Post by Les Brewer on Jun 7, 2020 16:54:54 GMT
PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED
(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
(24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
(25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
(26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
(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 1:22-27 KJV
Religion thrēskeia :thrace-ki'-ah From a derivative of G2357; ceremonial observance: - religion, worshipping.
So if I am understanding this right: pure religion which is not defiled is worshipping before the Lord in not only a personal relationship but is also followed up by works of righteousness which can also be defined as worshipping. To worship the Lord is too come to him in humility and isn’t that something we can do both personally and corporately?
(24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 KJV
Worship in this verse of scripture: proskuneō; pros-koo-neh'-o
From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
So religion and worship; they are interchangeable in the sense of personal, corporate, and outward works which God ordained before the foundation of the world that we should walk in them.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 KJV
Workmanship: poiēma; poy'-ay-mah
From G4160; a product, that is, fabric (literally or figuratively): - thing that is made, workmanship.
So the spiritual fabric of our being was walk in the works of God also: as an outward observance of our worship to him. Hence if we have pure religion we have pure worship which is expressed in our personal prayer and communication, our corporate worship which is expressed in praise and worship, hearing the inspired word preached, and becoming pillars in our communities through personal and corporate works of righteousness.
Usually when people think of organized religion they are thinking of old dead religious organizations that are about the power and pomp people who are spiritually dead. Which are obsolete concerning pure undefiled religion!
D. Ray Ritchie (Bishop)
(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
(24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
(25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
(26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
(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 1:22-27 KJV
Religion thrēskeia :thrace-ki'-ah From a derivative of G2357; ceremonial observance: - religion, worshipping.
So if I am understanding this right: pure religion which is not defiled is worshipping before the Lord in not only a personal relationship but is also followed up by works of righteousness which can also be defined as worshipping. To worship the Lord is too come to him in humility and isn’t that something we can do both personally and corporately?
(24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 KJV
Worship in this verse of scripture: proskuneō; pros-koo-neh'-o
From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
So religion and worship; they are interchangeable in the sense of personal, corporate, and outward works which God ordained before the foundation of the world that we should walk in them.
(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 KJV
Workmanship: poiēma; poy'-ay-mah
From G4160; a product, that is, fabric (literally or figuratively): - thing that is made, workmanship.
So the spiritual fabric of our being was walk in the works of God also: as an outward observance of our worship to him. Hence if we have pure religion we have pure worship which is expressed in our personal prayer and communication, our corporate worship which is expressed in praise and worship, hearing the inspired word preached, and becoming pillars in our communities through personal and corporate works of righteousness.
Usually when people think of organized religion they are thinking of old dead religious organizations that are about the power and pomp people who are spiritually dead. Which are obsolete concerning pure undefiled religion!
D. Ray Ritchie (Bishop)
