The Christian Religion

The vast majority of the world—including many who call themselves Christians—believe Christianity is merely another one of the world’s religions. Thus, we often hear it referred to as “the Christian religion.” I submit to you that this is because there is a misunderstanding of what the two words—“Christian,”(if used in its proper application) and “religion”—actually mean.

If we apply the Biblical principle of right division (2 Tim. 2:15) we shall find that the phrase, “Christian Religion” is an oxymoron. An oxymoron is usually a two word phrase that presents an impossibility, e.g., “dry water,” “warm ice,” or “black color,” etc. Water cannot be dry, ice cannot be warm, and black is not a color, but rather the total absence of it,. In the same token, true Christianity cannot be a religion because it is the total absence of religion.

Allow me to explain.

The word religion is only referred to five times in the entire Bible—all in the New Testament—three times by the Apostle Paul, and twice by the Apostle James (Acts 26:5; Galatians 1:13,14; James 1:26,27). In James’ case the purpose of the word’s usage is to charge the twelve tribes—i.e., Israel (James 1:1)—not necessarily to cease from the practice of religion, but to validate it through the practice of what he refers to as “pure religion,” viz., “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”(Also see Isaiah 1:13-17; Micah 6:8)

In Paul’s case it is clearly spoken of as something that is in the past, and this is where I want to concentrate our study. In doing this let’s first establish the definition of the word as it is used in the Bible. The English word “religion” is translated from the Greek, “Threskeia,” and is defined as, “ceremonial observance.” The word “ceremony” isn’t in a King James Bible, but Webster defines it as “an outward rite (ritual), or external form in religion.”¹

If we put these two definitions together, it could correctly be said that religion is something that involves an external, ceremonial observance of a rite or ritual. Why is this incompatible with Christianity? In the three references to religion made by the Apostle Paul, all make reference to the “Jew’s Religion,” or the religious observances practiced by the nation of Israel according to the Mosaic Law (Old Testament). Two of these references are made within the context of a letter that is written for the express purpose of reproving the apparent return to the practice of this religion. In his letter to the Galatians, chapters 3,4 and 5, Paul writes:

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:1-3)

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Gal. 4: 9-11)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”(Gal. 5: 1,2)

These Galatians, who had apparently believed the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. !0:9-13), were being drawn back (“bewitched”) into the observance of the Law by some of their zealous Jewish kinsman (Rom. 10:1-3), which Paul refers to as going back under “the yoke of bondage.” Why would he say such a thing, when in his letter to the Romans he referred to the Law as “holy, and…just, and good?” (Rom. 7:12) What he was trying to get across to these Galatian and Roman Christians is that the law, now, is no longer something to be observed—as in older times—but is rather, as he put it, a “schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24). How can the law bring us to Christ? He explains this in Romans 3:

“Therefore, by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (verse 20)

The law came to show us what we really are: transgressors! As we attempt to do the works of the law in order to be justified, at some point we must come to the conclusion that we’re a complete failure, because it says that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). What recourse do we have left? Faith!

“But now, the righteousness of God, without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the profits; Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ (my emphasis) unto all and upon all them that believe….” (Rom. 3:21,22)

What we have left is the “faith of Christ,” and according to Paul’s gospel, that is all we need. We can have God’s righteousness imputed to us by ceasing from our religious works (practice), and simply believing and receiving “the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16; 4:4,5,6; Gal. 1:7):

“Moreover brethren I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures…” (1 Co. 15:1-4)

The Galatians had received the “good news” of forgiveness of their sins—apart from the works of the law (Galatians 2:16)—but then diluted it by returning to the practice of the old religion. This rendered the whole thing to be vain (worthless). This is what I like to refer to as “yes but” salvation. “Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, but I believe I need to continue my religious observances in order to be saved, or to validate my salvation.”

Paul Did Not Established A New Religion. But, Rather, Revealed A New Dispensation

The great error of the so-called Christian Religion, with its thousands of variations, is it teaches that Christianity is the New Testament Church, the replacement for Old Testament Judaism, or, as Paul put it, “the Jew’s religion.” It says, basically, that the Christian church is the spiritual equivalent of Old Testament, literal Israel, or “spiritual Israel,” if you will, and this being the case, forms a new religion, with a new set of rituals to be observed. Although these ritual observances vary in number and degree from one Christian religious system to the next, there seems to be two that form a common bond among them all: water baptism, and the Eucharist or communion table.

We are told that the observance of water baptism replaced physical circumcision, which was the sign of the covenant between God and his chosen people, Israel (Genesis 17:8-14). The Eucharist or communion table/supper is the re-enactment of the last supper (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22), which replaces the animal sacrifices for sins of the OT system. The justification for these two observances is that they were instituted by the Lord himself, and therefore should/must be observed by all who consider themselves his followers.

While it is true these rites were to be observed by Christ’s followers then, are they to be observed by those who call themselves Christians now? For the answer to this consider what the apostle Paul said (2 Tim 2:7)in his letter to the Colossians:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:6-12)

The italicized lines prove one thing: both circumcision and baptism are now spiritual rather than physical rites of passage. Physical, or visibly demonstrative spirituality is another oxymoron. If it is spiritual then it cannot be physical or visible. The word “spirit” comes from the Greek word “pneuma,” where we get our English word “Pneumatic,” which means, “by air.” In other words it is that which cannot be seen. Therefore, it says that we now “… walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). In other words, we walk according to that which is spiritual, or what is written, rather than according to what we see or feel. This summarily shoots down the idea that physical, religious demonstrations—whether they are of the ceremonial sort, or of the miraculous signs sort—can be that which is of faith, or spiritual.

