You will find my text in James 1:27:
"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."
The epistle of James is sometimes termed the practical
epistle. It deals with personal experience. Many of the epistles are more
doctrinal. For example, Paul's letter to the Romans is almost wholly
doctrinal. It presents some of the most sublime doctrine contained in the
New Testament. But the epistle of James deals not so much with doctrines
as it does with practical everyday Christian life. It is called one of the
pastoral epistles. It is also considered by scholars to be the first
written book of the New Testament. Its tone and style of expression prove
it to be a very ancient document.
Two thoughts are expressed in my text:
1. What is the religion of the Bible.
2. What is the visible manifestation of this religion.
The term religion is seldom used among us. When I was a
boy, it was a common term. To be converted was to get religion. Today the
term salvation has largely supplanted it, especially among spiritual
people.
Salvation pertains more to the inward experience of the
soul, while religion rather expresses the result of that experience in the
outward life. Religion denotes the influence and life, the feelings and
acts of men, with respect to their relation to God. It is a system of
faith and worship. First, I will consider what is the religion of the
Bible.
PURE RELIGION
Every possessor of salvation has pure religion. No one
can have pure religion without salvation. Religion may be corrupted, and
people may have many and various kinds of religion. Religion may be pure
or impure. This is implied in our text. But with reference to salvation,
there is but one kind. It can never be corrupted. All who possess it have
the same experience.
The world is full of religions. The majority of the people
of the earth today are zealous religionists. The eight hundred million
heathens in darkened lands have their religions. In enlightened nations
will be found hundreds of religions, the Catholics, Lutherans, Methodist,
Mormon, Amish, Dunkard, Baptist, Universalist, Unitarian, and others. All
these religions differ from each other in many particulars. Yes, in all
parts of the earth will be found religions.
Religion is an effect. An effect so universal must have
back of it a cause as universal as the visible effect produced. The cause
is, God made man a religious being, religious in his very nature. This
accounts for the religious zeal among all people of earth. But the world
is filled with many false and corrupt religions, yet in the midst of them
all there stands out prominently one religion that is pure, the religion
of the Bible.
PURE IN ITS SOURCE
This religion is pure because the fountain and spring
from which it flows is pure. Religion, like a stream, is as pure as its
source of supply. If the fountain is unclean, the stream will be unclean.
If the fountain is pure, the stream will be pure. Religion must be like
its source. All religions that emanated from an impure source must be
impure religions. Take for example, the pagan religions of the world. Why
are they impure? I answer, because their source is impure. They were
conceived in the minds of unregenerate men. The founders of many of these
religions lived low sensual lives. The spirit of sensuality was infused
into these religions by their founders, and the millions of poor devotees
and worshipers partake of this same spirit. This accounts for the low
state of morals in heathen lands. The worshipers of any religion are in
moral character like the religion they embrace. And the religion is like
its source.
Mohammedanism is another demonstration of this fact. The
vile corrupting influence of this religion is seen in the low state of
morals among its worshipers, and all because it emanated from a corrupt
source. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" Not
one. Let us come nearer home. The reason the devotees of the Mormon
religion were polygamists was because the leaders and founders of this
religion were polygamists, and men of low morals. Every religion founded
by man cannot reach a higher plane than its founder occupied. Every stream
will reach its own level. It can get no higher. Human religions are
animated by human life.
The religion of the Bible is pure because its source is
pure. The fountain from which it flows is Jesus Christ. Glory to God! He
is the blessed spring from which flow the sparkling waters of pure
religion. All the worshipers of this pure religion are in moral character
like the religion they embrace, pure in heart and life. In the midst of
the thousands of muddy streams of false and corrupt religions, there flows
one stream of the water of life, clear as crystal. Its sparkling waters
have meandered down through the ages, and at last will disembogue into the
vast ocean of eternity. Twenty centuries ago this stream came dashing down
to earth, flowing out from the throne of God in heaven. Thousands and
millions eagerly drank of its refreshing waters. Then during the dark ages
of apostasy, it narrowed down to a very small rivulet. But as we reach the
blessed evening light of the full gospel in these last days, it again
broadens into a mighty stream "the waters whereof make glad the city
of God." It is the pure religion of the Bible. Thank God, we have
found this stream. It is not of human origin, but is heavenly and divine.
Unlike all other religions, it did not spring out of earth, it came from
heaven. It was shut up in heaven for four thousand years, hid in the
infinite wisdom of God. During that time no one saw it but in type and
shadow. Only in type and shadow did the Old Testament saints drink of that
spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. This religion
is pure because it is divine. It comes to us from Christ, out of heaven,
through the gospel. It is pure in its source.
PURE IN ITS PRINCIPLES
Its principles are lofty and ennobling. It will lift
up fallen man to the level of its source. In this respect compare it with
other religions and philosophies. Among the world's greatest philosophers
were Plato, Aristotole, and Socrates. These men taught a religion and
philosophy by which they expected to lift humanity to the plane of moral
perfection. In this they utterly failed. Jesus Christ was the greatest
philosopher that ever set foot upon earth. He brought a religion from
heaven that is pure in its principles, and so uplifting that all who
embrace it are raised up to the plane of moral perfection. This religion
brings us to the place where we worship the true God alone. In fact, it
restores to man a true conception of God, and this intensifies our ardor
and love in our worship of him.
