Pure and Undefiled Religion

Text: James 1:27

Introduction:  The text for today’s lesson is one that has 
been the subject of many debates, discussions, etc.  Today 
I would like to discuss James 1:27.  Please turn in your Bible 
and read with me our text.

  I. Pure religion and undefiled:
     A. Definition of:
        1. Pure (katharos): clean, pure (Thayer); free from 
           impure admixture, without blemish, spotless 
           (Vine).
        2. Undefiled (amianots): not defiled, unsoiled: 
           free from that by which the nature of a thing is 
           deformed and debased, (Thayer); undefiled, free 
           from contamination (Vine).
     B. James does not tell us all that is not all that is 
        involved in pure and undefiled religion.
        1. Illus. God is love (I John. 4:8), but that is 
           not all that God is.
     C. Pure and undefiled religion really involves doing 
        (obeying) all of God’s will with the proper 
        attitude.
 II. This verse is discussing the individual’s 
     responsibility.
     A. Look at the context.
        1. James 1:19-27 (notice all the personal pronouns)
        2. Guy N. Woods admits in his commentary on James 
           that the second chapter starts a new subject in 
           the text. (after spending 2 ½ pages trying to 
           justify church support of human institutions)
     B. If this verse authorizes church action, then:
        1. Hebrews 13:2 authorizes church hotels.
        2. Matthew 25:35-36. Church prisons????
        3. I Timothy 5:16 shows a difference between church 
           action and individual action.
     C. But some will say that if this does not authorize 
        church action, then the church cannot practice pure 
        and undefiled religion.
        1. As pointed out before, this doesn’t mention all 
           that pure and undefiled religion is.
        2. Also, if you want to know what pure and 
           undefiled religion for churches, look for the 
           passages that deal with church action.
III. We are to “visit” the fatherless and widows in their 
     afflictions.
     A. Definition of “visit.”
        1. Vine’s: EPISKEPTOMAI; primarily, to inspect (a 
           late form episkopeo, to look upon, care fore, 
           exercise oversight).
        2. Thayer’s: to look upon or after, to inspect, 
           examine with the eyes-in order to see how he is.
        3. Moulton: “to look at observantly, to inspect; to 
           look out, select, Acts 6:3; to go to see, visit, 
           Acts 7:23; to visit for the purpose of comfort 
           and relief.”
        4. Lenski: “to look in upon, to visit with comfort 
           and help, orphans and widows in their 
           affliction,” those who are most in need of help.
        5. This word is not limited to a social call.  The 
           word infers “going to see to take care of 
           needs.” David L. Roper
        6. Marvin R. Vincent in his Word Studies In the New 
           Testament comments on this word: “James strikes 
           a downright blow here at ministry by proxy, or 
           by mere gifts of money.  Pure and undefiled 
           religion demands personal contact with world’s 
           sorrow: to visit the afflicted, and to visit 
           them in their affliction.”
        7. Warren W. Wiersbe: “God does not want us to pay 
           for others to minister as a substitute for our 
           own personal service!”
        8. In other words, go yourself and see what needs 
           to do done and then do it.
        9. The word “visit” is present tense and thus means 
           “keep on visiting.”
     B. Other Scriptures:
        1. Ephesians 4:28.
        2. Matthew 25:31-46.
        3. Galatians 6:9-10.

 IV. We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
     A. The World – the ethical and moral system that is in 
        opposition to the ethical and moral system of 
        Christ.
     B. Unspotted – polluted, unstained.  We are not to 
        adapt to the world’s value system based on money, 
        power, and pleasure.
     C. The world wants to “spot” the Christian and start 
        to defile him.  If we are not careful, we will 
        become conformed to this world and thus become 
        “spotted.” I Corinthians 15:33
     D. We are to keep ourselves from:
        1. The speech of the world.
           a. James 1:26.
           b. Matthew 12:36-37.
           c. Ephesians 4:25,29,31.
        2. Drinking and other drugs.
           a. Galatians 5:19-21.
           b. I Peter 4:3.
           c. Temperance (self-control) II Peter 1:5-7; 
              Galatians 5:22-23 (part of the fruit of the 
              Spirit).
        3. Fornication (sexual immorality). Galatians 5:19-21.
           a. Pre-marital sex.
           b. Adultery
           c. Homosexuals.  I Corinthians 6:9-10
        4. The cares, riches, and pleasures of this life.
           a. Parable of the Sower.  Luke 8:14 (seed that 
              fell among the thorns).
           b. Our attitude should be like:
              1. Philippians 4:11-13.
              2. I Timothy 6:6-10.
              3. Matthew 6:24-33.
           c. Because we are just pilgrims. I Peter 1:17

Conclusion:  Is your religion pure and undefiled?  It cannot, 
if you have never become a Christian.  (How one becomes a 
Christian.)  If you have become a Christian, but your religion 
has not been pure and undefiled, you need to repent and pray 
for forgiveness.