Truly Religious Or Religion With Truth
James 1:27

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.

INTRO: Many people have religion. Many people are religious. James mentioned pure religion and it effects. Why do people grab religion and leave the object of their religion untouched? Let me read three scriptures that tell us about religion. Not true religion, but one I would call false.

Ezek 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Is religion good for us? I think true religion is! So what am I talking about? Will religion do me any good? True religion really makes us feel better, and heads us towards a better life and a better place. True religion will make us happy about what we possess inside, not proud about all of our possessions. True religion will make us behave differently, make us more honest, make our actions match our mouths.

Psalms 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Here us a question I want you to consider…What religion is God? Think aobut this for a while. Let’s get into the message…

When we have true religion, we will…
Respect His Divinity

Mark 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.