Active Faith: Faith's Response to a Sovereign God, Part Four

I. PREVIOUS LESSONS

A. Testing of Faith, 1:2-4
B. Wisdom from Faith, 1:5-8
C. Boast & Humility of Faith, 1:9-11

• Faith's Test by Salvation's Status
  D. Victory of Faith, 1:12-16
• Faith's Test through a Sovereign Savior
  E. Blessing of Faith, 1:16-18
• Faith's Trust in a Sovereign Savior
  F. Active Faith, 1:19-27
• 1. Hearing Christ, vv19-21
• 2. Heeding Christ, vv22-25

II. PRACTICAL ACTIVITY BY FAITH IN CHRIST

A. Honoring Christ, vv26-27

1. religion in speech (v26) and deed (v27)

• a. "Jesus Movement" 1960s-1970s
• b. GTY quote: Cameron Buettel

2. If anyone thinks he is religious, v26a
   a. θρησκὸς (thrās-KOS)

• ceremonial or ceremonious worship
• Gill quote
• Mic 6:7-8; Matt 23:23

3. and does not bridle his tongue, v26b
   a. γλῶσσαν (GLŌs-san) tongue
   b. μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν (mē chal-in-ag-ōg-ŌN) not bridle
   c. Gill quote
   d. Jas 1:19

4. but deceives his heart, v26c
   a. ἀπατῶν (ap-at-ŌN) deceives
   b. καρδίαν (kar-DEE-an) heart
   c. deceive, ἀπατάω, used in Eph 5:6; 1 Tim 2:14

5. this person's religion is worthless, v26d
   a. μάταιος (MAT-a-yōs); KJV, vain
   b. Prov 14:12; 16:25; 1 Cor 3:18; John 3:30

6. Religion that is pure before God the Father is this, v27a
   a. θρησκεία καθαρὰ (thrās-KĪ-a kath-ar-A) "religion pure" or "religion clean"
   b. Psa 51:10; Matt 5:8

7. to visit orphans… in their affliction, v27b
   a. ὀρφανοὺς (or-fan-OOS) parentless, comfortless
   b. θλίψει (THLIP-sī) affliction
   c. Psa 82:3; John 14:18

8. and widows in their affliction, v27c
   a. χήρας (CHER-as) widow
   b. Psa 68:5; 1 Tim 5:3-16

9. and to keep oneself unstained from the world, v27d
   a. ἄσπιλον (AS-pee-lon) unstained, unblemished, unspotted
   b. 2 Pet 3:14; Jude 1:23; Phil 4:8 (w/ Jas 1:26c)