Pure Religion & Undefiled before God

James 1:26-27 presents a clear contrast between a faulty religious life that is lacking in spiritual substance and a faithful religious life that is rooted in spiritual substance. This contrast is seen in that verse 26 closes with the statement, “This man’s religious is vain;” whereas verse 27 opens with the statement, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.” Even so, verse 26 presents the case of a religious life that is vain, being spiritually profitless; whereas verse 27 presents the case of a religious life that is valuable, being spiritually pure. Therefore, as we focus our attention upon verse 27, we observe more closely the case of a religious life that is valuable, being spiritually pure – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.” Grammatically, this verse can be divided into three parts. First, there is the declaration of God’s classification for pure religion – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this.” Second, there is the description of loving compassion in pure religion – “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” Third, there is the description of separated character in pure religion – “And to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

1. The Substance of Acceptable Religion
2. The Standard for Acceptable Religion
3. The System in Acceptable Religion