A Study of "True Religion"

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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"

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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The Meaning of "Religion"The Meaning of "Religion"

Ambiguity of the Word "Religion"Ambiguity of the Word "Religion" The Pagan Etymology of "Religion"The Pagan Etymology of "Religion" Variations in Meaning of "Religion"Variations in Meaning of "Religion"

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Ambiguity of the Word "Religion"Ambiguity of the Word "Religion"

"It is doubtful that there is a more "It is doubtful that there is a more ambiguous word in our language today ambiguous word in our language today than the word 'religion.' It has literally than the word 'religion.' It has literally come to mean 'all things to all men.'"come to mean 'all things to all men.'"

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The Pagan Etymology of The Pagan Etymology of "Religion""Religion"

"The pagan etymology of the word is "The pagan etymology of the word is given us by Cicero, the Latin essayist. He given us by Cicero, the Latin essayist. He derives it … from … derives it … from … relegorelego, , relegererelegere, , meaning 'to go over again,' 'to consider meaning 'to go over again,' 'to consider carefully,' that is, in thought, reading, carefully,' that is, in thought, reading, and speech; and hence, as used by him, and speech; and hence, as used by him, to mean ‘reverent observance’ of duties to mean ‘reverent observance’ of duties to the gods. This etymology expresses to the gods. This etymology expresses fully the concept of 'religion' that lay fully the concept of 'religion' that lay back of the idolatry and ritualism of back of the idolatry and ritualism of pagan cults."pagan cults."

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Variations in Meaning of Variations in Meaning of "Religion""Religion"

"In our day the word is used to embrace "In our day the word is used to embrace everything from everything from …… devotion to an object, devotion to an object, on one hand, to sheer superstition, on the on one hand, to sheer superstition, on the other." other." "Considered subjectively, of course, as "Considered subjectively, of course, as devotion to an object, it can take in devotion to an object, it can take in almost any attitude or cult imaginable."almost any attitude or cult imaginable."

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"From this 'common denominator' point of "From this 'common denominator' point of view alone, to be religious is to be serious view alone, to be religious is to be serious about something as of supreme value in about something as of supreme value in life, and to take an attitude of commitment life, and to take an attitude of commitment to the object that is so valued. to the object that is so valued. "Obviously, from this viewpoint, religion "Obviously, from this viewpoint, religion may have anything for its object, provided may have anything for its object, provided the anything is regarded as worthy of the anything is regarded as worthy of devotion."devotion."

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"Others have defined religion as 'anything "Others have defined religion as 'anything in which one believes.' From this point of in which one believes.' From this point of view devil-worship could be called a view devil-worship could be called a religion. From this viewpoint, the object religion. From this viewpoint, the object of religion may be a Party or a Cause … an of religion may be a Party or a Cause … an idol or an icon, or a whole pantheon of idol or an icon, or a whole pantheon of anthropomorphic gods and goddesses; it anthropomorphic gods and goddesses; it may be a fetish or an amulet, or some may be a fetish or an amulet, or some impersonal magic force ... the celestial impersonal magic force ... the celestial bodies (sun, moon, star) or…bodies (sun, moon, star) or…

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"…it may be 'Mother Earth' "…it may be 'Mother Earth' (Terra Mater)(Terra Mater), , as in the ancient Cult of Fertility; it may as in the ancient Cult of Fertility; it may be an animal, a bird, or even an insect … be an animal, a bird, or even an insect … man himself … it may even be the Devil, man himself … it may even be the Devil, as in some ‘spiritualistic’ cults. Or, indeed as in some ‘spiritualistic’ cults. Or, indeed it may be it may be the God of the Biblethe God of the Bible, the living , the living and true God, the God and Father of our and true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."Lord Jesus Christ."

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Romans 1:18-32Romans 1:18-32

For the wrath of God is revealed from For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, althoughwithout excuse, because, although

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they knew God, they did not glorify Him as they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodiesbodies

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among themselves, who exchanged the among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving inwhat is shameful, and receiving in

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themselves the penalty of their error which themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventorsviolent, proud, boasters, inventors

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of evil things, disobedient to of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who same but also approve of those who practice them.practice them.

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Exodus 3:13Exodus 3:13

Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"shall I say to them?"

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Exodus 3:14-15Exodus 3:14-15

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Moreover God said to Moses, to you.' " Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'My memorial to all generations.'

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Deuteronomy 6:4-5Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your with all your soul, and with all your strength."strength."

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Acts 17:24-26Acts 17:24-26

God, who made the world and everything in God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

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Acts 17:27-29Acts 17:27-29

so that they should seek the Lord, in so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' Therefore, since we are offspring.' Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.shaped by art and man's devising.

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Acts 17:30-31Acts 17:30-31

Truly, these times of ignorance God Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."by raising Him from the dead."

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What "True Religion" Is NotWhat "True Religion" Is Not

1.1. "It is not just "It is not just respectabilityrespectability." ." 2.2. "It is not just a "It is not just a status symbolstatus symbol, although , although

thousands of church members thousands of church members undoubtedly use it as such."undoubtedly use it as such."

3.3. "It is not "It is not ritualismritualism. Pagan cults have . Pagan cults have always been built around solemn always been built around solemn festivals and processions, and pagan festivals and processions, and pagan temples have always reeked with the temples have always reeked with the fumes of incense."fumes of incense."

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4.4. "It is not a matter of "It is not a matter of barterbarter, saying to , saying to God, 'You scratch my back, and I'll God, 'You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.'“scratch yours.'“

5.5. "It is not an "It is not an escapist deviceescapist device."."6.6. "It is not just "It is not just wishful thinkingwishful thinking."."7.7. "Religion is not just a "Religion is not just a convenience convenience … …

something that needs to be maintained something that needs to be maintained to stabilize moral and social orderto stabilize moral and social order."."

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8.8. "Religion is not primarily a "Religion is not primarily a social social institutioninstitution. Nor is it designed to be . Nor is it designed to be used as a support of social stability."used as a support of social stability."

9.9. "It is not just "It is not just morality morality … it goes … it goes beyond morality."beyond morality."

10.10. "It is not "It is not nature-worshipnature-worship."."

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

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

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And not only that, but we also rejoice in And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- spread to all men, because all sinned-- (For until the law sin was in the world, (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no but sin is not imputed when there is no law. law.

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Nevertheless death reigned from Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. to come.

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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

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Isaiah 59:1-2Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. that He will not hear.

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

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Psalm 51:1-2Psalm 51:1-2

Have mercy upon me, O God, Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

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Psalm 51:3-4Psalm 51:3-4

For I acknowledge my For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always transgressions, And my sin is always before me. before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You You speak, And blameless when You judge. judge.

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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

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Hebrews 12:14-16Hebrews 12:14-16

Pursue peace with all people, and Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. morsel of food sold his birthright.

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Romans 8:10Romans 8:10

And if Christ is in you, the body is And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. life because of righteousness.

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Romans 14:17Romans 14:17

Therefore do not let your good be Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit.

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Matthew 5:8Matthew 5:8

"Blessed are the pure in heart, For "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." they shall see God."

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Hebrews 12:9Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore, we have had human Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? to the Father of spirits and live?

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

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John 3:16John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."perish but have everlasting life."

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Genesis 1:27Genesis 1:27

So God created man in His own So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created him; male and female He created them. created them.

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Genesis 2:7Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. and man became a living being.

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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 5:17-192 Corinthians 5:17-19

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

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2 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 reconciled to God. Christ's behalf, be reconciled 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.

A Study of "True Religion"

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Transcript of A Study of "True Religion"