Religion : The "broad way" that leads to Hell.

[BreadOfLife]

The difference is that the word "Trinity" is not found in the bible, though the doctrine represented by that word is. The word "religion" is found in the bible, referring to the outward results of faith - the "good works" that follow being saved.

That’s interesting, because in post #37 – YOU defined religion as something totally different:
“Religion is always a barrier between God and man.”

The Greek word for Religion is τηρεσκεια (thrace-ki'-ah) and is defined as:
1) religious worship 1a) that which consists of ceremonies 1a1) religious discipline, ceremonial observance: religion, worshipping.

This doesn’t sound like your new definition either: “... the ‘good works’ that follow being saved.”

Religion isn't this "ugly beast" that Protestants attribute to it.
It's the way we worship Gog.

 

[David Lamb]

That’s interesting, because in post #37 – YOU defined religion as something totally different:
“Religion is always a barrier between God and man.”

The Greek word for Religion is τηρεσκεια (thrace-ki'-ah) and is defined as:
1) religious worship 1a) that which consists of ceremonies 1a1) religious discipline, ceremonial observance: religion, worshipping.

This doesn’t sound like your new definition either: “... the ‘good works’ that follow being saved.”

Religion isn't this "ugly beast" that Protestants attribute to it.
It's the way we worship Gog.

That is strange. I have just looked at Post 37, and it is yours, not mine. You quoted the words of another poster, Behold, who had written, "Religion is always a barrier between God and man." I didn't write those words at all, so I am afraid your post has ended up as being rather confusing.

 

[BreadOfLife]

That is strange. I have just looked at Post 37, and it is yours, not mine. You quoted the words of another poster, Behold, who had written, "Religion is always a barrier between God and man." I didn't write those words at all, so I am afraid your post has ended up as being rather confusing.

Ahhh, I see where the confusion started. You responded to something that @Behold posted. Got it.

However, you did claim that religion was nothing more than the works that grow from faith - when it is actually what we believe.

Some people (not you) wrongly assert that religion is some sort of dirty word that is reserved ONLY for pagans or otherwise confused people.
It is NOT.

 

[Behold]

Some people (not you) wrongly assert that religion is some sort of dirty word

Religion is man made.

Christianity is God created.

These are not the same.

Religion is man's concept, whereby man is trying to reach God or become like God.....based on them doing somthing, over time.

Christianity, is God become one of Us to offer us the chance to return to Spiritual Union with Him, based only on the shed blood of Jesus on The Cross.

So, we see that CHRISTianity is not a religion.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Religion is man made.
Christianity is God created.

These are not the same.
Religion is man's concept, whereby man is trying to reach God or become like God.....based on them doing somthing, over time.

Christianity, is God become one of Us to offer us the chance to return to Spiritual Union with Him, based only on the shed blood of Jesus on The Cross.

So, we see that CHRISTianity is not a religion.

WRONG.
YOU just don't like that word

Christinity IS a religion. The fact that YOU invnt your own definitions is irrelevant.

As I already posted in referenvce to James 1:27, the Greek word for Religion is τηρεσκεια (thrace-ki'-ah) and is defined as:
1) religious worship 1a) that which consists of ceremonies 1a1) religious discipline, ceremonial observance: religion, worshipping.

We achive spiritual union with God BY our worship of and faith IN Him.

 

[Behold]

Christinity IS a religion.

Religion is man trying to reach God or become a God, by their self effort....their own Tenets.

Christianity is God coming to Earth, as Jesus......so, right here we see that there is no other "religion" that is anything like this, and even you should be able to realize it.

Christianity is the seed of the Holy Spirit, virgin Born, sent to die on a Tree for the sin of the world.
That is not a religion......, that is a spiritual reconciliation regarding all of humanity, one believer at a time... caused by God, Himself.

If you prefer a religion, then pick one, and do what they say to do, to try to reach the end that they say you can perhaps achieve if you try hard enough, long enough.

The other thing that separates a Religion from Christianity, is that Religion is not True, and Christianity is True.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Religion is man trying to reach God or become a God, by their self effort....their own Tenets.

Christianity is God coming to Earth, as Jesus......so, right here we see that there is no other "religion" that is anything like this, and even you should be able to realize it.

Christianity is the seed of the Holy Spirit, virgin Born, sent to die on a Tree for the sin of the world.
That is not a religion......, that is a spiritual reconciliation regarding all of humanity, one believer at a time... caused by God, Himself.

If you prefer a religion, then pick one, and do what they say to do, to try to reach the end that they say you can perhaps achieve if you try hard enough, long enough.

The other thing that separates a Religion from Christianity, is that Religion is not True, and Christianity is True.

