Sermon Central
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Pure Religion: Doing God's Word
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: It is amazing how much the Bible has to say about the Poor.
PURE RELIGION: DOING GOD’S WORD.
A. James 1:22 - “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
1. Be careful how you hear. Jesus says:
‘Who hath ears to hear, let him hear’ (Matthew 13:9).
2. But it is not enough only to hear. The chief of the Jews were called together in Paul's house in Rome, and he expounded the Scriptures to them, And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. Paul had to conclude:
‘Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it’ (Acts 28:24; Acts 28:28).
3. We must hear God's word, believe God's word - and true religion is to act upon it:
B. 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.”
As both Paul and James would agree, good deeds do not make us Christians: but Christians will do good deeds.
It is interesting that just two things are brought to our attention here as marks of true spirituality: our attitude to widows and orphans, and personal purity. Widows and orphans no doubt stand for all the poor - but in a patriarchal society, particularly, for those who are deprived of their means of support. And it is our attitude to such as these that is the measure of our Christianity!
1. The Fatherhood of God is here held up as our reason to visit the orphan and widow in their need (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 146:9).
2. We are not to afflict widows and orphans (Jeremiah 22:3).
If we do, we must suffer the consequences (Exodus 22:22-24).
3. We are to provide for widows and orphans. Thus we receive God's blessing (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
And thus our prayers are not hindered (Deuteronomy 26:12-15).
4. Job has an imprecation against himself should he have failed in this duty (Job 31:16; Job 31:21-22).
5. Boaz cared for the widows Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 2:8; Ruth 2:19-20).
6. Mordecai adopted his orphaned cousin (Esther 2:7).
7. The Bible accuses those who oppress the poor (Job 24:3; Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 10:1-2; Malachi 3:5).
8. Jerusalem's lack of care for the poor is compared to that of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49)!
9. Care for orphans and widows is an essential part of our reasonable faith (Isaiah 1:16-20).
10. The gospel is preached to the spiritual needs of the poor (Matthew 11:5).
11. The church should minister to the physical needs of the poor (Galatians 2:9-10).
12. Giving to the poor is lending to the LORD (Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 28:27).
Jesus says: “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good…” (Mark 14:7).
So we are encouraged: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
