Religion can be defined as belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. It involves faith, sacred rituals and practices, moral conduct, spiritual aspirations, and often a formal organization. The Bible provides insight into the true meaning and purpose of religion.
The Bible teaches that religion should be about having a personal relationship with God. It should flow from an inner conviction and desire to know God, not just conforming to outward rules or rituals. True religion involves loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:37-39). It is expressed through righteous living, compassion, and pure conduct (James 1:27).
The Bible warns against empty, hypocritical religion that is just for show. God desires sincerity of heart and genuine devotion (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 6:1-18). He wants people to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The Christian faith is not about rituals, traditions, or legalistic requirements, but grace, redemption, and transformation (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The purpose of religion should be to connect people to God. Through Christ, sinful humans can be reconciled to a holy God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Without this vertical relationship with the Creator, religion loses its meaning and effectiveness. All religious pursuits should point to Jesus, in whom the fullness of deity dwells (Colossians 2:9).
In summary, true religion recognizes that humans were created for relationship with God. Despite their failings, God still loves people and desires their worship and obedience. Through His Son Jesus, God has made reconciliation and intimate fellowship possible. The Bible reveals that religion only finds its ultimate significance when centered on God’s grace and glory revealed in Christ.
Old Testament Background
The Old Testament provides important background for understanding religion. God created mankind for intimate fellowship with Him, but sin corrupted this ideal relationship (Genesis 3). God initiated covenants and gave laws to instruct His people how to live and point them to their need for redemption (Exodus 19:5-6).
Much of Old Testament religion focused on sacrifices, offerings, rituals, and festivals that symbolized atonement for sins and dedication to God (Leviticus 1-7). The temple and tabernacle were central places to encounter God’s presence (1 Kings 8:10-13). Prophets consistently called Israel back to wholehearted devotion over empty ritualism (Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8).
Overall, Old Testament religion impressed upon the Israelites their duties to God and need for cleansing from sin. It instilled moral and ethical conduct as the appropriate response to God’s laws (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). It also engrained within Israel an identity as God’s chosen people and a missional purpose (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:6).
Religion in the Gospels
The four Gospels present Jesus interacting with the Jewish religion of His day. He affirmed love as the greatest commandment but challenged empty traditions (Mark 7:6-13). He upheld God’s laws but opposed legalistic religion that neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Jesus claimed authority over ritual laws, shocking the religious leaders (Matthew 12:1-14).
Jesus associated with tax collectors and sinners, extending God’s grace to the irreligious (Luke 5:30-32). He redefined religious language, noting that true worshippers would worship God in spirit and truth, not at a sacred place (John 4:21-24). Jesus lived out perfect obedience to God, while also offering forgiveness and friendship with sinners.
The Gospels make clear that Jesus ushered in a new covenant relationship with God, mediated through Himself (Luke 22:20). Religion is no longer defined by outward conformity to laws and rituals, but inner transformation through God’s Spirit (John 3:5-8). With Christ’s death and resurrection, the temple sacrifices and ceremonies lost their significance as Jesus fulfilled their purpose once for all (Hebrews 7:27).
Religion in Acts and the Epistles
The book of Acts and the New Testament Epistles trace the origins and teachings of the Christian church. From the beginning, the apostles preached salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, apart from works (Acts 15:7-11; Romans 3:21-26). However, false teachings still crept in promoting religion based on human effort, which Paul vigorously opposed (Galatians 1:6-9).
The New Testament highlights the blessings of those made righteous by God’s grace. They enjoy assurance of salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14), the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), intimacy with God (Hebrews 4:16), and strength to live uprightly (Philippians 1:6). The focus is firmly on what God has done through Christ.
Christian worship is driven by thankfulness and awe at God’s mercy (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). As believers walk by the Spirit, they fulfill God’s moral law by nature (Romans 8:4-6). Biblical religion is about growing in grace and being transformed into Christ’s image, through the Spirit’s power (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Key Principles
In summary, we can identify the following key principles about biblical religion:
- It is based on having a right relationship with God by grace through faith.
- Outer conduct and rituals are secondary to inner conviction and devotion.
- Through Christ, believers have direct access to the Father by the Spirit.
- Love for God and others summarizes the essence of true religion.
- God desires mercy and obedience more than empty sacrifices and rituals.
- Biblical religion transforms hearts and minds from the inside out.
Purpose of Religion According to the Bible
What is the purpose of religion according to the Bible? Here are some key purposes that emerge:
- To have a right relationship with God – Religion should connect people to God in worship, obedience, and love.
- To foster moral conduct – Religion teaches principles for upright living and treating others rightly.
- To provide redemption from sin – Religion reveals humanity’s need for cleansing and forgiveness found in Christ.
- To form community – Religion unites believers with a common identity, mission, and standard of ethics.
