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James 1:26-27
James 1:26-27
What does it mean to be religious? Oh I suppose the average person would say, “Well, to be religious means you think about God, you believe in God and you go to religious services and make some kind of contribution to the work of the religion that you are following.” And perhaps that’s an accurate description of a religious person.
Here’s what James 1:26-27 has to say about real religion. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
How can you tell a really religious person? He’s talking of course about a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that one religion is just as good as another. No, Jesus said “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life” (John 14:6). James is talking about faith in Jesus Christ. How can you tell when your religion is real?
Number one, you can tell it by your speech. You’ll bridle your tongue. James has a great deal to say about speech, he devotes almost a whole chapter to the tongue. A bridled tongue is evidence of real religion. We’re careful when we speak we’re careful how we speak, and we’re certainly careful what we say.
Secondly, real religion is shown by sincerity. James says there are some people who are deceiving their own hearts. They’re just phonies, they’re hypocrites, they’re counterfeit. True sincerity of devotion to Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, service. The truly religious person serves others. He visits the fatherless, he visits the widows, he tries to help other people. He sacrifices for them.
Fourth, separation; to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Not isolation but separation. Here’s a clean life, a controlled life, a life of service and sacrifice for others. Religion is not something we talk about; religion is something that we live. The Lord Jesus Christ loving others through us.
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By Back to the BibleJames 1:26-27
What does it mean to be religious? Oh I suppose the average person would say, “Well, to be religious means you think about God, you believe in God and you go to religious services and make some kind of contribution to the work of the religion that you are following.” And perhaps that’s an accurate description of a religious person.
Here’s what James 1:26-27 has to say about real religion. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
How can you tell a really religious person? He’s talking of course about a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that one religion is just as good as another. No, Jesus said “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life” (John 14:6). James is talking about faith in Jesus Christ. How can you tell when your religion is real?
Number one, you can tell it by your speech. You’ll bridle your tongue. James has a great deal to say about speech, he devotes almost a whole chapter to the tongue. A bridled tongue is evidence of real religion. We’re careful when we speak we’re careful how we speak, and we’re certainly careful what we say.
Secondly, real religion is shown by sincerity. James says there are some people who are deceiving their own hearts. They’re just phonies, they’re hypocrites, they’re counterfeit. True sincerity of devotion to Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, service. The truly religious person serves others. He visits the fatherless, he visits the widows, he tries to help other people. He sacrifices for them.
Fourth, separation; to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Not isolation but separation. Here’s a clean life, a controlled life, a life of service and sacrifice for others. Religion is not something we talk about; religion is something that we live. The Lord Jesus Christ loving others through us.