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The Beginning of Religion By Bob Myhan There was no need for religion in the Garden of Eden, prior to man’s sin. Indeed, before man sinned against God, he did not need to be reconciled to God, which is the divinely ordained purpose of religion. “[T]he etymology of the word, [religion] in its Biblical sense, is … from the … Latin verb, religo, religare, meaning ‘to bind back’ or ‘to bind anew’…. The close relationship of the family of words formed around the root lig (ligament, ligature, oblige, etc.) to that formed around the root leg (lex, legis, ‘law,’ hence legislate, legal, etc.) is too obvious to be ignored. These two families of words both have the connotation of a binding force. Whatever the word ‘religion’ may have meant to the pagan world, the fact remains that the essence of Biblical religion is a binding of a person anew to God (healing of the schism caused by sin: the God of the Bible is the covenant God) and is fully expressed in the word ‘reconciliation’ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Just as the essential principle of music is harmony; of art, beauty; of government, authority; of sin, selfishness; so the fundamental principle of true religion is reconciliation. (Eph. 2:11-22; 2 Cor. 5:18-20, 6:14-18).” (C.C. Crawford, Genesis: The Book of the Beginnings, Volume One, pages 368-369) In Genesis 3:14-15, God revealed His intention to “bind man anew to [Himself] in Covenant relationship.” He said He would put “enmity between [the serpent] and the woman, and between [the serpent’s] seed and her seed.” “Enmity” is the opposite of friendship (see James 4:4). To put enmity between the serpent and the woman, therefore, would be to restore the friendship that had previously existed between the woman and God. The serpent’s seed would be all those who would make themselves enemies of God through sin (see John 8:44). The woman’s seed is Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:4). Those who choose to be reconciled to God become enemies of the serpent, who of course is the Devil, Satan (Rev. 12:9). Thus, religion began with man’s expulsion from Eden. Our first glimpse of it, along with worship, is in the offerings of Cain and Abel. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. (Gen. 4:3-8) What is the key to God’s respect for Abel and his offering, and lack of respect for Cain and his offering? Is God a respecter of persons? That is, does He show partiality? Did Cain have a chance to gain God’s respect? By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (Heb. 11:4) Abel offered his sacrifice “by faith;” but “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Thus, he heard and complied with God’s word in the matter of sacrifice. For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:11-12). Cain’s works were evil because he heard the word of God concerning sacrifice, as did Abel, but chose not to comply. Rather, he offered what he wanted (which was different from what God wanted) and thought God ought to accept it. Preaching in the home of a Gentile, Peter opened his mouth and said: “in truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35). This agrees with God’s telling Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” The use of the plural, “gifts” (Heb. 11:4) and “works” (1 John 3:12), tells us that the offerings in Genesis 4:3-5 were not one-time but periodical offerings. They were worshipping the same God but by two different standards—Abel by the standard of God’s word (true religion), and Cain by the standard of his own opinion (“self-imposed religion” (Col. 2:23). By what standard do you worship God, dear reader? & Two Christians Attended Worship Services By Kenneth E. Thomas Two Christians attended worship services Only one of them was pleasing to the Lord One seemed to "get nothing out of worship" One was thrilled and hung on each word! To one the singing lifted him, up to heaven’s door The other only criticized and was just plain bored To the one the sermon was just much too long And that same old subject he’d too often heard! One put something into the worship of his Lord That one was sure to get something out in return The other wanted what was pleasing to him Not what was authorized as found in God’s word! One worshiped God "in spirit and in truth" As per John four and verse twenty four This one got much from the worship that day The other one got nothing and was bored! Which of these two worshipers resembles you? Are you thrilled or are you just plain bored? The one will continue to "grow and progress" The other will in all likely-hood forsake his Lord!
(Col. 3:17; John 4:23-24; Col. 3:16; Eph.5:19; 1 Cor. 14:15)
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