Theme: Pure Religion and its Norms
Text: James 1:27
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction: "YOU WILL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY, THE LORD YOUR GOD." Holy God expects this Holy Race with specific morals, spiritual practices, and a useful social existence (James 1:27). The epistle of James defines pure religion (James 1:11-27). "To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" God our Father approves it, and is perfect.
The foundation of a pure religion is the Bible, not just hearing and considering its implications nevertheless acting in accordance with the LORD's Word.
1. Surrender
The religions of the world focus on gods and goddesses, religious duties, and prayers to help a worshipper to receive health, wealth, happiness, prosperity and success.
But Christ taught us different religion than the one practised by the world including the Jews. Our God is not satisfied with anyone who gives him their wealth without holiness. His emphasis was not on the popularity but private life. So, pure religion is not about what we get from God but how we surrender to God. Surrender to his will is important than expecting from his holy hill. .
St. Paul declares that our surrender leads to personal sanctification by abstaining from sexual immorality and exercising self-control over our bodies. Our bodies are made with Clay but made for honour. We ought to be honourable and graceful in handling our urges and desires. "They will be my people, I will be their God, and I will walk among them and live with them" (2 Corinthians 6:16). So, God demands "purity in everything" It means purity in conversations, relationships and dealings with one another.
Everything else would taint and degrade our body, soul, and spirit. Thus, relying on God's promises, let us perfect holiness by purging ourselves of everything that pollutes our bodies and spirits (2 Corinthians 7:1). So, surrender in Christianity is true renunciation of everything that doesn’t bring honour to God.
2. Sincere
The second aspect of the pure Religion demands sincerity, honesty, earnest in everything. The Religion of the Hypocrites was highly condemned by our Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, strongly opposed the hypocritical religion. The Old Testament condemns at various occasions. YHWH hated their sacrifices, and offerings.
1 SAMUEL 15:22 “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”
Matthew repeats through the teaching of Jesus Christ that he condemned the Pharisees for seven times by saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees” (Matthew 23:13, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29). He called the dishonest, deceivers and hypocrites as dangerous vipers, snakes, blind guides, and blind fools.
Their programs, their extensive travel plans by roads, by ships, by flights are commendable but ruin the true religions and its sentiments. They convert many without the personal conviction of what they teach and preach. They have disregarded justice, mercy, faithfulness, and the law of holiness. They were filled with self-indulgence and avarice.Although they gave the impression of being morally upright, they were actually rife with deceit and hypocrisy.
I feel that I walked in the shoes of these hypocrites for many years and still struggle to be sincere and holy. Therefore, Jesus urged them to repent and perform the holy service for the people on several occasions.
Reading Romans 1:18-25 reveals that the Unholy Religions or practices hurt the living and holy God. The unholy religious people knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. They claimed to be wise, but became fools. He says that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people. Finally he exhorted them to worship God rather than the creations (Romans 1:18-25).
3. Sacrifice
The Way of Holiness demands the followers to encourage one another to travel on the High Way of Holiness. Isaiah calls the readers to strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way. Further, he expressed that they should encourage the fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:1-10).
Serve with Holiness was the lesson taught to John the Baptist by his dad Zechariah. You are the prophet of the Most High. You have to prepare the way for Jesus. Pass on the knowledge of salvation, forgiveness of sins, tender mercies of God, declare the peace to his People, and shine in the darkness (Luke 1:64-79).
Worship with Beauty of holiness is the pure religious experience. It has a place for new songs, new music instruments, and new declarations of the wonders and miracles of God. Ascribe the glory, splendours of God to all nations. Worship with the nature and its brilliances. The Holy arm and right hand has brought salvation to all (Psalm 96:1-13 & Psalm 98:1-9).
In his epistle to his reader, James defined pure religion in James 1:11-27. "To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" is the definition of a pure religion that God our Father approves it, and that is perfect. The foundation of a pure religion is the Bible, not just hearing and considering its implications nevertheless acting in accordance with the LORD's Word.
Conclusion: Pure religion demands true Surrender, Sincere, and Sacrifice.
