THE GENUINE FAITH

I.Genuine faith is demonstrated in our speech V.26

a.Our faith is lived out and not just talked about 26

If anyone thinks he is religious James mentioned someone within the framework of of the church that thinks that he is religious

The word think seems to appear according to one's own estimate to assume as true

Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the ones who does the will of my father in heaven ;

Less talk more action

Profession without possession

b.Our faith is useless if we have not control of our tongue 26 b

You can tell a lot about a person by their tongue

The picture is that of a man putting the bridle in his own mouth, not in that of another. See the similar metaphor of muzzling (phimoō) one's mouth Word Pictures in the New Testament.

It is a tongue that reveals the heart

;33-37-False religion is characterized by a loose tongue

Satan can use a tongue to destroy lives ,with a word a heart is lifted up or cast down with a word, our spirits are dashed or they can be encouraged, sweetness or bitterness victory or defeat .

c.Our faith can be deceitful 26 c

At this deceiving his own heart just fooling himself false religion is always insecure unreal here were talking about a person who sincerely thinks that he is serving God, yet there's something unreal about his profession. This person is led astray from reality & he habitually deceives himself by thinking that his religious rituals are all that God requires those who hear the word and seemed to confirm to certain outward forms of ceremony but are not saved.

You can sit with Christians, sing with Christians, give with Christians, listen to God's word with Christians, but if you never receive Christ as Lord and Savior beware.

VAIN empty, useless, dead & non-productive

II.Genuine faith shows compassion toward others v 27

a.Our faith is to be in accordance with God

Pure without pollution or contamination

pure without pollution or contamination

Undefiled beings on

Undefiled means unstained by evil

Undefiled means unstained by evil

Before God the father is God he is sovereign and judge of true religion

b.Our faith is to be pleasing to God 27 b

True faith is a faith that is approved by God

c. Our faith shows compassion to others

;17-18

Visit take care the word does not indicate a casual visit but a deep spiritual concern where to overseas them

Orphans and widows these were especially vulnerable to evil and that day the fatherless were vagabonds of the street often victims of slave traders and other abuse. Widows had no particular standing at all many of them out of a necessity turn to immorality and ways of the world in order to sustain themselves.

We are the Lord's hands feet and mouth The Bible teaches us to love others just as Christ has loved us.

In their affliction, troubles or difficulties is a picture of someone who is under pressure, someone who has stumbled and faces a crisis in their lives or their homes.

III.Genuine faith avoids worldly influence 27b

a.Our faith guards are conduct

Real faith is to remain true to the Lord and not spoiled his dirty by his contact with the world

Christians are to live in the world but not like the world

b.Our faith helps keep us pure

Unspotted (aspilon). Old adjective (alpha privative and spilos, spot), spotless.

-Have mercy on those who raver, save other by snatching them from the fire, have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garments defiled by the flesh.

-He did this to present the Church to Himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but Holy and blameless.

(Interlinear) 27 ???s?e?a threskeia N-NF-S RELIGION ???s?e?a ?a?a?? kathara A--NF-S PURE ?a?a??? ?a? kai CC AND ?a? ?µ?a?t?? amiantos A--NF-S UNDEFILED ?µ?a?t?? pa?? para PD BEFORE pa?? t? to DDMS - ? ?e? theo N-DM-S GOD ?e?? ?a? kai CC EVEN ?a? pat?? patri N-DM-S [THE] FATHER pat?? a?t? haute APDNF-S 2THIS ??t?? ?st??, estin VIPA--3S 1IS: e?µ? ?p?s??ptes?a? episkeptesthai VNPN TO VISIT ?p?s??pt?µa? ??fa???? orphanous AP-AM-P ORPHANS ??fa??? ?a? kai CC AND ?a? ???a? cheras AP-AF-P WIDOWS ????? ?? en PD IN ?? t? te DDFS THE ? ????e? thlipsei N-DF-S AFFLICTION ?????? a?t??, auton NPGM3P OF THEM, a?t?? ?sp???? aspilon A--AM-S 3UNS

c.Our faith keeps us from worldliness

To keep -the Greek tense translates to keep on keeping oneself un-specked.

James 4:4 ISV

You adulterers! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility with God? So whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God.

James 4:4

-Do not love the world or the things in the world , if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.

In Conclusion-When you look at your faith, is it genuine and pleasing to God?