When something is pure, it is free of any contamination. It is not mixed with anything. When we enter Heaven, we will be pure. While here on earth, we still have a sinful nature, we are contaminated with sin. Jesus forgives and cleanses us from all sins as stated in I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Positionally, we are pure, yet daily, we must deny our flesh the opportunity to sin. While here on this earth, we are sought by Satan himself to trip us up and tempt us to sin. Inn I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” While Satan is powerful in his quest and trickery, he is not more powerful than the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. If we have trusted Jesus as our Savior, we have been forgiven, and we have the power that enables us to have pure religion. We enter into a relationship with Him when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. A right relationship with Him will move us into doing things to please Him. This is the religion that James talks about 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.”
James is helping us to see that our religion and the practice of our faith must cause us to be concerned about others. He mentions the orphans and widows. These would be those who are without a father or husband. This would have been the primary provider for the home. He is teaching us to look around and come to the aid of those in need. He uses the word “visit” to indicate that people need more than things to sustain them. They need interaction with people. As believers, we are connected, and we are to take care of one another. We live in a world where people would rather give a few dollars to help than take time to connect and help physically. This attitude is selfish. Pure religion engages. It is not trying to appease a guilty conscience by throwing a few dollars at a situation. Giving some money would be easy for most, but giving of themselves is hard. When we follow this pattern of benevolence, we are imitating God. In Psalms 68:5, God the Father is “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows.”
James does not stop by requiring us to show practical benevolence; he goes on to say that we must “keep ourselves unspotted from the world.” When we have a heart for those in need, it shows our character is turned outward, not inward. This will automatically yield itself to a life that wants to do whatever it can to please the Master. Living a life that is separated from the sinful ideas and actions of the world shows a heart turned toward God. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul instructs us to live a holy life that is reasonable and acceptable to God. We do this by being transformed by the word of God, yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and being separated from sinful activities, ideas, and the need to look like the world.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
If you want evidence that you have the “pure religion” that James is talking about, examine your life. How do you respond to those in need? Do you react out of duty or compassion? Are you concerned enough about others to get to know them and help with their needs? It may not be physical needs but spiritual needs. Either way, we are to reach out to others and seek to meet their needs and bear their burdens. What about living a life that is separated from the world? I don’t mean you never engage in the world; that would mean you never come in contact with sinners. Therefore, you would never fulfill the great commission. Separating from the world means we have allowed the word of God to transform our thinking, transforming our desire to be like the world. We are not to do, say, or accept anything God would not be pleased with.
The power of God will allow and help us to live a life of pure religion, but we must do our part. God has given us all the tools we need to live in a way that honors God and influences others for Him. We have the essentials to exhibit pure religion. God gives us the written word, the Holy Spirit, and mature Christians to help us stay the course. If we fail to fulfill this truth, it is no one’s fault but our own.
