DRAWING NEAR
June 14
Defining True Religion
"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and
Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to
keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27).
In this verse James continues his practical and penetrating
assessment of true faith. So far he has said in effect, "Don't just
study the Bible--obey it! Don't just dabble in external religion
--have pure speech!" Now he adds, "Don't just say you're religious
--demonstrate sacrificial love! Don't just claim to love God--live a
pure life!" Shallow claims to Christianity meant nothing to him. He
wanted to see godly attitudes and righteous deeds.
The apostle John used the same approach when he wrote, "The one who
says he abides in [Christ] ought himself to walk in the same manner
as He walked. . . . The one who loves his brother abides in the light
and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his
brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not
know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1
John 2:6, 10-11). "Light" in that passage represents truth and
righteousness; "darkness" speaks of error and sin. If you are truly
saved, you are in the light and show it by your love for others.
In our society, the definition of religion is very broad. Almost any
belief system qualifies. But to God, any religion that doesn't
produce holiness and sacrificial love is not true religion. That
narrows the field considerably because anyone who isn't saved through
faith in Jesus Christ remains in bondage to sin and has no capacity
to live a holy and selfless life.
How about you? Do you flee from sin and reach out to those in need?
If so, you have true religion. If not, receive Christ now. He alone
is the source of holiness and love.
Suggestions for Prayer:
If you are a believer, God's love is already shed abroad in your
heart through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). Ask God to
increase your capacity to love others as Christ loves you.
For Further Study:
Read 1 John 3:10-18, noting John's comparison of the children of God
with the children of the devil.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Romans 5:5
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1 John 3:10-18
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are
manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor
is he who does not love his brother.
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that
we should love one another,
12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.
And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his
brother's righteous.
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love
the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no
murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And
we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need,
and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in
him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in
deed and in truth.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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