What is true religion? What defines someone who is truly following God from someone who's not?

Let's make it as simple as possible, and define "true religion". If we say something is true, we mean it isn't false, but, genuine and right. Religion is to believe in God and in our duty to live a godly life.

So what is a genuine belief in God? How does it work? How do we truly live a godly life?

To gain an understanding of these things we must prayerfully open God's word, the Bible, and ask for guidance as we search for answers.

First, just take a moment... to evaluate this world. Do you see anything wrong? Is something missing in the lives of many individuals? What did you think when you last read, watched or listened to reports about the murders, thefts, disease, disasters or terribly acts of immorality happening on a daily basis?

What's the problem?

The Bible plainly states the condition of humanity as:

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful" - Romans 1:29-31

What a sad, sad state, what a sorry world to live in.

Does true religion have anything to do with the terrible things mentioned in the above verse?
Does true religion have any involvement with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, murder, deceit etcetera...
No, a thousand times no! These things are evil, they aren't good.

What does Unrighteousness mean?
It, means "the act of doing wrong, or breaking God's law". What does the Bible call unrighteousness, and all these other evils?

"All unrighteousness is sin" - 1 John 5:17

So if this is the condition of the world, as the Bible and the evidences all around us clearly tell us, how then, can we find true godliness or true religion? How can we break away from the evil that surrounds us and live lives that would be acceptable to God? Is this even possible? If so, How? What does the Bible say?

We just read that all unrighteousness is sin. The direct opposite to unrighteousness, is righteousness. Which means "holiness, purity, and doing what is right and in harmony with God's law".

The Bible gives us a beautiful description of righteousness:
As you read the verse below, just slow down a bit, and take time to slowly read each descriptive word, really think about what they mean.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" - Galatians 5:22-23

Yes, but that verse doesn't mention the word righteousness does it? :), no it doesn't but by comparing scripture with scripture, we find in Ephesians 5:9 that the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth.

"(For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth)" - Ephesians 5:9

What a stark contrast! From unrighteousness which embraces all the awful wickedness taking place in this world, to righteousness which encompasses the beautiful attributes of God's character, including love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, etcetera...

As this study progresses, we are going to see what God's ideal for us is, we will see what the Bible clearly says about righteousness and true religion.

Take a moment to ready Romans chapter three next time you are spending a moment in prayer with the Lord, and ask for guidance to understand this important subject.

This gem will be continued next week...