Religion, traditions, and faith
My synopsis on religion, traditions, and faith.
Religion (man-made):
Religion is often about systems, traditions, and rules created by people to try to reach or serve God. Over time, those rules can start to replace what God actually said. That’s what Jesus confronted in Mark 7 — human traditions being placed above God’s Word.
Faith (God-given):
What God calls us to is faith and relationship with Him. Faith isn’t about rituals; it’s about trusting, obeying, and walking with God.
So yes — in the way we use the word today, religion is man-made.
That’s why James clarifies in James 1:27 that the only “religion” God accepts is one that reflects His heart — caring for the vulnerable and living holy.
👉 In short:
Religion = man trying to reach God through systems.
Faith = God reaching man through Jesus, and us walking in obedience.
👉 Paul uses “religion” here to describe Judaism and his past as a Pharisee.
Acts 13:43 (NKJV)
(The Greek word sebomai, often translated as religious or devout, describes people who worshipped God.)
When Paul talks about his old life as a Pharisee, he’s describing a strict adherence to man-made rules, traditions, and interpretations of the Law.
He obeyed the system perfectly, but it wasn’t truly righteous in God’s eyes because it was without faith in Jesus.
He makes this clear in several passages:
Philippians 3:4–9 (NKJV)
> Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
👉 In plain words: Paul is saying, “Everything I did under my old ‘religion’ — keeping the rules perfectly — doesn’t compare to knowing Jesus and having His righteousness through faith.”
So yes, his old ways were not right before God, because they were rule-based rather than faith-based.
Deuteronomy 4:2-5
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you. "Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.
Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Deuteronomy 12:32
"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Mark 7:7-9
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
Remember who you are:
Genesis 17:7
7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”