Religion from religare to restrain, tie back
Religion 1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love, fear, or awe of some superhuman and over ruling power, whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites and ceremonies.... From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Have you done any outward acts to recognize any god or gods?
If you have not read There are gods many you should go and read it and then continue reading this text. Http://www.hisholychurch.info/sermon/theosgod.HTM
Do you owe obedience to anyone other than your Father in Heaven?
If you have not read Call no man Father then you should go and read it now and the continue with this text http://www.hisholychurch.info/sermon/father.HTM
Do you give honor or homage somewhere else other than where it is due, according to the Ten Commandments?
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Do you owe your service to any one other than the God the Father?
If you have not read Employ vs. Enslave then you should go read it and return to this text. http://www.hisholychurch.info/study/gods/eve.htm
Are you under God's Kingdom which Jesus said was at hand or are you in fear or awe of some other over ruling power created by the hand of man?
God vs. Government http://www.hisholychurch.info/study/gods/gvg.htm
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.Acts 20:25-30
Have the hearts, minds and souls of men been devoured by grievous wolves enter in among you?
Grievous is from the Greek word barus which means heavy in weight and as a metaphor means burdensome.
The Covenants of the gods http://www.hisholychurch.info/study/gods/writings.htm
Have your ministers served and ministered to you with the perfect law of liberty? Or have they kept you ignorant and lulled while they have allowed the kingdoms of the gentiles to lay heavy burdens upon you, and delivered you into bondage to serve other gods who are not following after the teachings of Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah?
There are 32 verses that speak of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God 69 times
And it speaks of it being at hand or presently numerous times. He states, "I appoint a kingdom...", He tell them how to run it, bring people into it and how it will last for ever.
The bible speaks of religion 5 time.
The first is Acts 26:5 where he speaks of the Religion of the Pharisees.
Then Galatians 1:13 and Galatians 1:14 which mentions the "Jews' religion."
Then James 1:26 a man who seems to be religious, and that man's religion is vain.
And the last place it states in 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.
Pure religion and undefiled is look after those without family in their affliction or tribulation and to keep yourself unspotted from the world.
The word world is the same Greek word used where Jesus says his kingdom is not of this world.
What was it?
It wasn't Aion' which means an unbroken age. It wasn't 'oikoumene' which has to do with inhabited but it does not mean planet.. It wasn't the word 'ge' which is the closest word to meaning planet earth that you will find in the Bible.
It wasn't 'erets' meaning land, earth, soil.
So, what word did the author use to describe the world that Jesus Kingdom was not in and that we should keep our selves unspotted from?
The word 'world' is translated from the word 'kosmos' which means "an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government." It came from the word komizo meaning "to care for, take care of, provide for" or "carry off what is one's own," which is what the harmonious arrangement or constitution, systems of Rome was doing with their Pax Romana.
Jesus did not come preaching the Religion of heaven on earth but the Kingdom.
It is a kingdom.
In the Bible the word religion comes from the word threskeia which is specifically the procedures and ceremonies by which one worships their god or gods and honors or contributes to their godly Father. Religion is the manner in which your government conducts itself, its rights and ceremonies, rules and procedures.
The kingdom of heaven does have a religion which is the procedures and ceremonies of the government of God the Father. In God's kingdom there are only free will offerings given in charity with faith and hope under the perfect law of liberty. If you can be dragged into court by the judges of the court [a.k.a. the gods many of the courts] because you have failed to contribute to that government [pay homage a.k.a. worship ] then you have a religion, but it is not the religion of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ.
Related articles: Romans 13 Rome vs US Not of this World Was Paul a Roman Citizen
