What Will You Do With The Word (Part 3)

Introduction

READ . Start at verse 22.

In our mini-series in the portion of James, “What Will You Do With The Word,” we reach part 3 and it will be our final part. Last Sunday, I challenged you to be a hearer AND doer of the Word. And we learn that God blesses those who receive and respond to the Word.

Secular society despises religion because it seems anti-science, anti-intellectual, out of date, and irrelevant. Many, but not all, secularists, atheists, and agnostics, or those who do not believe in God or who do not know if God exists, may not like religion, they still respect the people who practice it. Some atheists have a new movement called the New Atheism whereby they promote the idea that not only do they despise religion, they also despise the people who practice them because they believe that religion is a deadly poison to society and it needs to be exterminated.

Let’s talk about the Christians despising religion. Probably about 15 years ago or at least…there was slogan that says this, and you may have heard of it: “Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God.” From this slogan, out came the idea from Christians that we should stop referring Christianity as a religion. Why is that? Why do Christians despise the word, “religion?”

The idea of religion, when looking at the teachings of other religions in the world, communicates moral codes and that you must do good works to earn yourself to heaven.

Christians who promote that slogan say that Christianity is unique in a sense that it is not about following moral codes to earn your way to heaven; it is about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus. I would say, “Amen,” to that!

Although I do think the slogan has some truths to it, we must be careful with how we use it and who we are talking to. And although I appreciate the intention behind the slogan, I do see problems with it.

First, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines religion as this: the service and worship of God or the supernatural; commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance. The Bible clearly tells Christians to worship God and to obey the Word of God. That is “religion” in of itself.

Second, when you’re talking to a non-Christian about your faith, the slogan proves to be useless. Your non-Christian friends should know how to use a dictionary, and if you use that slogan, then they might think you’re not intellectual. I’ve used this before with an agnostic, and that person shut me down quite good.

Third, non-Christians might perceive us as not being entirely honest about our faith. If we’re trying to tell our non-Christian friends about Jesus and we say that Christianity is not about following a moral code, then aren’t be self-contradicting ourself? Jesus tells us to make disciples. And if we are not following moral codes, then why are we telling others about Jesus? Aren’t we commanded to love God and to love our neighbours?

(2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

I say all these things because we should not read “religion” as a bad word, depending on how we define it. I also say this because the Bible uses the word, “religion,” in a healthy way.

In today’s passage, James uses “religious” or “religion.”

and they’re found in the Bible! They’re God’s Word!

In our mini-series in the portion of James, “What Will You Do With The Word,” we reach part 3 and it will be our final part. Last Sunday, I challenged you to be a hearer AND doer of the Word. And we learn that God blesses those who receive and respond to the Word.

So…what will you do with the word?

Big Idea: You Must Resign To The Word

How can you know if you truly have a true religion? (I’m not talking about owning a pair of jeans from a bran called True Religion). Because God’s grace shown through Jesus Christ, a Christian actually lives out their faith and practices God’s Word - that’s true religion. With your Bibles, we will examine closely. And from this passage, there are...

We learn that: God blesses the doer (and hearer) of the Word.

What does it look like to be a doer of the Word?

What happens when you are a doer of the word?

Three marks of true religion:

James makes a conditional statement in v.26.

Verse 26 could be an extension of what James already mentioned back in v.22-25 because the language seems similar. The person who is a “hearer-only” is the one who thinks he is religious.

What does “religious” or “religion” mean?

Religious/Religion - being devoted to a proper expression to God; being devout; being sincere in following God and His commandments.

(The word religious and religion are rarely used in the NT and it is used here in James).

It means being devoted to a proper expression to God. It means being devout, like being sincere in following God and His commandments. (The word religious and religion are rarely used in the NT and it is used here in James).

And this verse could be translated as “if anyone SUPPOSEDLY thinks he is religious.”

This person assumes that he is religious and devout without checking the facts. His own thinking has deceived his heart. This person has convinced himself that he’s religious person by being a hearer-only when in reality, he’s a hypocrite.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

But, how is this person a hypocrite? He fails to “bridle his tongue.”

Bridle - the headgear used to control a horse. It carries the idea of restraining something or hold something in check.

Tongue - it is a small organ of the mouth of the body. But, it symbolizes for speech.

James is saying that if someone who claims to be a religious person, but he fails to control his speech, this person’s religious is worthless.