- To pass on tradition and rituals – Religion maintains continuity of patterned practices that reflect beliefs.
- To meet human longing for transcendence – Religion expresses innate desires to connect with spiritual reality.
In the Bible, these purposes find their full meaning and outcome only through God’s grace and truth revealed in Jesus Christ. He alone reconciles fallen humanity to a holy God. Jesus critiqued religion that failed to achieve these purposes or usurped the place of God. True biblical religion culminates in the glory of God and enjoyment of Him forever.
Examples of True and False Religion
The Bible includes examples of both true heartfelt religion and false or empty religion. Consider a few illustrations of each:
True Religion
- David – He earnestly sought after God with repentant prayer and heartfelt praise (Psalms 51; 103).
- Daniel – Though pressured, he consistently prayed and worshipped God with sincerity (Daniel 6:10).
- Mary and Martha – Jesus affirmed Mary’s choice to worship and learn at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42).
- Centurion – He demonstrated great faith that astonished Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13).
- New believers – They immediately turned from idols to serve the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
False Religion
- Pharisees – They sought human approval through hypocritical piety (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16).
- Israel – They offered sacrifices without obedience from the heart (Jeremiah 7:21-23).
- Sorcerers – They practiced magic arts rather than true devotion (Acts 8:9-13).
- Judaizers – They imposed old covenant rituals like circumcision on new converts (Galatians 6:12-13).
- Colossians – They embraced mysticism and asceticism over Christ (Colossians 2:16-23).
These examples illustrate the stark contrast between genuine God-focused faith versus empty outward religion. The Bible advocates sincere devotion that engages both heart and actions.
Criticisms Jesus Made of Religion
Jesus leveled several critiques at the religious leaders and practices of His day that provide lessons for assessing religious systems:
- Hypocrisy – He confronted religious leaders who did not practice what they preached (Matthew 23:2-4).
- Legalism – He opposed rules and rituals without moral transformation (Matthew 23:25-28).
- Judgmentalism – He challenged self-righteous religious contempt for sinners (Luke 18:9-14).
- Greed – He rebuked profiting off religion by selling goods and sacrifices (Matthew 21:12-13).
- Insincerity – He rejected heartless worship and rote prayers and fasting (Matthew 6:5-18).
Jesus criticized religion that became an end in itself rather than a means of connecting to God. He underscored that rituals and rules lack inherent value without an inner posture of humility, faith, and love.
False Religion According to the Bible
The Bible warns against various manifestations of false religion. For example:
- Idolatry – Worshipping created things instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25).
- Self-righteousness – Trusting in one’s own goodness versus God’s grace (Luke 18:9-14).
- Human wisdom – Relying on intellectual knowledge rather than God’s revelation (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
- Works-based – Thinking good deeds earn salvation versus receiving it by faith (Galatians 2:16).
- Relativism – Rejecting moral norms and absolutes given by God (Judges 17:6).
- Syncretism – Attempting to blend religions into something novel (Jeremiah 2:11-13).
These examples show that religion easily becomes counterfeit when it revolves around anything other than the true living God and His revealed truth. Only through Christ does religion find its proper center and fulfillment.
True Religion According to the Bible
What does the Bible say true religion looks like? Here are some key characteristics:
- Faith in Christ as Savior and Lord (Acts 16:31)
- Loves and worships God wholeheartedly (Luke 10:27)
- Practices justice, ethics, and upright living (Micah 6:8)
- Submits to God’s commands and principles (1 John 2:3-6)
- Rejects worldliness and sin (James 1:27; Romans 12:2)
- Loves others through generosity and service (1 John 3:16-18)
- Brings glory to God, not self (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
- Relies on the grace of God, not self-effort (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Is motivated by gratitude and joy (Psalm 100:2)
True religion transforms both the heart and outward actions. It is fundamentally about a restored relationship with God through the redemptive work of Jesus.
Biblical Warnings Against Empty Religion
The Bible consistently warns against religion that is merely outward show without genuine devotion. For example:
- “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)
- “Going through the motions of worship they accepted as their worship of me.” (Isaiah 29:13)
- “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?” (1 Samuel 15:22)
- “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6)
- “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Matthew 15:9)
God desires sincere faith that transforms motivations and conduct. Outward religion without inner conviction and obedience is worthless. The prophets, Jesus, and apostles all emphasized devotion of the heart unto God.
Conclusion
In summary, the Bible provides a framework for understanding true biblical religion. It is fundamentally about connecting to God through humble faith in Christ, resulting in transformed thinking and conduct by the Spirit’s power. External rituals and actions are meaningless without the inner reality.
The purpose of religion is to worship God rightly, turn from sin, love others, find redemption in Christ, and live holy lives. Jesus criticized empty religion, and the Bible warns against false forms focused on anything other than God. According to Scripture, religion only finds validity when centered on God’s glory and grace revealed in Jesus.