A person will become in character like the object he
worships. Your conception of that deity, while you worship and adore it,
will mold your character into the same condition and state. I cite an
example in the Norsemen who as pirates made plundering expeditions along
the coasts of Europe in the ninth century. Among the gods they worshiped
were Odin and Thor. These were supposed to be bloodthirsty and cruel in
the extreme.
In the worship of these supposed deities the people
partook of a cruel and bloodthirsty nature, such as was never equaled in
the annals of all history.
The religion of the Bible differs from all other
religions. It gives us a true comprehension and knowledge of God, and
enables us to worship him in spirit and in truth. The result is, we become
like him. "As he is, so are we in this world." The better and
fuller our comprehension of him, the more intense will our worship be, and
the more will we be conformed in character to him. The stamp of holiness
is upon the religion of Christ. It will produce holiness of heart and life
in all who fully accept it. Its principles are holiness, truth and
goodness. As we embrace them, we are made better in every way. The
religion of Jesus Christ demands a righteous life, and forbids all sin,
and it gives us power and grace to comply with these demands. It is pure
in its principles.
PURE IN ITS INFLUENCE
Every religion wields an influence either good or bad.
This religion wields a pure influence. It produces pure desires and
purposes in our lives. Yes, it will do that very thing for those who have
fallen to the lowest depths of sin. Though your mind and heart may be
filled with impure thoughts, desires, purposes, schemes, and plans, that
dishonor God and ruin character, the religion of Jesus Christ will change
the whole course of your life, and produce in you such pure motives in all
you do, that your life will glorify God. It will gather the broken
fragments of a ruined life and character, and build a holy temple for God
to occupy. "I will dwell in them" "The temple of God is
holy, which temple ye are."
Pure religion will produce in you a pure speech and
conduct; you will not talk and act like the world. It will put itself on
exhibition in your life. It will shine out in your daily walk before your
fellow men. Its influence on others is pure; it holds before them a better
and higher life, and thus wins them to Christ. The majority of us were
brought to Christ through the godly life and influence of others. This
pure religion in their lives convinced us, and thus we became the happy
recipients.
VISIBLE MANIFESTATIONS
In the words of our text, "To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction," a general principle is
laid down. As I said in the beginning, there is a practical side to
Christianity. Too many people see no farther than simply going to meeting,
singing, praying, and having a happy time. To meet God's approval means
more than that. So many people can shout hallelujah; but when it comes to
putting the principles of Christianity into practical demonstration in
their daily life, they are not in it. Jesus went about doing good,
ministering to the needs of the people. His was a life of self sacrifice;
he pleased not himself. This was the example he set for us to follow. We
are exhorted to be "full of good works."
"As ye would that men should do to you, do ye
likewise also so to them." Visit and comfort the distressed, the
bereaved ones about you. Feed the hungry, and share with the worthy poor.
Give liberally of your means to the gospel, support the ministry. Let your
profession of love be not merely in word and in tongue, but in deed and in
truth. Visit the widow in her affliction. Take her a basket of food, and
some clothes for her children. This will appeal to her. Then tell her of
Jesus' love and power to save. Visit the orphans who are left without the
protection of father and mother and home; visit them in their distress. If
they need help, give it to them. You may thus win them to Christ.
O friends, it is going to take practical living to get men
saved. The reward in the last great day will be given to the practical
Christian. He will hear the King's blessed words: "Come, * * *
inherit the kingdom * * * I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was
thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye
came unto me. * * * Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
To those on the left hand the King will say: "Depart
from me, ye cursed. * * * I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was
thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger: and ye took me not in:
naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
* * * Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it
not to me."
In the name of Jesus I ask tonight, Is the pure religion
of the Bible visibly manifested in your daily life in such a practical way
that you can undergo this final severe test? Will you, measured by this
standard, be found on the right side or the left?
CLEAN FROM THE WORLD
"To keep himself unspotted from the world."
The course of this world is downward and hellward. If you would gain
heaven, you must go the opposite direction. You will have to stem the
great tide that is going to perdition, and start up stream. The world will
if possible spot your affections, your conscience, and your conduct. It is
an easy thing to get your affections on the things of the world; on your
money; on your influence among the people; on their applause and honor; on
the style and fashion of this gay world. To do so is to become spotted in
your affections. "Set your affection on things above." God wants
our affections pure and untarnished. If you are not careful, you can reach
out after the world until your conscience will become so spotted, that it
will approve of what you do. Conscience is unsafe unless educated to the
Word of truth. Our conduct will be affected just in proportion as we go
with the world. In order that we keep our conscience clean, and live a
pure life before God, we must go squarely against the world.
Pure religion is visibly manifested in people keeping
themselves unspotted from the world. Bless God, this is my experience! It
is not only true in James 1:27, but it is true in me. And may each of you
who is yet without this pure religion obtain this glorious experience.