What does true religion require of us?

Definition of True Religion

True religion is often described as a complete devotion of heart, mind, and life to that which is ultimately true and worthy. According to Scripture, it aligns every aspect of one’s actions, ethics, and worship with divine revelation. As written, “He has shown you, O man, what is good” (Micah 6:8). This points to a requirement of living in a manner consistent with the instructions of God and the example set forth in the entirety of the biblical text.

Scriptural Foundations

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, a unifying theme teaches reverence for God and obedience to His will. The historical trustworthiness of the text is corroborated by findings like the Dead Sea Scrolls, which reveal that Old Testament manuscripts remained consistent over centuries. Archaeological sites, such as Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem, match biblical records (2 Kings 20:20) and illustrate the historical reliability of these accounts.

In the New Testament, manuscripts dating from the early centuries confirm the continuity of key doctrines. Such evidence supports the notion that the Scriptures authentically communicate God’s requirements. As Jesus states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Mark 12:30). True religion thus requires both devoted worship and submission to divine authority.

Obedience and Love

Biblically grounded religion involves both love for God and love for others. Jesus paired these two commands: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This indicates that a genuine religious life entails action—doing good to others, exercising compassion, and seeking justice.

Historical records and anecdotes from early church writings (e.g., those attributed to church fathers like Ignatius of Antioch) describe believers who cared for the poor and vulnerable, demonstrating obedience to this central command. Modern testimonies of transformed lives through acts of charity also illustrate how love in action remains an authenticating mark of true religion.

Personal Holiness

From Genesis onward, holy living is intrinsic to true religion. Early genealogical records (e.g., from Genesis 5) depict individuals devoting themselves to God’s commands. In the New Testament, believers are consistently called to “walk in a manner worthy” (Ephesians 4:1). Scientific and philosophical considerations affirm that humanity possesses a moral consciousness pointing to an ultimate moral lawgiver. For instance, prominent ethicists argue that objective moral truths require a transcendent source, aligning with the testimony of Scripture.

Holiness, in biblical terms, signifies being set apart for God, abstaining from actions and motives that violate His character. This requirement intersects with behaviors, thoughts, and relationships—calling for purity and integrity.

Service to Others

The epistle of James underscores the practical aspects of religion: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure … is this: to look after orphans and widows” (James 1:27). Early Christian communities were renowned for their charitable care of the sick and abandoned. They formed the basis for many modern institutions of social support, such as hospitals and orphanages, reflecting the biblical call to serve.

Over the centuries, believers have built schools, medical agencies, and relief organizations across the globe. Geological and ethnographic surveys show that in many regions, Christian missions brought both spiritual and practical benefits—educating local populations, administering healthcare, and providing social infrastructure. These works of mercy exemplify the outward expression of true religion.

Sincere Worship and Devotion

Genuine worship involves more than external rituals. It points to a heartfelt submission to God, seen in passages like John 4:24, which emphasize worship “in spirit and in truth.” Archaeological insights into Israelite worship sites, along with records from temple construction in ancient Jerusalem, depict a people dedicated to the One who delivered them and commanded them to be holy.

The same principle applies today. True religion requires an inward devotion, expressing reverence through prayer, praise, and public acknowledgment of God’s reality. This spiritual commitment includes recognizing the resurrected Christ as sovereign, since the historical event of the resurrection is pivotal to the Christian faith. Documents such as the early creeds (1 Corinthians 15:3–7) confirm that the belief in the risen Messiah is an unbroken tradition affirmed by multiple eyewitness accounts.

Devotion to the Risen Christ

Central to true religion is the acceptance and confession that Jesus is Lord and that He was raised from the dead. Paul addressed the centrality of this truth in 1 Corinthians 15: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless” (1 Corinthians 15:14). Scholarly research, such as the catalog of resurrection evidence in various manuscripts, and the witness of early martyrs, reinforces that this event was neither myth nor invention but genuinely transformative for believers then and now.

Putting faith in the risen Christ leads to salvation, aligning one’s life with the ultimate demonstration of divine power. This joy in salvation naturally motivates pure worship and righteous living.

Practical Application

True religion compels believers to:

• Study the Scriptures diligently

• Pray and worship with sincerity

• Love God wholeheartedly

• Extend mercy, justice, and kindness to others

• Walk in holiness and integrity, rejecting sin

• Bear witness to the resurrection of Christ

• Serve humbly and generously

Such application goes beyond learning doctrine to living it daily.

Conclusion

True religion, as attested throughout Scripture, requires a wholehearted love for God, genuine care for others, a pursuit of holiness, and a rooted conviction in the resurrection of Christ. These elements, supported by extensive manuscript, archaeological, and historical evidence, unite in calling all people to a life that reflects God’s character and truth. By aligning personal conduct with divine revelation, individuals fulfill the very purpose for which humanity was created.