Now, it might seem extremely harsh for James to say that. There can be many things that could make a person’s religious worthless: sexual immorality, adultery, murder, stealing, fits of anger, and so forth. We could argue and say that those things I listed may seem far worse than failing to bridle the tongue.

But, if you read through James, he addresses the tongue significantly because the tongue is a big problem.

Discrimination (2:3)

Discrimination (2:3)Hypocrisy / Lip-Service (2:16)Taming the tongue (3:1-12)Slandering Christians (4:11-12)Breeds Quarrels and Arguments (4:1-2)Selfishness (4:3)Exposes Pride (4:13-16)Lying and Integrity (5:12)

Hypocrisy / Lip-Service (2:16)

Taming the tongue (3:1-12)

Slandering Christians (4:11-12)

Breeds Quarrels and Arguments (4:1-2)

Selfishness (4:3)

Exposes Pride (4:13-16)

Lying and Integrity (5:12)

When we get to , we will spend a significant amount of time addressing the topic of tongue, communication, and speech because we may underestimate the significant problem with our speech and what it can do.

Jesus had many teachings on the issue of speech. Jesus said that our speech exposes the desires and treasures of our heart.

Luke 6:43–45 ESV

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus elsewhere taught that God will judge our speech; therefore, it is significant.

Matthew 12:34–37 ESV

34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Furthermore, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who may be devout on the outside, but they are hypocrites on the inside.

Matthew 15:8–9 ESV

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

Their words do not truly reflect their devotion to God. They claim that they worship God, but their hearts are far from Him.

It seems that what James is getting at here is that it does not matter how religious or devout you supposedly think you are (self-deception) if you are not controlling your speech. Failure to control your speech means that you are deceiving yourself for having a true religion or being a devout Christian. This kind of “religion” is worthless, useless, empty, fruitless, powerless, lacking truth or futile.

Pay attention to the word, “worthless.” In , Luke characterizes idols or gods as “vain things.”

Acts 14:15 ESV

15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

Perhaps, if you have a “religion” whereby you fail to control your speech, then you are no better than someone worshipping an idol. Your failure and sin to control your speech is on an equal level with the sin of idolatry.

PERSONAL STORY

I have a confession to make before you. This verse is very convicting to me because I too fail to control my speech.

When was the last time you lost control your speech? Why did that happen?

When I was a relatively new Christian (maybe no more than being a Christians for at least 3 years), one of the biggest problems with me was speech. I remember clearly some of the things that I said that were brutally hurtful, unthoughtful, and harsh to my brothers and sisters in Christ and to my family members.

I have a confession to make before you. This verse is very convicting to me because I too fail to control my speech.

A friend told me that I have said something that may have caused someone to leave the church. Apparently, I was accused of being a hypocrite, and perhaps rightly so.

Proverbs 10:19 ESV

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

This verse is very convicting to me because I often fail to control my speech. I’m sure we all fail to bridle our tongue.

We did not think before we speak.

I wish I can take back all those words that I said. I wish I could heal all the wounds of those whom I have hurt with my speech. I wish I could apologize to everyone whom I have hurt with my speech. There are regrets, and this is the consequence of my speech.

We want to immediately express our emotions.

We feel like we always need to express our opinions.

When I was a relatively new Christian (maybe no more than being a Christians for at least 3 years), one of the biggest problems with me was speech. I remember clearly some of the things that I said that were brutally hurtful, unthoughtful, and harsh to my brothers and sisters in Christ and to my family members.

A friend told me that I have said something that may have caused someone to leave the church. Apparently, I was accused of being a hypocrite, and perhaps rightly so.

I wish I can take back all those words that I said. I wish I could heal all the wounds of those whom I have hurt with my speech. I wish I could apologize to everyone whom I have hurt with my speech. There are regrets, and this is the consequence of my speech.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

God has every reason to condemn me and send me to hell. He can give me a list of speeches that I made that were wicked and sinful, but He does need to give me a list; He can point to one instance where I used my tongue in a sinful manner, and that would be enough for Him to judge me and rightly so. Oh how I need Jesus more and more as I come to see my filthy sins in me.

Oh how I need Jesus more and more as I come to see my filthy sins in me.

But, I praise God for His grace and patience through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christ died so that my sins can be forgiven, including all of my sinful tongues and my hypocrisy. The Lord has been good and gracious in making me holy in my speech. He has been teaching me to be gracious and patient in the way I talk to people.

Do you know what’s a difference between a hypocrite and a Christian?

