I’ve got no argument against the sentiments expressed on "religion" but James says:
Jms:1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
And mankind, like it or not, needs a system of belief. Now through out history those who were given charge in such matters in most cases corrupted the understanding of the system of belief. Also even those who claim their belief in scientific theories, whether they deny it or not, it is a system of belief for them.
If we didn’t need a system of belief, which in this case, is an agreement between man a his Maker, how can one develop a relationship with the other? Or how do you know without God revealing it to you directly, that He always was, always is, always will be, as in He inhabits eternity. Or about Abraham’s Faith. And there has to be something that all true believers agree on, and the Lord our God agrees on. Though yes Jesus is that new covenant (agreement) it’s based on what? Or how was the Israelites to know He was the true Christ? Granted it would seem obvious, but we have the benefit of understanding and knowledge in the Spirit.
Problem is the correct system of belief, and the correct understanding there of. Which comes from, in this case, a true relationship with God the Father in the Son ship given in and through Christ Jesus.
Also, what did Jesus say God’s work is?
Jn:6:29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Which is the whole reason ever since the statement:
Gen:3:14: And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
For 10 generations and then Noah finds Grace in God’s sight. Oh look grace unto man by God as far back as Noah 10 more Generations and Abram is call and in his belief of God’s Word to him God counts Abram’s Faith as Righteous. 20 generations and by Grace (all who received the life Noah had) through Faith (all who received the life Abraham had, that are chosen by God.)
Hence now that Jesus has come, through the receiving of the Life Christ has, we get to share in the same.