience were mutually exclusive. Some believe that grace is a license to sin. Paul refutes this notion in Rom. 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” True grace does not permit us to multiply sinful conduct. Grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). Grace can be multiplied (I Pet. 1:2; II Pet. 1:2). Where God’s grace is multiplied, peace is multiplied. God’s grace is multiplied to His people by His providential care, answered prayers, multiple blessings in Christ and fulfillment of His precious promises. Count your many blessings and multiply the peace that passeth understanding!
Eighth, there is true unity. “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaboureres, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3). A yokefellow is one who is yoked together in Christ. Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn of him (Matt. 11:28-30). Discipleship yokes us to Christ and to all others who follow Him. We are yoked together in spiritual union with Christ and one another. This is a beautiful description of Christian unity. We must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-6). In this passage, Paul lists seven dispositional aspects of unity and seven doctrinal aspects of unity. If we integrate his instructions into our lives, we will be bound together by our common faith and love for the Lord that will manifest itself in a synergy that will multiply our productivity in His kingdom. A true yokefellow is one whose description is matched by his actions. This is a fellow-laborer in the kingdom of God. Paul relied on such to accomplish the work he was committed to doing in the name of the Lord. Without them, Paul could not have had the success that he did in the spread of the gospel.
Ninth, there is true justice. “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Rev. 16:7; 19:2). The justice of God stems from His holiness, His omniscience, His omnibenevolence, and His omnipotence. God’s judgments are based upon a righteous standard which He has revealed in His holy Word. God’s judgments are true because the standard is true and His discernment is impeccable. God cannot make a mistake in the administration of His justice. God’s justice is both retributive (punitive) and distributive (merciful). God has the power to punish the evil doer and the power to save the righteous who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (II Thess. 1:7-9). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:8-9). Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (I John 4:10). Propitiation involves both expiation and appeasement. In expiation, we have forgiveness of our sins through the atoning power of the blood of Jesus. In appeasement, Jesus’s death satisfies the penalty for our sins through substitutionary atonement whereby He takes our place and suffers death. We deserve death. Jesus did not, but He dies in our behalf. Consequently, we are saved from wrath through Him!
We have considered nine elements of true religion. Each of these elements are essential to true religion. If we omit, change, or alter any one of them, we falsify the religion produced. We end up with a paste-up of a religion that God will not accept. All false religion is exposed by a comparison of the religious doctrine and practice to the genuine religion revealed in God’s Word. Such exposure results in the revelation of a counterfeit religion which must be rejected by us because it will be rejected by God.
