Tuesday, November 27, 2012

EPISTLE: James 1:27

Reading
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.

Commentary
Jesus said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments."  Likewise First John 3:8 says, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  When there is thus true faith, we know there will also be good works.  True faith cannot exist without obedience to God's commandments.  If then a person is living wickedly against God's commandments, and they yet at the same time claim to be Christian, such cannot be.  "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."  Likewise, "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."  Thus when we see the widow or fatherless in true need, let us do what we can out of faith and love.  "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  Let every believer likewise keep himself (by God's strength) unspotted from this world, namely resist temptation, not giving in.

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