(I ).. It informs us of the existence of God, the only object worthy of religious worship. Moreover, it comes to us with the assurance that God, whom man could never discover with his natural powers, revealed Himself in nature and, more especially, in His divine Word, demands the worship and service of man, and also determines the worship and service that is well-pleasing to Him.

(2).. And, it teaches us that God created man in His own image, and thus endowed him with a capacity to understand, and to respond to, this revelation, and engendered in him a natural urge to seek communion with God and to glorify Him.

To memorize. Scripture  References

a.  The nature of Religion: - Deut. 10:12, 13. "And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good."

Palms. 111:10. "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of  wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever."

Eccl. 12:13. "Fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."

John 6:29. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent."

Acts 16:31. "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house."

b.  The Seat of Religion: Ps. 51:10. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Also vs. 17. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

Prov. 4:23.  "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Matt. 5:8. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." c. The origin of Religion:

Gen. 1:27. "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him."

Deut. 4:13. "And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments."

Ezek. 37:26. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh."

For Further Study of Scripture

a).  What elements of true religion are indicated in the following passages: Deut. 10:12; Eccl. 12:13; Hos. 6:6; Micah 6:8; Mark 12:33; John 3:36; 6:29; Acts 6:31; Rom. 12:1; 13:10; Jas. 1:27.

b).  What forms of false religion are indicated in the following passages: Ps. 78:35, 36; Isa. 1:11-17; 58:1-5; Ezek. 33:31, 32; Matt. 6:2, 5; 7:21, 26, 27; 23:14; Luke 6:2; 13:14; Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:20; H Tim. 3:5; Tit. 1:16; Jas. 2:15,16; 3:10.

c).  Name six instances of true religion. Gen. 4:4-8; 12:1-8; 15:17; 18:22-33;   Ex.   3:2-22;   Deut.   32:33;   II   Kings   18:3-7;   19: 14-19;   Dan.   6:4-22;   Luke  2:25-35;   2:36,   37;   7:1-10;   H Tim. 1:5.

The Origin  of  Religion - Page 2

The Origin of Religion.   Particular attention was devoted during the last fifty years to the problem of the origin of religion. Repeated attempts were made to give a natural explanation of it, but without success. The Bible gives the only reliable account of the origin of religion.