Bathing Your Religion

1. BathingYourReligion James 1:27

2. We greatly value cleanliness.

3. In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.”

4. In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.” • They were active in the church, but their hearts weren’t right before God.

5. In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.” • They were active in the church, but their hearts weren’t right before God. • They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues.

6. In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.” • They were active in the church, but their hearts weren’t right before God. • They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues. • “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (v 26, ESV).

7. In tonight’s text, James deals with some “pretenders.” • They were active in the church, but their hearts weren’t right before God. • They seem to have especially had a hard time controlling their tongues. • “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (v 26, ESV). • The mouth is a “window” to the soul.

8. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite.

9. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God.

10. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively.

11. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively. • Paul’s former life in the “religion” of Judaism (Acts 26:5).

12. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively. • Paul’s former life in the “religion” of Judaism (Acts 26:5). • Ungodly practice of worshiping angels (Col 2:18).

13. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively. • Paul’s former life in the “religion” of Judaism (Acts 26:5). • Ungodly practice of worshiping angels (Col 2:18). • Religion that is worthless (Js 1:26).

14. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively. • Paul’s former life in the “religion” of Judaism (Acts 26:5). • Ungodly practice of worshiping angels (Col 2:18). • Religion that is worthless (Js 1:26). • James uses the word positively in tonight’s text to speak of “pure and undefiled” religion.

15. The word “religious” also carries a connotation of a hypocrite. • The word refers to the visible service of God. • Only once in the New Testament is the term used positively. • 80% of the time you find the word “religion” in the New Testament, it’s religion that needs a bath.

16. What does a bathed religion look like?

17. What does a bathed religion look like? It is “pure and undefiled before God, the Father.”

18. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities.

19. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. • “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Mt 23:26, ESV).

20. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. • “You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Mt 23:26, ESV). • “Pure religion,” thus, has been cleansed of all impurities.

21. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. • “Undefiled” means completely without blemish.

22. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. • “Undefiled” means completely without blemish. • “It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Heb 7:26, ESV).

23. “Pure” means to be clean, to have absolutely no impurities. • “Undefiled” means completely without blemish. • “It was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Heb 7:26, ESV). • Therefore, “undefiled religion” has no defect.

24. A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion.

25. A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion. • Our faith bears itself out in the way that we live.

26. A “bathed” religion is also a practical religion. • Our faith bears itself out in the way that we live. • In Js 1:27, our religion is practical in the way we care for others & in the way we care nothing for the world.

27. A Serving ReligionA Severed Religion

28. A Serving Religion “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (Js 1:27, ESV).

29. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning.

30. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine.

31. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine. • The term is often used to show the care God demonstrates to his people.

32. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine. • The term is often used to show the care God demonstrates to his people: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?” (Heb 2:6, ESV).

33. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine. • The term is often used to show the care God demonstrates to his people: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?” (Heb 2:6, ESV). • When people visit, they do so to see how people are.

34. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine. • The term is often used to show the care God demonstrates to his people: “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?” (Heb 2:6, ESV). • When people visit, they do so to see how people are: “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, „Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are‟” (Acts 15:36, ESV).

35. The Greek word “visit” is loaded with meaning. • The word means to look upon/examine. • To visit widows & orphans, therefore, means to see how they how and what we can do to alleviate their suffering.

36. Why would James single out "orphans and widows"?

37. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century.

38. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. • Social Security, pensions, etc.

39. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. • Social Security, pensions, etc. • The state will also care for orphans.

40. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. • Social Security, pensions, etc. • The state will also care for orphans. • In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.”

41. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. • Social Security, pensions, etc. • The state will also care for orphans. • In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.” • Orphans & widows had no means of support.

42. Care was not given to widows & orphans in the first century. • Social Security, pensions, etc. • The state will also care for orphans. • In James’ day, there weren’t these “safety nets.” • Orphans & widows had no means of support. • They were totally dependent upon the charity of others.

43. God has always been greatly concerned with orphans & widows.

44. God has always been greatly concerned with orphans & widows. • “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me’” (Deut 26:12-13, ESV).

45. God has always been greatly concerned with orphans & widows. • Deut 26:12-13. • “Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow” (Deut 27:19, ESV).

46. What can we take away from this passage?

47. Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows.

48. Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows. • The government’s action does not remove our responsibility!

49. Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows. • The government’s action does not remove our responsibility! • “Honor widows who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:3, ESV).

50. Obviously, we need to care for orphans & widows. • The government’s action does not remove our responsibility! • “Honor widows who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:3, ESV). • “If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows” (1 Tm 5:16, ESV).