One of the major questions that humanity has sought to answer is what is the true religion according to the Bible? The Bible clearly speaks of a particular faith that it views as the “true” one, and it is important to study and understand this faith in order to understand the Bible’s teachings.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites practiced a form of polytheism, or the belief in many gods. They believed in various gods and goddesses such as Elohim, Ashirat, Anat, and Baal, as well as Yahweh or Jehovah, the God of Israel. They believed that these gods would bless them as they followed the laws and precepts of their religion.
In the New Testament, Jesus brings a radical message of grace and truth, which fundamentally changes the understanding of true religion according to the Bible. Jesus proclaimed that God is one, and we are all part of one family, living in unity and love. He taught that the way that we access God’s grace and love is through faith in him. This faith entails obedience to God’s commands and his example of submitting to the Father’s will. It also includes the practice of loving others and serving the needy, as Jesus indicated in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jesus defined the two greatest commandments to be loving God and loving our neighbor. He taught that these two core convictions form the foundation of a right relationship with God, as well as with others. To live a fulfilling, joy-filled existence, it is necessary to put this teaching into practice, through a number of actions. These include living in obedience to God’s decrees, delivering justice to the oppressed and needy, caring for the vulnerable and elderly, and welcoming the stranger.
The Apostle Paul also discussed the importance of faith, emphasizing that a Christian should be diligent in pursuing spiritual growth. He wrote that justification comes from faith, and not from works of the laws. The emphasis on faith must be executed properly, however, in order to meet the standards of true religion according to the Bible. Paul spoke of “trying our faith” and the importance of being partakers in doing good works and overcoming temptations.
The books of the Bible indicate that true religion is about living in harmony with God, loving and serving our neighbors, and surrendering to God’s will. This path of faithfulness differs vastly from what the world offers. It may entail discomfort and suffering, as with Jesus. However, as Christians trust in God and seek to grow in faith, they can experience joy and peace in all of life’s circumstances.
The Role of the Church
The church has the significant responsibility of implementing the teachings of the Bible in true religion. Yet, it must do this with balance, knowing that Christians are sanctified by faith, not by good actions. To honor God, the church must live in obedience to the word, walking in love and grace, in order to model righteousness for others. If a church focuses solely on rituals and traditions to gain salvation, instead of relying on faith in Jesus Christ, then true religion is compromised.
The church needs to guard against legalism and works-based theology, while emphasizing love and kindness. Its leaders should teach with humility and throroughly, while remaining faithful to all of God’s commands. Church members should encourage each other to follow God’s will, and display the same kindness and compassion to all people that God displays to us.
The church should continually strive for the highest standards of moral obedience and holiness. As Jesus said, the grain of salt and light of the world, the church needs to be a beacon of hope in an ever-darkening world.
The Role of Sin
The Bible indicates that true religion also includes coming to terms with the reality of sin. To follow Jesus faithfully, a Christian needs to recognize the biblical reality that all people have sinned, and need a Savior (Romans 3:23). This means the refusal to pursue self-righteousness, pride, arrogance, and the host of sinful activities such as greed, envy, and judgmentalism. Instead, we are called to seek true righteousness, and repent of our disobedience and rebellion.
As part of their commitment to true faith, Christians should pursue forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation with other people, as well as with God. Sin leads to alienation and brokenness, and it is only through faith in Jesus that these sins can be healed. Forgiveness is a key element of true religion, and Jesus taught that those who forgive will receive even greater mercy from God (Matthew 5:7).
The Bible sees repentance as a necessary part of seeking God’s mercy; it is essential for the Christian to confess their sins and seek God’s forgiveness and grace. Accepting Jesus as the Savior means entering into a relationship with Him, and actively following His direction for living a life that is pleasing to Him. It involves humility, sincerity, and a commitment to bearing fruit in faith (John 15: 5).
The Role of Grace
Finally, true faith requires grace. The Bible speaks of the importance of grace throughout the New Testament. It is through grace that believers find their redemption in Jesus Christ and can be saved from sin. This “unmerited favor” of God means that believers are treated righteously and are justified in God’s sight, even though they do not deserve it. It is grace that transforms us and allows us to enter into a right relationship with God.
The Apostle Paul makes clear that it is not through our works or good deeds that we find favor with God, but rather by grace through faith. Faith is a response to God’s grace, and an action of accepting Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. It is through grace that believers are given a living hope, and a real assurance of salvation.
The Bible indicates that true religion does not involve a multitude of laws, a particular religious group, or a set of rituals. Rather, it consists of relationship-based beliefs, valuing our neighbors as ourselves, following Jesus’ example of service and sacrifice, and humbling ourselves before God. To live in true religion is to seek after Jesus and pursue a life of love, grace, holiness, and mercy.
The Role of Obedience
The Bible indicates that those who want to be faithful to the true faith must be obedient to God’s commands. It is not enough to simply accept Jesus as Savior, but to also actively follow His teachings by faith. Such faith involves submitting to God’s will while displaying respect and humility before Him.
It also requires being obedient to Godly leaders, living in accordance with God’s law, and seeking to follow Jesus’ example. This includes loving God and our neighbors, and working for justice and the welfare of others. True obedience is sacrificial, costing us our comforts, time and energy. Ultimately, it means seeking to honor God in every decision we make, and in all areas of our lives.
Obedience brings joy, peace and freedom from fear. It involves trust, as God and His people walk together in obedience, offering a living example to others about what it looks like to truly serve the most High. The Bible calls us to go beyond the surface of our words, and fully embody the message of Jesus in our life. True faith is lived out in the present, moment-by-moment obedience to our Lord.
The Role of Evangelism
Finally, true religion requires the effort to share and evangelize the message of Jesus Christ to others. It involves recognizing our duty to spread the gospel, by speaking words of love, acceptance, and hope to those around us. The Bible calls us to love our enemies, and to be quick to reach out with God’s grace, no matter the cost.
To be true evangelists, we should be humble, meek, and approachable, living out our faith without pride or arrogance. Our aim is to lead people to Jesus, not to impose doctrines and theology. We must be willing to give of ourselves sacrificially in order to attract people to the gospel, and to show them how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
The Bible speaks of the power of the gospel to transform lives, and that believers should actively seek opportunities to share their faith. As a living witness to truth, it is our mission both to proclaim the gospel to the lost, and model it for Christians, showing them how to live lives of obedience to Jesus’ commands.
Very insightful and very knowledgeable yet simple to understand