bathing your religion

BathingYour

Religion

James 1:27

Bathing Your Religion

Bathing Your Religion In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.”

Bathing Your Religion In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.” They were active in the church, but their hearts weren’t right

before God.


before God.

They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues.


before God.

They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues. “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but

deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (v 26, ESV).


before God.

They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues. “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but

deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (v 26, ESV).

The mouth is a “window” to the soul.

Bathing Your Religion The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a

hypocrite.


hypocrite. The word refers to the visible service of God.


hypocrite. The word refers to the visible service of God. Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively.



Paul’s former life in the “religion” of Judaism (Acts 26:5).




Ungodly practice of worshiping angels (Col 2:18).





Religion that is worthless (Js 1:26).





Religion that is worthless (Js 1:26).

James uses the word positively in tonight’s text to speak of “pure and undefiled” religion.



80% of the time you find the word “religion” in the New Testament, it’s religion that needs a bath.


It is “pure and undefiled before God, the Father.”

Bathing Your Religion “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities.

Bathing Your Religion “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the

plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Mt 23:26, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the

plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Mt 23:26, ESV).

“Pure religion,” thus, has been cleansed of all impurities.


“Undefiled” means completely without blemish.


“Undefiled” means completely without blemish. “It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,

holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Heb 7:26, ESV).


“Undefiled” means completely without blemish. “It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,

holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Heb 7:26, ESV).

Therefore, “undefiled religion” has no defect.

Bathing Your Religion A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion.

Bathing Your Religion A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion. Our faith bears itself out in the way that we live.

Bathing Your Religion A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion. Our faith bears itself out in the way that we live.

In Js 1:27, our religion is practical in the way we care for others & in the way we care nothing for the world.


“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (Js 1:27, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning.

Bathing Your Religion The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. The word means to look upon/examine.

Bathing Your Religion The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. The word means to look upon/examine. The term is often used to show the care God demonstrates to his

people.


people: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?” (Heb 2:6, ESV).



When people visit, they do so to see how people are.



When people visit, they do so to see how people are: “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, „Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are‟” (Acts 15:36, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. The word means to look upon/examine.

To visit widows & orphans, therefore, means to see how they how and what we can do to alleviate their suffering.

Bathing Your Religion Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century.

Bathing Your Religion Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. Social Security, pensions, etc.


The state will also care for orphans.



In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.”



In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.” Orphans & widows had no means of support.



In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.” Orphans & widows had no means of support.

They were totally dependent upon the charity of others.

Bathing Your Religion God has always been greatly concerned with orphans &

widows.


widows. “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce

in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me’” (Deut 26:12-13, ESV).


widows. Deut 26:12-13.

“Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deut 27:19, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows.

Bathing Your Religion Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows. The government’s action does not remove our responsibility!

Bathing Your Religion Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows. The government’s action does not remove our responsibility! “Honor widows who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:3, ESV).


“If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:16, ESV).


“If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:16, ESV)—Notice that the church is to care “for those who are truly widows.”


We can do so collectively as a congregation.


We can also work individually.


Is your religion “pure and undefiled,” or do you need to give it a bath?


“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (Js 1:27, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion God has always desired that his people keep themselves

from the world.


from the world. “When the LORD your God gives [the Canaanite nations] over

to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods” (Deut 7:2-4, ESV).


from the world. Deut 7:2-4.

We must do likewise today.



We must do likewise today. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the

renewal of your mind” (Rom 12:2, ESV).



We must do likewise today. Rom 12:2.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Cor 6:14-16, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion God expects his people to draw others to him.

Bathing Your Religion God expects his people to draw others to him. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how

shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5:13-16, ESV).

Bathing Your Religion God expects his people to draw others to him. Mt 5:13-16.

If I’m not different from the world, how can I be salt & light?


Being stained with the world leads us into sin.


Being stained with the world leads us into sin. That’s what happened to Solomon!


Being stained with the world leads us into sin. That’s what happened to Solomon! “When Solomon was old

his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Ki 11:4, ESV).


Being stained with the world leads us into sin. That’s what happened to Solomon! “When Solomon was old

his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Ki 11:4, ESV).

If we allow our hearts to be stained with the world, we can easily become another Solomon.


Do you need to give your religion a bath?

bathing your religion

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