Does Your Religion Make You Holy?

[Not A Troll]

If your religion does not make you holy, it will damn you.
Charles Spurgeon

The Christian gospel is a two-way road. On the one hand, it seeks to change the souls of men, and thereby unite them with God; on the other hand, it seeks to change the environmental conditions of men so the soul will have a chance after it is changed.
Martin Luther King Jr.

Wherever we find the Word of God surely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ, there, it is not to be doubted, is a church of God.
John Calvin

 

[T-Bone]

No, religion does not make me holy...it is the work of the Holy Spirit who has made me holy and acceptable in God's sight, it is my eternal standing & it is amazing.  And it is the Holy Spirit who is working in me day by day to make me in this life more into the image of my Savior.  Religion has nothing to do with it!

 

[Smellin Coffee]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

 

[Not A Troll]

No, religion does not make me holy...it is the work of the Holy Spirit who has made me holy and acceptable in God's sight, it is my eternal standing & it is amazing.  And it is the Holy Spirit who is working in me day by day to make me in this life more into the image of my Savior.  Religion has nothing to do with it!

For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life.
Deuteronomy 32:47

..the true religion of Christ, which consists in a vital faith in his person, his blood, and his righteousness, and which produces obedience to his commands, and a love to God, IS NOT A FICTION.
C. H. SPURGEON

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jesus:

Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Since we are isolating verses with no proper context as to their level of exclusiveness.)

 

[Smellin Coffee]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jesus:

Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Since we are isolating verses with no proper context as to their level of exclusiveness.)

James is identifying true religion. How is that not in context with "Does your religion make you holy?"

I should have also included James' mention on how to destroy one's own religion:

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

 

[Not A Troll]

If a Church follows a corrupt set of teachings, a false religion, then those who follow are not holy.

The desire to be holy is rooted in true religion - this starts at the Cross and continues as a inward drive for all things clean.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

A Church void of this, a religion void of this, a person void of this is in a dangerous place.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jesus:

Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Since we are isolating verses with no proper context as to their level of exclusiveness.)

James is identifying true religion. How is that not in context with "Does your religion make you holy?"

I should have also included James' mention on how to destroy one's own religion:

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

IF responding to your one trick pony post is not bridling my tongue, then....
"Physician, heal thyself"

 

[T-Bone]

No, religion does not make me holy...it is the work of the Holy Spirit who has made me holy and acceptable in God's sight, it is my eternal standing & it is amazing.  And it is the Holy Spirit who is working in me day by day to make me in this life more into the image of my Savior.  Religion has nothing to do with it!

For it is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life.
Deuteronomy 32:47

..the true religion of Christ, which consists in a vital faith in his person, his blood, and his righteousness, and which produces obedience to his commands, and a love to God, IS NOT A FICTION.
C. H. SPURGEON

Oh I am sorry, I must have been wrong! :  I like Spurgeon just fine...but I will stick with what I said, more biblical!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

If a Church follows a corrupt set of teachings, a false religion, then those who follow are not holy.

The desire to be holy is rooted in true religion - this starts at the Cross and continues as a inward drive for all things clean.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

A Church void of this, a religion void of this, a person void of this is in a dangerous place.

I think the contemporary definition of 'religion' might cause some confusion here. Define religion for the purpose of this thread.

Paul's words come to mind, "if any be in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passing away and all things are becoming new"

 

[Not A Troll]

If a Church follows a corrupt set of teachings, a false religion, then those who follow are not holy.

The desire to be holy is rooted in true religion - this starts at the Cross and continues as a inward drive for all things clean.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

A Church void of this, a religion void of this, a person void of this is in a dangerous place.

I think the contemporary definition of 'religion' might cause some confusion here. Define religion for the purpose of this thread.

Paul's words come to mind, "if any be in Christ he is a new creation, old things are passing away and all things are becoming new"

I agree with Noah Webster, who defined it as "Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion."

A more simplistic definition would be "Any system of faith and worship."

One can then have true religion and false.

 

[christundivided]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

 

[Not A Troll]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

We all should be visiting the less fortunate. Jesus did. He visited me once, and I could never repay that.

 

[christundivided]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jesus:

Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Since we are isolating verses with no proper context as to their level of exclusiveness.)

James is identifying true religion. How is that not in context with "Does your religion make you holy?"

I should have also included James' mention on how to destroy one's own religion:

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

IF responding to your one trick pony post is not bridling my tongue, then....
"Physician, heal thyself"

If only "James" had enough sense to realize that Christ didn't die for fallen angels..... He'd realize that Faith without works does and has saved every man that has ever received Eternal Life.

 

[christundivided]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

We all should be visiting the less fortunate. Jesus did. He visited me once, and I could never repay that.

He did???? Well.... thank Jesus.

Have you visited any orphans lately? How many widows do you support?

 

[Not A Troll]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

We all should be visiting the less fortunate. Jesus did. He visited me once, and I could never repay that.

He did???? Well.... thank Jesus.

Have you visited any orphans lately? How many widows do you support?

This is a weakness recently found in our Church, in my own life, and something I pray God will enhance in days, weeks & years to come.

 

[christundivided]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

We all should be visiting the less fortunate. Jesus did. He visited me once, and I could never repay that.

He did???? Well.... thank Jesus.

Have you visited any orphans lately? How many widows do you support?

This is a weakness recently found in our Church, in my own life, and something I pray God will enhance in days, weeks & years to come.

Well it must be "HELL" for you. You better get to visiting them or expect to burn throughout Eternity.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

Not that difficult to identify. Just join me in my next visit to the local retirement center and orphanage.

Unfortunately, time gets wasted on seeing the widowers as well so I guess I'm not at all like James.

 

[christundivided]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Are you regularly visiting orphans and widows in your continuing quest to be more like James?

Maybe you can start a service in your area to properly identify them..... I'm sure it would be a benefit to the vast multitudes of people that will be joining you.

Not that difficult to identify. Just join me in my next visit to the local retirement center and orphanage.

Unfortunately, time gets wasted on seeing the widowers as well so I guess I'm not at all like James.

Is this sorta like "Hail Marys"???

How many do you need to get under you belt before you feel safely aboard?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jesus:

Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Since we are isolating verses with no proper context as to their level of exclusiveness.)

James is identifying true religion. How is that not in context with "Does your religion make you holy?"

I should have also included James' mention on how to destroy one's own religion:

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

IF responding to your one trick pony post is not bridling my tongue, then....
"Physician, heal thyself"

No sir, it wasn't meant to be directed to you or anybody else in particular. Sorry I piggybacked it on that reply instead of modifying the original. I apologize for not making the distinction.