True Religion

James  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction

This morning we are continuing our study in the book of James.
In our passage last week, we saw the origins of temptation. We were told that every good and perfect gift comes from God.
In our passage today, James reminds us that we are supposed to join with God in accomplishing His purposes here on earth.
I love what Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God. He says that we need to see where God is working and join Him there.
We must understand that God does not need us, but He desires to use us. I believe that is why our obedience is so important to God.
And it is why God ties our love to our obedience of Him. So, it should come as no surprise that James comes back to this subject.
Today, we are going to learn that we need to have purity in our expressions, purity in our conduct, and purity in our character.
If you have your Bible, I want to encourage you to turn with me to James chapter one, and we’ll begin reading with verse 19.
James 1:19 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Listening verses Speaking!

Having focused on trials, and how they affect us, James tells us that our lives out to be marked by listening! (v. 19a)
Our lives should NOT be marked by a lot of talking (v. 19b).
And our lives should NOT be marked by anger--or angry reactions (v. 19c).
James 1:20 NIV
because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
KEY—Our anger NEVER accomplishes the righteousness that God desires (v. 20).
James 1:21 NIV
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
To keep from becoming angry, we need to get rid of two things:
— Moral filth (Gk. moral uncleanness, filthiness, pollution).
— Evil (Gk. wickedness, malice, hateful feelings, hostility, depravity) (v. 21a). In Ephesians 4:29, Paul puts it even more bluntly.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Instead we are to humbly welcome the message that God has implanted in us (v. 21b).
— This message is a life giving message. To understand this we only need to look at Jesus’ words in John 10:10.
John 10:10 NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
One of the things that keeps us from having angry responses is when we live out God’s Word in our lives. James is going to develop this idea in the next section.
James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

A Doer of the Word

James moves from merely listening to action—Doing
He begins by saying that we need to do more than simply listening to the word of God. Because just listening to it can cause us deceive ourselves (v. 22a).
In stead we need to put God’s Word into action--we need to do what it says to do (v. 22b).
James 1:23–24 NIV
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

An Example of What Happens When We Only Listen

The person who only listens is like a person that looks (Gk. closely studies) at his face in a mirror.
After looking, the person leaves and goes about his/her day.
But as they go about their day, they “immediately” forget (Gk. neglect, overlook, disregard) what they saw in the mirror. In other words, they see the problem but do nothing to fix the problem!
Contrasted By What Happens When We’re a Doer (v. 25)
James 1:25 NIV
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
To become a doer of the Word we must first look intently into the perfect law— implies careful study, gaining an understanding of the commands of God!
The perfect law gives freedom. Most people think about rules as restrictive, but the reality is that God gives us rules to free us from all the negative or bad consequences.
We need to work at not forgetting all that we’ve been taught, and we need to do it— take action!
Once again, obedience (being a doer of God’s Word) generally results in blessing!
James 1:26 NIV
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

The Religious Person

The Greek word threskos and translated here as religious is used no where else in the New Testament. It describes someone who fears and worships God, and generally refers to the outward expression of what one believes.
We are not displaying fear and worship of God when we don’t keep a tight reign on our tongues.
Many who don’t watch their words are deceived—because they think they are “religious” but they aren’t.
Finally, James says bad language equals worthless religion!

Religion that God Accepts

James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James uses two words to describe the religion that God accepts, and these two words have very similar meanings.
— Its pure (Gk. katharos, pure, clean innocent, undefiled, spotless, without stain).
— Its faultless (Gk. amiantos, undefiled, unpolluted, unspoiled, uncorrupted).
This kind of religion has two characteristics.
Conduct—Caring for those who cannot care for themselves (widows and orphans).
Character—Moral purity.

So What?

In our passage today we have seen that God wants purity in our lives, and James expresses three of them in this passage.
First, God expects us to exhibit purity in our expressions!
Next, God expects us to demonstrate purity in our conduct!
And finally, God desires us to display purity in our character!

The Challenge

So this morning, I want to encourage each of us to take a minute and examine the expressions that others see—in our words and expressions.
I want to encourage us to look at our conduct. Does it display God’s desired purity.
And finally, I want to encourage us to examine the kind of character we project. Is our character the pure character that God requires.
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