Contrary to the common assertion by the religious establishment that physical baptism has replaced physical circumcision in the present church, the above body of scripture clearly says both circumcision and baptism are now spiritual rites of passage rather than physical. First, both practices were prescribed as ordinances under the law. Baptism or “washing” was very much a part of the sacrificial offerings of the Old Testament priests. Second, those Jews being baptized by John (the Baptist) in the Jordan river, at the beginning of the Lord’s three year ministry, were that “nation of priests” prophesied of in Exodus 19:6, which Peter called “a royal priesthood.” (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, physical baptism would have been in order. The question is: is the present day church these same people? The answer is no, and this is because we now exist in what Paul referred to as “The Mystery.”

Paul’s Gospel: “The Mystery”

The church the apostle Paul spoke of, he referred to as the “body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). This church was part of a “mystery” he said “was kept secret since the world began…from the beginning of the world…hid in God…but now is made manifest” (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:9). If this was a mystery, not made known until revealed by Paul in his 13 epistles, then it could not have been known of or revealed in the four gospel accounts of the Lord’s earthly ministry to Israel (Matt. 15:24; Romans 15:8). The center piece of Paul’s revelation, the mystery, was a spiritual entity he called the “body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4; 1 Co. 12:27; Eph. 4:12), which was comprised of individuals—Jew or Gentile—who believed what he Called “the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16), and upon believing this gospel were placed into this body through the operation of a spiritual baptism/circumcision: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body….the circumcision made without hands (1 Co. 12:13: Col. 2:11,12). There can be no other baptism than this spiritual one because Paul said there was now only “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5), therefore, the Spirit baptism of Colossians 2 and 1 Corinthians 12 must be it. The body of Christ is being formed by the gospel of Christ, and is enjoined together in one, cohesive community (the “fellowhship of the mystery”- Eph. 3:9), by the elimination of religious ordinances:

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross (Eph. 2:13-16; Col 2:13-14)

Although it would certainly be correct to say that the New Testament church was charged with the observance/practice of ordinances, and that everyone (followers of Paul, Peter, James and John alike) was practicing the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord’s Supper during the Acts transition period, the above passages clearly say it isn’t so anymore.

Does this prove God to be guilty of duplicity? Absolutely not! There is no contradiction here, because the body of Christ is not the New Testament church, nor are we who live in the world today in the New Testament dispensation. We are in the “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2), and—if we’re saved—we’re in the church, the body of Christ, which is an invisible, spiritual organism, not a physical, visible organization.

Paul said in his second letter to Timothy that he should rightly divide the word of truth…and “consider what I (Paul) say, and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Timothy 2:7,15). If folks who promote Christianity as a religion would do this, they would readily see that Paul’s revelation is the last word on the matter, and that it is, therefore, what has been “made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26); not the instructions in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Back in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he had some strong words for those who were perverting his gospel with religion:

“I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
(Gal. 1:6-9)

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that there be no divisions among you….” (1 Cor. 1:10)

The gospel Paul (and those who came after him, like Timothy) preached was the gospel of Christ, which demanded nothing other than simple belief/trust in order to be eternally saved. To add anything at all to it—no matter how right the activity may feel—would be, according to verse 6, a perversion of this gospel, and worthy of cursing (separation from God). Turning Christianity into a religion wrongly divides the church on the basis of ordinances, and moves the emphasis away from the true gospel message of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8), to the “self-improvement gospel,” and the pursuit of emotional titillation and material acquisition.

The question that often arises in objection to this position is: If this is the case, why do all these religious organizations that refer to themselves as being Christian, or “Christ centered,” etc., apparently get away with—even flourish—continuing some form or another of religious ritual/practice? Grace. Because we are in the dispensation of grace, God will not—by his own written declaration—judge anyone in this life for practicing a religion. He has said all He’s going to say about it and left this in His book, the Bible, which he promised to preserve to all generations (Ps. 12:6,7). Although He is holding off judgment now, it is all going to be accounted for someday at what Paul referred to as “the judgment seat of Christ.” (Rom. 14:10-11) Concerning this day of judgment, Paul said, “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done…Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (Col. 3:25; 2 Co. 5:11)

These two statements should be more than enough to persuade even the most ardent proponents of religion to pause and consider, indeed, whether or not the temporal/emotional gains they receive from it now are worth the eternal loss they will suffer as a result of it later.

MS

Please feel free to reprint this article for distribution. All Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

Are you saved? Jesus Christ—“who knew no sin”—and his sacrificial death on the Cross, has made the way for “everyone that believeth…to be reconciled to God. History has shown that whatever peace man has achieved in the world can only be temporary. The Bible says that individual men and women can know, beyond a doubt, that they are saved and bound for heaven, and therefore have absolute and permanent peace, regardless of what is going on in the world, by trusting Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for their eternal salvation. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Have you done this? If not, why not now?

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