WRONG.
Like I said - inventing your own definitions is your downfall.

According to the BIBLE, which is the written Word of God -
Religion means:
tηρεσκεια (thrace-ki'-ah)
1) religious worship 1a) that which consists of ceremonies 1a1) religious discipline, ceremonial observance: religion, worshipping.

Worship of God is our response to His grace.
Thias is the basis of our union with Him.

 

[David Lamb]

Ahhh, I see where the confusion started. You responded to something that @Behold posted. Got it.

However, you did claim that religion was nothing more than the works that grow from faith - when it is actually what we believe.

Some people (not you) wrongly assert that religion is some sort of dirty word that is reserved ONLY for pagans or otherwise confused people.
It is NOT.

Thanks for that. Yes, I said that in the bible, the word "religion" is used to refer to the outward aspects of being a Christian. Christianity is not referred to as a religion in the bible.

 

[David Lamb]

Religion is man trying to reach God or become a God, by their self effort....their own Tenets.

Christianity is God coming to Earth, as Jesus......so, right here we see that there is no other "religion" that is anything like this, and even you should be able to realize it.

Christianity is the seed of the Holy Spirit, virgin Born, sent to die on a Tree for the sin of the world.
That is not a religion......, that is a spiritual reconciliation regarding all of humanity, one believer at a time... caused by God, Himself.

If you prefer a religion, then pick one, and do what they say to do, to try to reach the end that they say you can perhaps achieve if you try hard enough, long enough.

The other thing that separates a Religion from Christianity, is that Religion is not True, and Christianity is True.

True religion in the bible is not Christianity as such, but the outward aspects of being a Christian. As James wrote:

“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.” (Jas 1:27 NKJV)

So biblically, true religion is not man trying to reach God by self-effort, but Christians, those whom God has already reached and saved, living out what they believe. Clearly this is different to the way "religion" is used by non-Christians.

 

[Behold]

True religion in the bible is not Christianity as such, but the outward aspects of being a Christian. As James wrote:

“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.” (Jas 1:27 NKJV)

So biblically, true religion is not man trying to reach God by self-effort, but Christians, those whom God has already reached and saved, living out what they believe. Clearly this is different to the way "religion" is used by non-Christians.

Consider also that a person can visit orphans and widows and help them, and yet the person is not a Christian.
So, that is Religion, that is "doing good works", and the religious person ends up going to Hell after doing all this good for others.

Why did they go to Hell?

Because they were not born again....they were just Religious but lost.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Consider also that a person can visit orphans and widows and help them, and yet the person is not a Christian.
So, that is Religion, that is "doing good works", and the religious person ends up going to Hell after doing all this good for others.

Why did they go to Hell?
Because they were not born again....they were just Religious but lost.

YOU only read what you WANT to read and dismiss the rest.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

YOUR problrm id that you cherry-pick Scripture and ignore the CONTEXT.
James was writing to Christians, not unbelievers. Keeping oneself "unstained" from the world can ONLY be achieved through Christ.

 

[David Lamb]

Consider also that a person can visit orphans and widows and help them, and yet the person is not a Christian.
So, that is Religion, that is "doing good works", and the religious person ends up going to Hell after doing all this good for others.

Why did they go to Hell?

Because they were not born again....they were just Religious but lost.

That is true. A non-Christian can indeed visit orphans and widows, and merely doing good works doesn't make a sinner dead in trespasses and sins into a Christian. That is why I say that religion, as the bible describes it, can never save anybody. As you say, that requires the new birth.

 

[David Lamb]

YOU only read what you WANT to read and dismiss the rest.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

YOUR problrm id that you cherry-pick Scripture and ignore the CONTEXT.
James was writing to Christians, not unbelievers. Keeping oneself "unstained" from the world can ONLY be achieved through Christ.

I would say that Behold was not cherry-picking. Yes, James was writing to Christians, and telling them that as Christians, they should live holy lives, for example, visiting orphans and widows, and keeping oneself unstained from the world. Doing those things does not make anybody a Christian; the new birth is necessary for that, as Behold said. Living holy lives can only be done through Christ, by those who have been born again.

 

[BreadOfLife]

I would say that Behold was not cherry-picking. Yes, James was writing to Christians, and telling them that as Christians, they should live holy lives, for example, visiting orphans and widows, and keeping oneself unstained from the world. Doing those things does not make anybody a Christian; the new birth is necessary for that, as Behold said. Living holy lives can only be done through Christ, by those who have been born again.

And in the end, the Greek word used here in James 1:27 (thrace-ki'-ah) goes far beyond helping widows and orphans – or ANY other good work. It’s about how we worship God. It’s about worship, discipline and observance.