17 Bible Verses about Useless Religion

If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? neither do you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and has not works? can faith save him?

Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.

But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

[A song of ascents. Of Solomon.] Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain that build it: unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchman wakes, but in vain.

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

I do not nullify the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain.