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A Study of "True A Study of "True Religion"Religion"

A Study of "True A Study of "True Religion"Religion"

What is it, exactly?What is it, exactly?[From [From The Book of the The Book of the BeginningsBeginnings, Volume 2], Volume 2]

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A Study of "True A Study of "True Religion"Religion"

A Study of "True A Study of "True Religion"Religion"

The Meaning of "Religion"The Meaning of "Religion" What "True Religion" Is NotWhat "True Religion" Is Not Characteristics of "True Religion"Characteristics of "True Religion" The Formula for "True Religion"The Formula for "True Religion" The Divine Side of "True Religion"The Divine Side of "True Religion" The Human Side of "True Religion"The Human Side of "True Religion" The Dispensations of "True ReligionThe Dispensations of "True Religion The Beginning of True ReligionThe Beginning of True Religion

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Characteristics of "True Characteristics of "True Religion"Religion"

Characteristics of "True Characteristics of "True Religion"Religion"

Accepts the existence and awfulness of Accepts the existence and awfulness of sinsin

Accepts the fact that man has allowed Accepts the fact that man has allowed sin to separate him from Godsin to separate him from God

Accepts the fact that God is the Accepts the fact that God is the offended partyoffended party

Accepts the fact that man must have a Accepts the fact that man must have a revealedrevealed system of faith and practice in system of faith and practice in order to be reunited with Godorder to be reunited with God

Must provide an adequate remedy for Must provide an adequate remedy for sinsin

The essence of true religion is The essence of true religion is reconciliation.reconciliation.

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2 Corinthians 5:11-132 Corinthians 5:11-132 Corinthians 5:11-132 Corinthians 5:11-13

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. For we do not known in your consciences. For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. you.

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2 Corinthians 5:14-162 Corinthians 5:14-162 Corinthians 5:14-162 Corinthians 5:14-16

For the love of Christ compels us, For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. know Him thus no longer.

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2 Corinthians 5:17-192 Corinthians 5:17-192 Corinthians 5:17-192 Corinthians 5:17-19

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciledreconciled us to Himself through Jesus us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliationreconciliation, that is, that God was in , that is, that God was in Christ Christ reconcilingreconciling the world to Himself, the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of and has committed to us the word of reconciliationreconciliation. .

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2 Corinthians 5:20-212 Corinthians 5:20-212 Corinthians 5:20-212 Corinthians 5:20-21

Now then, we are ambassadors for Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be Christ's behalf, be reconciledreconciled to God. to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. the righteousness of God in Him.

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2 Corinthians 6:14-152 Corinthians 6:14-152 Corinthians 6:14-152 Corinthians 6:14-15

Do not be unequally yoked together Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? believer with an unbeliever?

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2 Corinthians 6:16-182 Corinthians 6:16-182 Corinthians 6:16-182 Corinthians 6:16-18

And what agreement has the temple of And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: the living God. As God has said: "I will "I will dwell in themdwell in them And walk among them.And walk among them. I will I will be their God,be their God, And they shall be My And they shall be My people."people." Therefore Therefore "Come out from among "Come out from among themthem And And be separatebe separate, says the Lord., says the Lord. Do Do not touch what is unclean,not touch what is unclean, And I will And I will receive you."receive you." "I will be a Father to you, "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."Says the Lord Almighty."

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Ephesians 2:11-13Ephesians 2:11-13Ephesians 2:11-13Ephesians 2:11-13

Therefore remember that you, once Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been who once were far off have been brought brought nearnear by the blood of Christ. by the blood of Christ.

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Ephesians 2:14-16Ephesians 2:14-16Ephesians 2:14-16Ephesians 2:14-16

For He Himself is our peace, who has For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might peace, and that He might reconcilereconcile them them both to God in one body through the both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. enmity.

