We Need True Religion

By Dan Bailey

If there is anything that we surely need in this world today, it's true religion! The Bible teaches us that there is such a thing as true or pure religion. The only true religion is the religion of Christ. Jesus warned His disciples, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). But how are we to know for sure that we have in fact found true religion? The answer is in the word of God. True religion has certain characteristics. Like a genuine diamond, it has a certain nature. Just as one can distinguish between false diamonds and a true diamond, so one can distinguish between false religions and the one true religion.

True religion originates with God. James said, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures" (James 1:18). Peter said, "Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (l Peter 1:23). Jesus said, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). The Bible, or the Word of God, tells us all that we need to know about true religion. We read in Il Peter 1:3, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." The Bible, when carefully studied, rightly divided, believed, and obeyed from the heart, will lead a lost soul to immortality and eternal life.

True religion requires that we receive with meekness the engrafted word. We read in James 1:21, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." The Word of God can not be properly received without meekness. We must be willing to accept God's will if we want to go to heaven.

True religion requires that we be doers of the word and not hearers only. God expects us to carefully or diligently keep His word. "Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligent" (Psalm 119:4). Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). In the sermon on the mount Christ said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). At the end of the New Testament in the last chapter of the Bible we read, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14). Truly, we can all see that true religion involves doing what God said.

What about you? Do you believe that true religion comes from God? Will you receive with meekness the engrafted word that is able to save your soul? If you do what God says, you will be blessed throughout eternity.