Pure & Undefiled Religion

BONUS: Look Back to Verse 18 - His Will is that We would be His firstfruits.

First fruits are the best, the first to be offered.

Matured by Time and Experience, Matured by Deep Roots of Faith

Ripened by testing of weathering, and seasons of blooming in tough conditions.

Isaiah 50:10–11 NASB95

Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with firebrands, Walk in the light of your fire And among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment.

Fertilized by His Word, Watered by His Life, and held up to the world as trophies of grace!! These are MINE, these are what I grow even under the toughest of circumstances.

Consequences of Self - torment. No surety.

1. Progress not Perfection

Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Little Godliness in Mans’ Anger.

2. Progress is Marked by Obedience. v. 22-25

Progress is attained in part via a true reflection is needed here. A Biblical reflection of who we were, WHOSE we are, and Whom we will be.

1:23–24 “Looking intently at his natural face in a mirror and then forgetting what he was like demonstrates the folly of examining oneself in God’s “mirror” of the “implanted word” (v. 21) and then doing nothing about it (v. 22). When one sees imperfections (as when looking in a mirror), common sense says something should be done about it.”

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2392.

Look INTENTLY at the Law of Liberty! Be Freed.

1:25 the law of liberty (cf. 2:12). In James, the “law” and the “word” are two different ways of describing the same reality. Earlier, the “word of truth” (1:18) is the gospel of Christ, and the “law” here refers to the OT law as it has been interpreted and fulfilled in Christ. Though the OT law was “holy and righteous and good” (), it had no power by itself to enable sinful people to conform to it. Thus, the OT law did not liberate God’s people but enslaved them, as Paul taught (; cf. ; ; ; ). But the law is one of “liberty” when it comes along with the word of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit to change hearts.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2393.

We should realize that the Law frees us - When We See What the Law Reveals, Do Something About the Image Distorted by Sin, and Be Transformed by the Gospel.

Illus: Ever have one of those mornings where you skip the mirror for more pressing needs? Maybe you are sick or something…Just busy....

And then later you see yourself in a mirror and you are like...

WOW!! Self, you need to renew your relationship with SOAP & WATER!!

A blade across the face

UGH!! Definitely need to do SOMETHING about THAT!!

Time to come back to the Land of the Living!!

Pure Religion is Ministry not Control.

Pure and Undefiled Religion is tri-faceted:

1. DOER! OF! THE! WORD!

Ex. Bridles his tongue.

2. Mercy to the Oppressed

3. Remains (vigilant) Unstained from the world.

Un-pollluted. Franklin Water, pure - nothing in it that pollutes it.

High Standards in our Influences - Media Movies Music - rather than anything goes! What pollutes our minds pollutes our spirit, it is just a matter of time.

Our thoughts of Religion are not the Lord’s thoughts.

James