Definition and Overview:
False religion, as understood within the biblical context, refers to any system of belief or practice that deviates from the worship of the one true God as revealed in the Scriptures. It encompasses idolatry, heretical teachings, and any form of worship that contradicts the teachings of the Bible. False religion is often characterized by the worship of created things rather than the Creator, the propagation of doctrines contrary to biblical truth, and practices that lead people away from a genuine relationship with God.

Biblical References:

1. Idolatry and Pagan Worship:
The Bible frequently warns against the worship of idols and false gods. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly admonished to avoid the practices of surrounding nations. In Exodus 20:3-5 , God commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them."

2. False Prophets and Teachers:
The New Testament warns believers about false prophets and teachers who distort the truth. In 2 Peter 2:1 , it is written, "Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."

3. The Deception of False Religion:
False religion is often associated with deception and spiritual blindness. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 , Paul warns, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions."

4. The Call to True Worship:
True worship is characterized by spirit and truth, as Jesus explains in John 4:23-24 : "But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

Characteristics of False Religion:

· Deviation from Scriptural Truth:
False religions often introduce teachings that are not aligned with the Bible. This includes the denial of core Christian doctrines such as the divinity of Christ, the resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith.

· Ritualism and Legalism:
Many false religions emphasize external rituals and legalistic practices over a genuine relationship with God. This is seen in the Pharisees' approach, which Jesus criticized in Matthew 23:27-28 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

· Syncretism:
The blending of biblical truth with other religious beliefs is a hallmark of false religion. This syncretism dilutes the purity of the Gospel and leads to confusion and error.

Consequences of False Religion:

· Spiritual Deception:
Followers of false religions are often led astray, believing they are on the path to truth when they are not. This deception can have eternal consequences, as seen in Matthew 7:21-23 : "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’"

· Judgment and Separation from God:
The Bible warns that those who persist in false religion will face judgment. Revelation 21:8 states, "But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

Conclusion:
The Bible consistently calls believers to discernment and faithfulness to the truth of God's Word, urging them to reject false religions and embrace the true worship of God as revealed through Jesus Christ.1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Topicalbible.org

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Topicalbible.org

5579. pseudos -- a falsehood, untruth, lie
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: pseudos Phonetic Spelling: (psyoo'-dos)
Short Definition: a lie Definition: a lie, falsehood, untruth; false religion. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5579.htm - 6k

3153. mataiotes -- vanity, emptiness
... Short Definition: vanity, purposelessness Definition: vanity, emptiness, unreality,
purposelessness, ineffectiveness, instability, frailty; false religion. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3153.htm - 6k

Of False Piety, and of False and True Religion.
... the divine institutes Book V. Of Justice. Chap. X."Of False Piety, and of
False and True Religion. It is worth while to investigate ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap x of false piety and.htm

The Preacher as a False Prophet.
... Had they been adherents of a false religion, there would have been nothing surprising
in their resistance to the final revelation of the true God. ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture v the preacher as.htm

Luke x. The Latter Part of the 25Th Verse.
... BUT it will be proper here to observe; that, with respect to such as have been educated
in any other false Religion, or Worship, and have contracted the guilt ...
/.../sermon i luke x the.htm

Confessio Fidei Scotican?? ii.
... We all, and every ane of us underwritten, protest, That after lang and dew examination
of our awne consciences in matters of trew and false religion, we ar now ...
/.../confessio fidei scoticanae ii.htm

The Greatest Trial on Record
... My dear friends, there is no religion under heaven, no false religion, which would
have dared to hazard such a statement, as that yonder man who was spit upon ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the greatest trial on record.htm

Political Religion
... But it was a success purchased at the price of degrading religion into the lackey
of a court. ... The true object of worship was worshipped in a false way. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/political religion.htm

The Good Shepherd.
... Christ came to give life, and to give it an abundant development. False religion
robs men; true religion blesses and enriches. And to destroy. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
... teachings of God; for they show that God guarantees that every error shall be uprooted,
and that every teacher of error or false religion shall participate in ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxv jesus fails to attend.htm

Nor Should I Think it Needful to Discuss Whether God Pursues a ...
... His own name and honour to be given over to a lie, or does so in not consenting
that such as He has plucked from the maze of false religion should return again ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter iii nor should i.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... opinions before they made any improper change in the external form of religion. ... took
place, some kings corrupting the worship of God by false and superstitious ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

What does the Bible say about false accusations? | GotQuestions.org

Who is the false prophet of the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Should we allow false teachers into our home? | GotQuestions.org

false_: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus