James 1:26-27 / 2:1-8

Bible Study Recap

James 1:25 ESV

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Looks

Perseveres

Being a doer who acts

“He will be blessed in his doing”

James 1:26 ESV

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

James makes general statements that we can not over look…

Verse 5 “If any of you lacks wisdom”

Verse 23 “If anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer”

Verse 26 “If anyone thinks he is religious”

What does it mean to be religious?

Religious: Relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity

James Practice Pure Religion (1:26–27)

the term especially refers to the outward observance of worship—for example, attending worship services, praying and fasting. James’s initial proposition is that even among people who perform these outward observances, there are some who practice a deceptive and worthless religion and others who practice a pure and faultless religion.

Thinks he is religious: The New Testament never uses this ancient Greek word for “religious”in a positive sense (Acts 17:22, 25:19, 26:5; Colossians 2:23). James used it here of someone who is religious, but is not really right with God

I believe that I am very religious because I am devoted to God

James is identifying a person who thinks he is religious…

I attend church

I pray

I fast

I post scriptures

but I can not “bridle” my tongue

to curb ⇔ bridle v. — to curb something, conceived of as placing a bridle on something (like a horse) so as to control it.

This person deceives his heart!

Deceives: to deceive v. — to cause someone to believe an untruth.

“This person’s religion is worthless”

Religion: worship n. — the activity of showing love and devotion to a deity; also involves the necessary knowledge concerning beliefs and practice to be able to participate in worship.

Worthless: empty (vacuous) adjs. — devoid of significance, point, or benefit.

The inner control of the tongue must accompany outward performance.

James 1:27 ESV

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.

pure (guiltless) adj. — in a state of ritual cleanliness or free of guilt and sin.

ritually untainted adj. — free from stain or blemish according to cultic regulations and requirements; especially understood as necessary to be cultically untainted in the eyes of God.

The terms emphasize that the examples of active obedience about to be presented are to be desired and practiced by all who seek a genuine, uncorrupted religion before God.

Hebrews & James 3. The Evidence of Good Listening to God’s Word (vv. 26–27)

Two evidences demonstrate pure religion: deeds of compassion and inner purity. This does not reduce Christianity to mere benevolence. True religion has more features than James has mentioned. The emphasis here is that for God to accept our worship it must be accompanied by loving ministry and a holy life

Hebrews & James 3. The Evidence of Good Listening to God’s Word (vv. 26–27)

To look after orphans and widows demanded demonstrations of concern and active involvement. The psalmist pictured God as a defender of orphans and widows (Ps. 68:5). Christ used the word for look after in Matthew 25:43 to describe the ministry of caring for those in prison. Obeying this appeal calls for more than an occasional visit. It demands genuine compassion and true engagement.

(Not) polluted demands a freedom from contamination by the world. Peter used this word to refer to Christ as “without … defect” (1 Pet. 1:19). Christians are to model their purity after that of Jesus.

James 2:1 ESV

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Command #17 “Show no partiality”

partiality n. — an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives; especially considered as an injustice.

James 2:2–3 ESV

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”

James 2:4 ESV

have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Distinctions: to distinguish v. — to mark something as different from something else, either physically or perceptually.

“Judges with evil thoughts”

Centered Set vs. Boundary Set

Don’t forget the God we serve!

Romans 2:11 ESV

For God shows no partiality.

Acts 10:34 ESV

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,