The Vitality Of Religion To Salvation

(I do not own this)

It is a very common knowledge among people internationally that religion is the church where they belong to. When you pose the question: “What is your religion? Somebody readily answers: “I am a Catholic, or a Baptist, or a Seventh Day Adventist, etc.

Even when signing a legal or public document, people write down at the space provided for religion their ‘organized sect’ or religion. So, it has been accepted internationally that the religion of somebody is the church where he is affiliated to.

The word religion in the Bible is ‘thrēskeia’ in the Greek Bible. Incidentally, the reason why we are citing Greek is because it was the language used by the New Testament writers like Paul and Luke who used the word ‘thrēskeia’, which was translated as religion in the English and Spanish Bible; And in the Bible, there is such thing as pure and undefiled ‘thrēskeia’ or religion.

(James 1:27) “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
The apostle Paul made mention of his former affiliation with the religion or ‘thrēskeia’ of the Jews before he became a Christian.

(Galatians 1:13) “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…”
He used the word ‘thrēskeia’ to denote the organized religion of the Jews and their practices. He explained this on the following verse (verse 14).

(Galatians 1:14) “And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”
If we look in the Greek dictionary of New Testament terms, the word ‘‘thrēskeia’or religion means:

θρησκεία
thrēskeia
thrace-ki’-ah


From a derivative of G2357; ceremonial observance: – religion, worshipping. (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries)

So, the Greek word means that religion is ceremonial observance of something related to worship. Is religion vital to salvation? Here is our answer:

Whether you regard religion as the organization you belong to or as a ceremonial observance in worship, we believe that it is very vital to salvation! Your ‘organized religion’ or organization has a vital influence in your thinking, character, priorities, and beliefs. There are people who kill because their religion allows them, if not teaching them, to kill. Some, like the Mormons allows polygamous relationships; meaning having more than one wife. In their book called Doctrines and Covenants, they have this to say:


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You can have ten wives according to Mormon doctrines. Religion influences the kind of family or life that you will live for the rest of your life. Religion also influences human societies and cultures — what they will eat and drink or not, what they should wear, the kind of profession they would prefer, and even the kind of government they are going to impose on people. Some organized religions teach their members to even overthrow the government of a land which does not favor their faith. Some even institute violent acts resulting in mass murders and killings. Analyzing the way religion influences the character of a person or a sector of society implies that religion is very vital to salvation. If you have fallen victim to ‘blind’ religious leaders, and have followed ‘blindly’ their erroneous concept of worship, you will not be saved!

(Matthew 15:14) “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Following man’s thoughts, ideas, and teachings will make your worship or religion vain, and you will not be saved.
(Mark 7:7-8) “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”

Even if at the outlook, some religious practices may seem to be pious or holy but, if they are not God’s law, it is futile.
(Colossians 2:23) “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their selfimposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” NIV

If these things happen to anybody, I am sorry to say that there is no salvation the he or she can hope for.
(Romans 10:3) “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” NIV

If in case anybody will say that salvation does not depend on your religious affiliation but in your ‘personal relationship’ to God or to Christ, the Bible has this to say:

(Romans 12:9) “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” KJV
The group that you cling to or cleave to is a great factor to salvation. The Bible tells us God’s teachings to know which group we must affiliate ourselves.

(1 John 1:3-4) “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
 
Reanne, you said..........................
"Whether you regard religion as the organization you belong to or as a ceremonial observance in worship, we believe that it is very vital to salvation! "

NOPE!

I would be interested to know the name of the denominational church that you are a member of.

I would also like you to post the Scriptures that support such a claim.

Without said Scripture your claim is worthless and is in fact an opinion and nothing more.

Being a member of a church, the choir, a deacon a pastor or song director does nothing for your salvation.....nothing!

Those are works or things we do because we ARE saved but have nothing to do with being saved.

IF that is what the rest of the world thinks, then they are just as wrong as you are.
 
To have fellowship with the Father and the Son you must have fellowship with the right group of people like the apostles! If you are going to associate yourself to a group of murderers and fanatics, you certainly will not be saved.

(Romans 16:17-18) “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

We are commanded by God to disassociate ourselves to such kind of people or group, especially to idol worshippers.
(2 Corinthians 6:17) “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

If, in any case, somebody will say that he or she wants to be alone and do not have any ‘religion’, will he or she be saved? Remember that religion means worship. Anybody who says that he or she does not want to worship God will not be saved!
The Bible teaches us of a ‘Church’ — a ‘True Church’. The Church is a divine institution established by God through Christ. It is the ‘body’ whose ‘head’ is Christ Himself.

