True Religion!

Trans: So, what does hearing, receiving, and obeying God’s word lead to? We see at least three things in verses 26 & 27 alone.

Hearing, receiving, and obeying God’s Word leads to three things:

Have you ever heard someone tell you “your are just like your father?” This “like father, like son” is an old earthly motto often invoked toward regrettable attributes. “you are a chip off the old block,” or “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” are all statements in an effort to connect you to some genetic defect.

In this letter so far James has brought us in touch with our heavenly father at two points:

1. (v5) that he is ready to give us his wisdom

2. (v18) He shared his nature with us - that is - “that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

3. And now, we are ready to be like Him in our actions.

So, Let’s look at the three points James makes in verses 26 & 27

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.

This is obviously NOT an comprehensive list but it does give us three specific areas to work on. Let’s look at the three.

The first is: a controlled tongue

I. A Controlled Tongue

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

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

Bridling the tongue is so crucial that without doing so, no amount of worship can bring us closer to God.

Think of a horse that is unbridled and out of control

1. Not the horse you want to be on

2. It will take you places you don’t want to go

3. Notice that he doesn’t call us to a silenced tongue, but to a bridled one, where the Father holds the reins

Note: This is such an important topic that James takes nearly a full chapter (Chapter 3) to cover the subject

II. A Caring Ministry to the Needy

27a Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,

The word “religion” in this verse simply means “worship.” so to paraphrase:

says “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

III. A Personal Holiness Unstained from the World

27b and to keep oneself unstained from the world.