Pure And Undefiled Religion
James 1:26-27

I. A “PRACTICING” RELIGION
A. IT INVOLVES DOING SOMETHING ON OUR PART…
B. IF WE ARE NOT “DOERS”, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES (Jm 1:22)

II. A “PRACTICAL” RELIGION
A. GOD DID NOT INTEND FOR OUR RELIGION TO CONSIST SOLELY OF “GOING TO CHURCH”…
B. THROUGHOUT THE N.T., MUCH EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON DOING GOOD…

III. A “PERSONAL” RELIGION
A. IMPLIED BY THE USE OF “SINGULAR PRONOUNS” IN THE TEXT…
B. NOW, THERE IS A PLACE FOR “CORPORATE” GIVING…
C. BUT IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO REPLACE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!

IV. A “PURE” RELIGION
A. THIS SOUNDS REDUNDANT, BUT IN OUR DAY IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED!
B. OUR RELIGION IS FOR NOTHING, UNLESS IT IS…
1) PURE –
2) UNDEFILED –
3) Capable of keeping us UNSPOTTED
C. BUT IF WE ARE SINNERS (as affirmed in 1Jn 1:8), HOW CAN WE EVER BE PURE, UNDEFILED, AND UNSPOTTED?
1) It is possible, only BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST! Which can cleanse us and make us pure
2) It is possible only BY THE HELP OF GOD!