Our sermon for this Lord’s Day will come from James 1:26-27. And it may surprise you to discover that verse 26 is the only place where the word “religious” appears in the whole New Testament. In these final two verses of the first chapter, James is concerned to make a distinction between two kinds of “religion.” The first is a “religion” that is “worthless” in the eyes of God” (v. 26). The second is the “religion” that is “pure and undefiled before God, the Father” (v. 27). One “religion” is very deceptive and does not lead to salvation. The other is the real thing. It pleases God and saves the soul.

But how do you distinguish the false from the authentic? In these simple verses James proposes three tests that one may apply in order to reveal whether one’s faith is “worthless” or “pure and undefiled” in the eyes of God: 1) The test of a bridled tongue (v. 26); 2) The test of a compassionate heart (v. 27a); 3) The test of a pure life (v. 27b).

For the next four Sundays we are going to slowly and carefully explore this most critical passage from James. We might even see these two verses as the key to the whole letter, as James takes the three practical tests and expands them in later sections. As you study and pray in preparation for our messages, let me encourage you to reflect upon the following passages:

A bridled tongue—3:1-12; 4:11-16; 5:9-12

A compassionate heart—2:1-12, 15-16

A pure life—4:1-10