(Colossians 1:18) “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

We are ordained by God to be parts of such body or Church by accepting the gospel.
(Ephesians 3:6) “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel…”

That Church is the Church of God!
(2 Corinthians 1:1) “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia…”

In the Church of God, the apostles teach the pure and undefiled religion or worship.

(James 1:27) “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

All the apostles teach in the Church of God, so it is in the Church that true religion, pure and undefiled, is being practiced.
(1 Corinthians 12:28) “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Anybody who will reject the Church of the Bible, like most of the Born Again movements who call themselves ‘fellowships’, ‘ministries’, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses who call themselves ‘witnesses’ instead of church, and avoid the use of the word ‘church’ which came from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, are blatant anti-Christ! digg
I hope this article will answer some of the most important questions and discussions about religion.

God Bless.
Bro Eli Soriano

(I do not own this, but I also believe what is written above. www.esoriano.wordpress.com . The Official Blog of the Presiding Minister, Members of the Church of God, International www.mcgi.org)
 
Reanne, you said..........................
"Whether you regard religion as the organization you belong to or as a ceremonial observance in worship, we believe that it is very vital to salvation! "

NOPE!

I would be interested to know the name of the denominational church that you are a member of.

I would also like you to post the Scriptures that support such a claim.

Without said Scripture your claim is worthless and is in fact an opinion and nothing more.

Being a member of a church, the choir, a deacon a pastor or song director does nothing for your salvation.....nothing!

Those are works or things we do because we ARE saved but have nothing to do with being saved.

IF that is what the rest of the world thinks, then they are just as wrong as you are.


Read it first and you will see what church it is..
 
I have to agree with Major. Come Judgement Day, when we all stand before God, He is not going to ask "were you Ohio Synod Baptist or Reformed?", "were you Greek Orthodox or Syrian Orthodox?". Really doesn't matter.
A more likely question would be "what did you do with the time alotted to you?"
 
I am a 'Christian'; because I believe Christ is the Son of God in God and the Creator of Life. I just happen to go to Faith Bible Baptist Church because I am of one accord with the Bible believing congregation. Do we have issues? Of course-but we are 'working' for the Glory of God. Not religion.
 
I am a 'Christian'; because I believe Christ is the Son of God in God and the Creator of Life. I just happen to go to Faith Bible Baptist Church because I am of one accord with the Bible believing congregation. Do we have issues? Of course-but we are 'working' for the Glory of God. Not religion.

Excellant!
 
I'm a Greek teacher, let me see if I can throw some light on this. The word that you are discussing, thrēskeia simply means "religion," but it can be used for false religions, like the Pharisees, or the true faith. James 1:26-27 uses the word to say that any religion should produce three things: a controlled tonuge, a purity of life, and concern for the plight of others. If any religion doesn't produce these three qualities, it is a useless religion with no practical value. Paul used this word in Acts 26:5 to describe his former life as a Pharisee in that religion. He was very religious as a Pharisee, but it was the wrong religion. In the only other NT reference using this word, Paul in Colossians 2:18 denoted the religion of the Gnostics who worshiped angels and the various spirit beings, which was also a false religion.
Bishop Trench, in this book on Synonyms of the New Testament, says this word refers to the outward and visible results of a faith without regard to the inner pursuasion, while the word EULABAS is used of the inner mind-set of a religious faith.
 
It is an off shoot of the World Wide Church headed by Herbert Armstrong and followed by his son Garner Ted Armstrong, correct?

Major, this church is not Armstrongism, rather it is a Filipino cult. My wife is Filipino and she has often spoken to me of this group being a cult. They deny the Trinity, the omnipotence of God, the omnipresence of God, and the omniscience of God. They believe that their church is the Kingdom of God on earth and that it is necessary to salvation. Salvation, according to them can be obtained only by 'following Christ's laws'. However, they also teach it is possible to be saved without ever having heard the gospel. Their leader "Bro. Eli" Soriano has been arrested on charges of rape. In the Philippines, if you flip through the channels, you will always seem to find their program 'Ang Dating Daan' on somewhere.
 