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Ephesians 2:17-19Ephesians 2:17-19Ephesians 2:17-19Ephesians 2:17-19

And He came and preached peace to And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are Father. Now, therefore, you are no no longer strangers and foreignerslonger strangers and foreigners, but , but fellow citizensfellow citizens with the saints and with the saints and members of members of the household of Godthe household of God, ,

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Ephesians 2:20-22Ephesians 2:20-22Ephesians 2:20-22Ephesians 2:20-22

having been built on the foundation having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, stone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for also are being built together for a a dwelling place of Goddwelling place of God in the Spirit. in the Spirit.

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Romans 8:18-21Romans 8:18-21Romans 8:18-21Romans 8:18-21

For I consider that the sufferings of this For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. liberty of the children of God.

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Romans 8:22-24Romans 8:22-24Romans 8:22-24Romans 8:22-24

For we know that the whole creation For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, adoption, the redemption of our bodythe redemption of our body. . For we were saved in this hope, but For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? does one still hope for what he sees?

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The Biblical Etymology of The Biblical Etymology of "Religion""Religion"

The Biblical Etymology of The Biblical Etymology of "Religion""Religion"

"Hence ... the word, in its Biblical sense, "Hence ... the word, in its Biblical sense, is ... from the Latin verb, is ... from the Latin verb, religo, religo, religare,religare, meaning 'to bind back' or 'to meaning 'to bind back' or 'to bind anew.'"bind anew.'"

"In the Bible, and only in the Bible, do "In the Bible, and only in the Bible, do we find revealed the Remedial System we find revealed the Remedial System by which is effected the healing of the by which is effected the healing of the wounds caused by sin. As a wounds caused by sin. As a consequence of this healing ... The consequence of this healing ... The righteous person ultimately attains righteous person ultimately attains holinessholiness ... which is wholeness or ... which is wholeness or perfection."perfection."

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Galatians 3:26-27Galatians 3:26-27Galatians 3:26-27Galatians 3:26-27

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew 7:13-147:13-14Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew Galatians 3:26-27; Matthew 7:13-147:13-14

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

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Romans 8:1, 11Romans 8:1, 11 Romans 8:1, 11Romans 8:1, 11

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

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1 Corinthians 15:35-381 Corinthians 15:35-381 Corinthians 15:35-381 Corinthians 15:35-38

But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

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1 Corinthians 15:39-411 Corinthians 15:39-411 Corinthians 15:39-411 Corinthians 15:39-41

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

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1 Corinthians 15:42-451 Corinthians 15:42-451 Corinthians 15:42-451 Corinthians 15:42-45

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

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1 Corinthians 15:46-491 Corinthians 15:46-491 Corinthians 15:46-491 Corinthians 15:46-49

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

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1 Corinthians 15:50-521 Corinthians 15:50-521 Corinthians 15:50-521 Corinthians 15:50-52

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

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1 Corinthians 15:53-551 Corinthians 15:53-551 Corinthians 15:53-551 Corinthians 15:53-55

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

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1 Corinthians 15:56-581 Corinthians 15:56-581 Corinthians 15:56-581 Corinthians 15:56-58

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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2 Corinthians 5:1-42 Corinthians 5:1-42 Corinthians 5:1-42 Corinthians 5:1-4

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

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2 Corinthians 5:5-82 Corinthians 5:5-82 Corinthians 5:5-82 Corinthians 5:5-8

Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

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2 Corinthians 5:9-102 Corinthians 5:9-102 Corinthians 5:9-102 Corinthians 5:9-10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

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Philippians 3:20-21Philippians 3:20-21Philippians 3:20-21Philippians 3:20-21

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

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The Formula for "True The Formula for "True Religion"Religion"

The Formula for "True The Formula for "True Religion"Religion"

That system of faith and practice That system of faith and practice revealed in Scripture that is designed to revealed in Scripture that is designed to bind man anew to God in a covenant bind man anew to God in a covenant relationshiprelationship

This system must necessarily include This system must necessarily include that which God has done - and will do - that which God has done - and will do - for us, and that which we must do for for us, and that which we must do for ourselves. ourselves.