Pure Religion

I Corinthians 4: 5 ; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

As you examine yourself do you find yourself to be a religious person ?

James 1: 26-27 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I. What does it mean to be religious ?

“Religious” indicates one who is given to worship. Micah 6: 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Isaiah 58: 3, 10-11 Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice? ..( God list many transgressions ).. 10 And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. 11 And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones;

The Christians must have the attitude which seeks to make God look good to all.

II. Caring for the poor and the helpless has always been the desire of God.

As with us, God commanded His people of old to love each other. Leviticus 19: 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

God cares for those who cannot care for themselves. Psalms 68: 5-6 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. 6 God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Deuteronomy 10: 17-18 A For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.

God instructs His people to care for those who cannot care for themselves.

Deuteronomy 14: 28-29 At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Exodus 22: 22-24 You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 "If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

If one wants to be like God, what must his attitude be toward widows and orphans ?

III. God’s requirement to care for the widows and orphans remains the same until now.

God is totally consistent; He never changes. James 1: 17 the Father of light with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Our text identifies the care of widows and orphans as essential to true religion.

James 1: 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

IV. Why does God place such emphasis on being merciful to the poor and helpless ?

The merciful character of God requires that His followers be merciful like Him.

Joel 2: 13 And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.

James 5: 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. Luke 6: 36 Be merciful, just as you heavenly Father is merciful.

If we are not interested in the things God is interested in we need to repent. Proverbs 14: 31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

A lack of concern for the poor and helpless is a mark of wickedness.

Isaiah 1: 16-17 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Why was Sodom destroyed ? Ezekiel 16: 49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.

An unusual threat ! Exodus 22: 22-24 You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 "If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

Compassion for the poor is a mark of righteousness.

Job 31:16-17, 22 If I have kept the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not shared it … 22 Let my shoulder fall from the socket, and my arm be broken off at the elbow.

Psalms 41: 1 How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. Jeremiah 22: 16 He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me? Declares the Lord.

God saved us so that we would gladly accomplish His will on the earth.

Titus 2: 14 Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

I Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, SO THAT you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Acts 20:35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Luke 6: 46 Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Is it pure and undefiled ? Are we caring for the helpless ? Are we religious ? What kind of religion ? Is it pure and undefiled ? Are we caring for the helpless ?

We came to worship. We leave to serve. May God go with us.