Major, this church is not Armstrongism, rather it is a Filipino cult. My wife is Filipino and she has often spoken to me of this group being a cult. They deny the Trinity, the omnipotence of God, the omnipresence of God, and the omniscience of God. They believe that their church is the Kingdom of God on earth and that it is necessary to salvation. Salvation, according to them can be obtained only by 'following Christ's laws'. However, they also teach it is possible to be saved without ever having heard the gospel. Their leader "Bro. Eli" Soriano has been arrested on charges of rape. In the Philippines, if you flip through the channels, you will always seem to find their program 'Ang Dating Daan' on somewhere.

Thank you Mr. D. From my conversations with Reanne I was pretty sure that it was some kind of cult.
 
There were no evidences that he’s a raper. They are just making story because bro. Eli expose their beliefs and doctrines that contrary the Bible. His life is in danger. Because he was attacking and exposing their unbiblical beliefs like the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) headed by Manalo. He always received death threat. Church of God is not cult It is not cult. It is in the Bible. It is biblical. They cannot arrest him bec. They have no evidence. And he cannot hide. Bec he still he preach the gospel. And it is difficult to hide in this days if many people know where you are.

God is omnipresent,, the holy trinity, once saved always save, faith alone can save etc.. and etc. are not biblical. Are they.? It may be found in different bible version today but in the original manuscript you’ll not found any.
If this is just a filipino cult prove it. Watch his explanation about these topics you were saying. Then prove if it is not biblical. He has answer from the bible. In just a click you can watch it. Or can read some on his official blog. www.esoriano.wordpress.com
I may commit mistakes but when talking about the words of God I would only believe if it is biblical. you can start watching him on youtube he has lots of video or can start one by one
http://www.theoldpath.tv/video/what-is-trinity-do-you-believe-in-the-word-trinity
 
I'll tell you what's not biblical -God is omnipresent,, the holy trinity, once saved always save, faith alone can save etc.. and etc. are not biblical. Are they.? It may be found in different bible version today but in the original manuscript you’ll not found any.

In case you missed my point - that would be you. Talk about blind ... sighs. Agendas.
 
PS - Are you thinking God isn't everywhere because you are hoping he won't see what you write?:) Just wondering.
 
PS - Are you thinking God isn't everywhere because you are hoping he won't see what you write?:) Just wondering.

No. Because the writer said:


God is not in a place where there are evil strife and envy.
(James 3:16, 15) “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
He is not where confusion dwells.
(1 Corinthians 14:33) “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

It is an insult to God for anybody to say that He is everywhere. The disrespectful are trying to drag God to every place they want Him to be: In the casinos? The prostitution dens? In the place of demons? God forbids! This is the teaching of the misled, the blinded, and the wicked.
 
So who did you accept in your heart when you accepted Christ? Are you saying he's not really there? No wonder you don't think you are saved. God is in all of the places you named, btw. You have been mislead.
 
I mispoke or mistyped - God is not in hell. The definition of hell is apart from God. But otherwise he is everywhere on this plain. Waiting to be called by his lost sheep to come home
 
Reanne, God is indeed everywhere. The Bible says that he is even in hell. Psalm 139:8,

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Even where evil is, the eyes of the Lord are there beholding it. Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Have your eyes ever been somewhere where you weren't?

Also, stating that something was not in the original manuscripts, even if it is in Bible versions today is an unproveable statement. No one alive today has seen the original manuscripts. The text of the Bible is the most well attested text in the history of mankind. To declare that problem passages in the Bible today were not originally there is just a ruse to get around believing the Bible. Those who have indoctrinated you must get rid of those verses because they know they cannot stand their scrutiny. Also, your statement denies God's promise to preserve his own word. Psalm 12:6,7

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
 
Reanne, God is indeed everywhere. The Bible says that he is even in hell. Psalm 139:8,

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Even where evil is, the eyes of the Lord are there beholding it. Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Have your eyes ever been somewhere where you weren't?

Also, stating that something was not in the original manuscripts, even if it is in Bible versions today is an unproveable statement. No one alive today has seen the original manuscripts. The text of the Bible is the most well attested text in the history of mankind. To declare that problem passages in the Bible today were not originally there is just a ruse to get around believing the Bible. Those who have indoctrinated you must get rid of those verses because they know they cannot stand their scrutiny. Also, your statement denies God's promise to preserve his own word. Psalm 12:6,7

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

True words given in love to teach the wandering child to come home!

I hope that they will be received as such by our friend Reanne.
 
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