Traveling Toward True Religion
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There are many different ideas out there about what exactly it takes to be truly godly. We understand that there is only one way to heaven, and that is to accept the payment of the cross by faith alone. Once we accept this premise, there is a wide variance of opinion as to how true godliness will manifest itself in the life of a Christian. Some believe that true Godliness will be exhibited when one masters vast amounts of theological knowledge. Another idea is that we must amass many names of people that we have been able to coerce into praying the sinner's prayer. If we can do that then we must be truly godly.
Our passage tonight moves us beyond our feeble conjectures and onto the glorious and unchanging truths that God has set forth in His Word. This evening let us look in the mirror of God's Word and see what the real deal - pure religion really looks like.
True Religion will meet God's unchanging standards.
True Religion will meet God's unchanging standards.
A. Religion = external acts of worship witnessed by others.
B. Pure religion is not defined by man's subjective standards.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the Lord weigheth the spirits.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
C. Man must submit to God's standard of righteousness.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
True Religion will affect one's speech.
True Religion will affect one's speech.
A. Speech reflects one's true heart condition.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
B. Avoid evil speech.
What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good?
Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
Lord, Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his neighbour, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise.
C. Use words with purpose.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
True Religion will affect one's motives.
True Religion will affect one's motives.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
A. Undefiled = free from contamination
B. Meet needs without hope of payback.
Isaiah 1:17,23
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Warren Wiersbe writes, "Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to count it all joy! If we live only for the present and forget about the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better."
True Religion will affect one's associations.
True Religion will affect one's associations.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.