A hypocrite is someone who spends their life pretending to be more righteous than they are.

A Christian is someone who knows they have no righteousness of their own but whose righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone.

REFLECTION: When was the last time you failed to control of your speech? Why did that happen?

I’m sure we all fail to bridle our tongue. Perhaps...

We did not think before we speak.

We want to immediately express our emotions.

We feel like we always need to express our opinions.

That is the 1st mark of a true religion.

James tells us “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”

Orphan - without parents

Widow - a woman whose husband has died and has not remarried

There were a lot of orphans and widows. They were the poorest in the society. They were the most neglected in society. In fact, they were the most helpless and vulnerable. These were the people who experience much trouble, distress, suffering, and difficult circumstances.

In fact, Jesus did criticize the religious leaders who abuse and take advantage of widows.

It would be devastating for a wife to lose her husband because the husband was the source of income, unlike today. In , there was a story whereby a widow’s son died, for whatever reason. Not only did she lose her husband, she also lost her son, who was her only hope in surviving in society. Jesus resurrected the widow’s son and that was a miracle.

The Old Testament and The New Testament is filled with instructions of how God’s people are to address the issue of widows and fatherless children. You can find passages in ; and .

The New Testament has much to teach us on the church’s responsibility to

These were the people who experience much trouble, distress, suffering, and difficult circumstances.

The New Testament is filled with instructions of how God’s people are to address the issue of widows. You can find passages in and .

Mark 12:40 ESV

who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Scripture is clear that the church is to care for the helpless. It is at the core of what it means to be religious because the Old Testament is filled with teachings on that.

The point that James is making is that we are to visit, care, and help those who are helpless and not expect anything in return. These people could be widows, orphans, homeless, people who are suffering abuse and etc. We like to help those who are capable of returning the favour, but James would not allow that. We are to give and care for the helpless and not expect them to return the favour. They do not need to write an “IOU.” You don’t need to put a debt on them.

Luke 6:30–34 ESV

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

I think another point that James may be implying is that by helping the helpless, we are demonstrating our selflessness, just like Jesus. It’s easy to be selfish, but it takes a lot of effort to be selfless.

And I’m thankful that we have many opportunities to assist the helpless. Once a year, we have the Christmas shoebox whereby we give toys to children in the 3rd world country; we have can food drive to assist the poor.

But, let me encourage you that the next time you see something who is helpless on the street or at school, you can be a blessing.

That is the 2nd mark of a true religion.

This is probably the most obvious one.

James instructs the Christians to keep yourself unstained from the world.

The word unstained is used to character Jesus as the spotless lamb.

1 Peter 1:19 ESV

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Jesus must be spotless and without fault in order for Him to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of His people.

You are to be spotless and without fault. Your character and conduct are to be upright so that no one can find fault in you. Don’t let the world influence you and contaminate your Christian life. You are to be unstained from the world.

This kind of world is the world that is opposed to God and His Word. This is the kind of world that is ungodly in its lifestyle and thinking.

James 4:4 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If you are being a friend with the system of this world, then you are making yourselves an enemy of God. By loving the desire of the world, you are essentially opposing and hating God Himself. Our Lord Jesus said it clearly that you cannot serve both God and money.

You must resist the temptation that would lead you away from a relationship with God. You must not be conformed to the pattern of this world. You must be transformed by having your minds renewed by the reading of God’s Word.

That is the 3rd mark of a true religion.

James does say this “religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this...”

Your character and conduct are pleasing in the sight of God. (v.27a)

Your character and conduct ought to be pleasing in the sight of God. Followers of Jesus are to have a lifestyle and devotion that is pure and undefiled.

Your character and conduct are pleasing in the sight of God. (v.27a)

Is your religion pure and undefiled?

Conclusion

The goal of a mature Christian is to live in holiness; to practice what he preaches, and to demonstrate that he is both a hearer and doer of the word.

I return to the question that I have been asking you:

“What will you do with the word?”

Will you receive the Word?

Will you respond to the Word?

You must respond to the Word

Will you demonstrate that you are a hearer and doer of the Word?

Resign - to submit and yield yourself without resistance

Do you know what’s a difference between a hypocrite and a Christian?

A hypocrite is someone who spends their life pretending to be more righteous than they are.

A Christian is someone who knows they have no righteousness of their own but whose righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Religion. Religion. Religion is probably a word that both secular society and Christians despise.