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Bible Religion

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 5, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 36, No. 3.

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Bible Religion.

By Francis Gould

RELIGION is a system of faith and worship. Every system of religion which has not for its basis the fundamental principles of God's righteous government, is not a Bible religion; it is not a pure religion; in it there is no salvation. The apostle James gives a true definition of Bible religion: “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.” James 1: 27. This text embodies all the pure, noble, and elevating principles which constitute a perfect Christian, and embraces the two great arms of the law, namely, “love to God, and love to man.” When these principles are brought to bear upon the mind as they should, they penetrate every avenue of the soul, elevate the mind, sanctify the affections, control the will, subdue the carnal mind, and bring its possessor into a sweet union with God and Heaven. They act upon the hearts and consciences of men. First, get the heart right, and whatsoever proceeds therefrom will be right. Cleanse the fountain and the streams that flow out from it will be clean also. Girdle the trunk of a tree, and the leaves will soon fall off, and the tree die. Throw around the mind of man the broad girdle of truth, and he will die to sin, and his life will be hid with Christ in God; and in every department of life in which he is called to act, that light which constitutes the light of the world, will shine out to all around, so that he will become a living epistle, known and read of all men.
The Bible Christian will exhibit his religion in the family circle, in the field, in the shop, by the wayside, or in a more public manner. The blessed principles of the gospel become so interwoven into his very being that he becomes a new creature. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5: 17. A tree is known by its fruit. We are to abide in Christ. “Every branch that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15: 2. Again, verses 8, 10: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.” “If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.”
In enumerating the Christian graces, Peter says, “For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “For if ye do these things ye shall never fall.” “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
FRANCIS GOULD. Stowe, Vt.