Read James 1:19-27. Review what we have been learning in verses 19-25.
Read again verses 26 & 27
Here we are given clear teaching on what is true religion. A further test of our faith in our response to God and his Word as we seek to live out our faith.
If anyone thinks he is religious…
This person in his own mind is sure that he is religious based on what he is doing. He is relying on the outward forms and rituals of what he thinks is religion. Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5) and is like those who Christ speaks of in Matthew 7:22:
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Not only does he falsely believe he is religious, but he also:
…does not bridle his tongue…
To bridle something is to reign it in and have it under control. That this person does not control his tongue indicates the condition of his heart. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). When he said this Jesus was rebuking the Pharisees for speaking against the Holy Spirit by whom he himself was casting out demons. He goes on to say in verses 35-37: The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
James warns us later in chapter 3 about the tongue. Lord willing, we will study this more later, but for now a few verses that may shed some light here:
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. [Verse 6]
…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [Verse 8]
Look at the next part verse 26 (James 1).
…but deceives his heart…
This person who refuses to control his tongue sees no need to control is tongue. In this way, he deceives his heart: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). As he comes to God’s word, he is not putting away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, receiving with meekness the implanted word which is able to save his soul (James 1:21). He is not coming to God’s word with the intention of repenting of his sins and obeying what God has taught him in his word (1:22-25). Also, he is refusing to acknowledge the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is self-control. No human can tame the tongue, but God in Christ by his Holy Spirit can. It is the will of God that we do control our tongues. Thus, the admonition:
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [James 3:9,10]
Back to James 1, the final part of verse 26.
this person’s religion is worthless.
God, who alone is good, is providing through James a warning to believers and to the unbelievers alike to each look to the condition of their own hearts (If anyone thinks he is religious…). To examine themselves before God in his word and not rely on their own understanding. And, from what other scripture teaches us, to be concerned about each other. We see something like this in Hebrews 3:12-13: Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Following this is assurance by God for those who genuinely believe: For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Thankfully in his wisdom and by his grace, God not only tells us what worthless religion is but follows up with teaching us what is pure and undefiled religion.
Look at verse 27.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Important to note first is that pure and undefiled religion is described as before God, the Father. What does this mean?
God himself determines what is religion, what it is to serve him in godliness. True religion comes out of a relationship with God as Father. Those who serve him in this religion are his children. They are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God, born of his Spirit (John 1:13; 3:5). How wonderful it is to know the love of the Father in this way! We are not becoming children of God because of what we do, but we are doers of the will of the Father because we are his children already: See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the children of God; and so we are (1 John 3:1).
The children of God are the ones Jesus calls blessed in Matthew 5:3-11. They are the pure in heart who are cleansed already (John 15:3). Made pure by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom God poured out through Jesus Christ the Savior (1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5,6).
Because they have been made pure by God, they are called to live lives that are pure before him purifying their souls by obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22; see verses 3-25 for context). Those who have been made pure in Christ are being made pure in how they live out their lives in Christ. They serve him knowing that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3:2,3).
Before we go on, hoping a definition of religion might be helpful (from the Webster’s 1828): Religion, as distinct from theology, is godliness or real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to God and our fellow men, in obedience to divine command, or (I would replace the “or” with “and”) from love to God and his law.
What does God, the Father, say is pure and undefiled religion?
…to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.
In the time when James was writing this, orphans and widows were considered the helpless of society. There was not much they could do to help themselves out of their vulnerable and needy state. Therefore, anyone who helped them could not expect to be repaid by them. To visit them in their affliction was to give aid to them in their desperate state with no thought to getting anything in return. We can see that this would be truly compassionate, generous, and sacrificial giving. Giving like Christ the Lord who gave to the point of laying down his own life. There is a principle here that was taught to the believers then which applies to believers of every age. In Christ, we see God, the Father, who is …Father to the fatherless and protector of widows (Psalm 68:5) and who …upholds the widow and the fatherless (Psalm 145:9). We who are his children in Christ are called to be imitators of him (Ephesians 5:1); to serve before him as helpers of the helpless. We do this looking into his word and asking and relying on him for wisdom which he promises to generously supply (1:5).
…and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
As the pure in heart who have been made clean in Christ, we are called to keep ourselves clean as we live here in the world until Christ returns (1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Peter 3:14). It is God’s will that we be kept clean (Ephesians 1:3,4). Ultimately it is God himself who will do this in Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27;1 Thess. 5:23,24). And Christ has prayed for us: Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17-19).
God also supplies what we need: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (2 Peter 1:3,4).
However, we have a part to play in living a life of repentance and obedience as we respond to God and his word knowing that he gives us what we need as he actively works in us through Christ and by his Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 4-6; Philippians 2:12-16; Hebrews 10:19-25; James 3:13-18; James 4:7-10; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 3:9).
In considering how to keep oneself unstained by the world, Nate’s sermon on Matthew 5:8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, came to mind. Here are my scribbles from his preaching:
- Purity of mind/thought – Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; How do we relate to one another in the body of Christ, the family of God? As mothers, father, brothers & sisters (1Timothy 5:1,2)
- Purity of conscience – Acts 20:26; 1 Timothy 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3 – Do you have a guilty conscience? Confess to God (Psalm 51). The fruit of repentance is a clear (pure) conscience.
- Purity of speech – Ephesians 4:29; 5:4 – Do my words give grace to those who hear? To fix your mouth, you must first fix your heart.
- Purity in deeds – What is in your heart? Demonstrate to the world outwardly what you have inwardly (Proverbs 21:8).