Pure Religion is This!

Pure Religion is This. James 1 ends with some thoughts on pure religion. Everyone has some sort of religion. It may be money, power, fame, or just truly seeking God. So what does James mean by pure religion?

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 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.

James 1:26-27, ESV

Pure Religion is This - Worthless Religion

James was ministering to the early church and wrote this book to help new fledgling believers understand the difference between pure religion and worthless religion. We live over 2000 years after this book was written and yet we find that one of the most important lessons for us to learn today is the difference between pure religion and worthless religion.

Our society is a plethora of religions. Even among the so-called Christian religions, there is much diversity of thought.

How do we learn the truth? If we are truly seeking a pure religion we must study God's Word, the Bible. Let us come before God and cry out to Him to help us understand and to obey His Word.

Pure Religion is This - The Tongue

How interesting that the first thing that James mentions is the tongue. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

What one of us, when we are truly being honest, cannot hang his head when reading this verse. How easy is it to spout out the first thing that comes to mind---oftentimes searing those nearest to us. Is this a problem in our churches today? Oh yes.

James helps us to understand that pure religion is from the heart. Matthew 15:18, from the ESV Bible tells us, But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

So the words we speak have a definite correlation to the attitudes of our heart. Pure religion is from the heart. By God's grace we can continue to go to Christ in prayer and ask Him to aid us in controlling our tongue so that we bring glory to Him by our pure religion.

Pure Religion is This - Pure and Undefiled

James will speak in greater detail about the tongue in later chapters, but in verse 27 of chapter 1 he goes on to state, 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.

James defines pure religion in two ways. 1 - Visit orphans and widows, and 2 - Keep oneself unstained from the world.

If we truly love the Lord our God it will be evident by our lives. Not only will we our speech be affected, but our actions will be affected as well. Instead of zeroing in on our lives by making ourselves the center of our world, we are to look to the needs of others. Especially noted are orphans and widows in their affliction. True and pure religion helps us to look to the needs of others.

Second, we are to keep ourselves unstained from the world. Is that a problem in our churches today? Oh yes! Through the opportunities we have through various forms of media, we can easily be entrenched in the values and desires of this world.

This is perhaps one of the greatest challenges for true believers in our culture. To be faithful to Christ causes us to question and reject many of the values of our culture. We live in this world, but we are not of this world. We understand that though we may face many disappointments and afflictions, we are looking forward to our heavenly home--our true home!

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV

Pure Religion is This - Lesson for Us

Being a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ involves more than an assent to believe that Jesus truly is God. The Bible tells us in James 2:19, You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (ESV)

Or as it says in the King James Version, Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Being a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ means a complete transformation of our lives. Being devoted to Christ, He is now our Lord and King. Our chief goal is to love Him, obey Him, and enjoy Him forever!

If you do not know this Lord, come to Him today. Cry out to Him to forgive your sins and save you now! It is a decision you will never regret. Today is the day of salvation!

God Bless You,

Linda