Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Vain Religion?

First, the dictionary defines "vain" as: Empty, unsuccessful or futile, and without real value or worth. Jesus, in speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, said of their pretentious worship, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9).

These were a religious people but Jesus said their religion was in vain. They put on a good outward appearance of worship but Jesus, knowing their hearts, quoted the prophecy made by Isaiah several hundred years before Jesus came to the earth saying, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me" (Matt. 15:8).

James, the brother of Jesus, said, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain" (James 1:26). Therefore, just because a person seems to be a worshipper of God, pretending to be very religious, it is very possible, unless he can base his religion upon a "Thus saith the Lord," his religion could well be in vain.

Many religious people have been deceived by being told that they are saved by belief, or grace only, but Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 7:21), and "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth" (John 9:31).

So then, it takes more than just belief and the grace of God to save us. Of course, without belief and the grace of God no soul could be saved, but "…the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Therefore, grace, being God's part in our salvation, has already appeared to all men, but man still has his part in which he must submit to before God's grace can be applied.

Belief and grace only eliminates repentance, confession and baptism, these Jesus has commanded. "Repent or perish" (Luke 13:3; 5; Acts 17:30); "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven…For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord…Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…baptism doth also now save us…" (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 2:38; I Peter 3:21).

Paul says that those who have obeyed from the heart this form of doctrine, or this plan of salvation, has been made free from sin (Rom. 6:17-18). Belief and OBEDIENCE is required for salvation.