Are You Following what the Bible Calls Pure Religion?

© 2023 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

“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 1:27)

Some might conclude that this passage teaches we can obtain righteousness by performing righteous acts.  Perhaps I can obtain God’s forgiveness by visiting sick people and doing nice things for widows and orphans.  Such a conclusion would be incorrect.  It would be like a broken down junk-yard car fixing itself by moving out of the junk-yard.  We are no more capable, than the car, of rendering ourselves spiritually righteous, by doing good works.  Someone must instill functionality into the broken car before it can work.  Similarly, righteousness must replace wickedness in a heart before it can perform good works out of a pure conscience.

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

How, then, can our hearts be made pure?  First, we must understand our own wickedness before God.  But this, itself, is God’s work.  We don’t even have the ability to perform the righteous act of coming to Christ.  Only after God places righteous desires in our hearts will we be capable of doing the good works associated with His salvation.  Jesus said,

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

Are you finding yourself drawn to Christ?  Then thank God for doing that, and call out to Him for forgiveness!  He promises salvation for all who do.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

God demands that sin be punished, so He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to pay that punishment.  He was born of a virgin by the power of God.  He lived sinlessly fulfilling all of God’s righteous requirements.  Then He died on the cross at Calvary to be punished for the sins of His people.  He will cause each of His elect to trust Him for doing that.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

 Have you received His gift?