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Essence of Religion
What the word “Religion” means to you? With the many so called religious
sects ,which one do you think is true? Is membership necessary for one’s
salvation?

Like any over-the-counter drug which can be easily bought, or an ordinary

paper to read, or a common expressions that can be heard in the streets, perhaps
you are thinking that this word is just an ordinary thing or a boring one. But no
matter how unimportant this word may sound to you, it is my prayer that this
message be used of God to give you understanding of one of the many
misunderstood word that’s been ever told and heard.

THE WORD RELIGION

The word “ Religion” does not refers to a group or organization where one is
affiliated. Paul speaks of a Jews’ religion in Acts 26:5, Gal.1:13,14 but this
refers to a ceremonial observance ,of practices as in Jas.1:26-27 leading to
establishment of many foundations for aged and street children by many groups
today, and of one’s devoutness. This word comes from a Latin word RELIGIO
which is also from a compound words of RE and LIGO . RE means “again”,
while LIGO means “to tie”. That is why it literally means “ To tie again” or “
To tie back”. It speaks of the one (person not thing) who can tie us back to a
union with God. Who is he? (1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionary)

HOW IT APPLIES TO ALL?

We can read of man in the past, like in the case of “Tower of Babel” where
man tries to make his own way to reach God (Genesis 11:1-9). Or like the
many Israelites whose zeal was unto disobedience and rejection of God’s
providence of righteousness (Rm.10:1-3). Today, many who are claiming to be
the true religion yet unaware that they are doing the same. Many are deceived
by their sweet swelling words because they never care to search the scriptures
if those things that they heard were true. But one thing applies to all and
according to Paul

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“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according
to my gospel.” Rom 2:16

The remedy can only be found in the gospel as it is revealed to Paul. And the
word of God says “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;” (Rm.3:23) This shows that in God’s sight man was separated from His
presence by sin and is in need to be brought back to God. This all started when
Adam disobeyed God (Gen. 2:16-17, 3:6). “ Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for
that all have sinned.” (Rm.5:12)“For as by one man’s disobedience many were
made sinners,”(Rm.5:19a) You are not an exception no matter how devout you
are in your religious affiliation. No matter how many good works you have
done to others. For salvation is “ Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through
Jesus Christ our Saviour;” (Tit.3:5-6)(Ep.2:8-9) It is solely by His grace and by
His will and that no amount of boasting be uttered . “ For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest
any man should boast.”

WHAT TRADITION TEACHES

Many religious groups are claiming that they have the only messenger sent
from God. Some have apostle, prophet and prophetess or some have seen
angels and signs in heaven not knowing that we have Paul as our apostle
(Col.1:23-25) . Some are also teaching devotions to dead persons they called
saints not knowing that Christ alone is the Mediator (1 Tim.2:5). Some love
and serve the images that the Lord hates (Rm.1:21-23). Some teaches that
membership in their group is the way to be saved not knowing it is only by
faith in Christ (2 Tim.3:15 ). Some are trusting in their good works for
salvation not knowing that it is not of works (Rm.4:6; Tit.3:5) but by grace
through faith (Eph.2:8-9) .

RELIGION SPEAKS OF ONE PERSON

The word “ Religion” with it’s literal meaning “ To tie again ” refers to one
person Who can reconcile one to God. “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam
to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”(Rm.5:14)“But not as
the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be
dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man,
Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Rm.5:15) “And not as it was by one
that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the
free gift is of many offences unto justification.” (Rm.5:16)“For if by one man’s
offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of

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grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in lifeby one, Jesus
Christ.)”(Rm.5:17) “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life.” (Rm.5:18) “For as by one man’s
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of oneshall many
be made righteous.” (Rm.5:19) “Moreover the law entered, that the offence
might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much
more abound:”(Rm.5:20) “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might
grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our
Lord.” Rm.5:21)

CHRIST ALONE
Is the Mediator “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus;”(1 Tim.2:5)

Is The only access: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto
the Father.”(Eph.2:18)

Descended from and ascended to heaven “ He that descended is the same also
that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”(Ep.4:10)
Came to save sinners “ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”(1
Tim.1:15)
Was crucified, died, was buried and risen “ For I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:”(1 Co.15:3-4)
Is God’s expression of His unconditional love “But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Rom 5:8)

The The only foundation: “According to the grace of God which is given unto
me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” “For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”(1 Co.3:10-
11)

The The only gospel: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”(1 Co.2:2) “For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”(2
Co.4:5) (See also: 1 Co.15:1-6; 2 Co.11:4; Gal.1:6-8)

IN HIM

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The only forgiveness: “ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”(Ep.1:7)

The only salvation: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek.”(Rm.1:16) “ Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s
sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.”(2 Tim.2:10)

The only freedom: “ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made
me free from the law of sin and death.”(Rm.8:2) “Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the
yoke of bondage.”(Gal.5:1)

The only assurance:“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ:”(Php.1:6)“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I
am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that
day.”(2Ti.1:12) “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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Rm.8:38-39) (See: 2 Tim.3:14-15;
Eph.1:13)

The only righteousness: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption:” 1Co.1:30 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss
for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in
him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith:”(Php.3:7-9)

The only hope: “ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God
our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;”(1 Tim.1:1) “To whom
God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”(Col.1:27) (See
Tit.2:13)

The only completeness: “ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:”(Col.2:10)

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The Only justification: “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised
again for our justification.”(Rm.4:25) “Knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the
works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.”(Gal.2:16) (See: Rm.5:9; 1 Co.6:11)

Religious groups will tell you how organized they were and how you needed to
be a member of them in order to get right in the sight of God and many are
seeking to enter and made members in those traditional religious system yet
they don’t realize that it is not what they must be confident about. Like the
many Jews who searched the scriptures yet do not want to come to Christ
(Jn.5:39-40).Likewise, many think of today’s religion as what they must enter
in rather than the ‘true religion’ Whom they should believe and become in
them.

True religion is BY the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one Who can bring one
back to a union and fellowship with God.

“ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things
in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his
sight:”(Col.1:20-22)

To Him be the glory!

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