Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (18) Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (19) So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; (20)for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (21) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (27) Pure and undefined religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

This book of the Bible was written by James, the half brother of Jesus and the head of the church in Jerusalem. James is writing to the faithful here of God’s care and grace and he addresses what we face in this world of trials and burdens, temptations and the brevity and vanity of life. We live in a world where difficulties are brought about by sin, including our sinful nature. God is not responsible for this; all that comes from God is holy and just and is for our benefit. In God there are no degrees of goodness – goodness cannot be improved on. God is sovereign and things don’t happen in our lives by luck or chance. Every gift is given for a purpose with intended results. The faithful are God’s first fruits and they are by God’s will. He chose to redeem us, knowing man would fall in sin – knowing we would need redemption He provided a means of conciliation in Christ.

James is telling us how to deal with trials and affirm God’s sovereign goodness – he is dealing with biblical religion (Christianity) which is not a creed of men but a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. There can be vanity in mans religion where men deceive themselves – where men are proud of their religious activity and achievements; a haphazard religion which is not genuine but worthless – where men become today’s legalists. These men/women are not capable of being honest with themselves. True religion is founded in faith in Christ Jesus; motivated by service to others and pure in heart; lived by those right with God, who reveal their relationship with Him by devotion to others. Such people live in the world and not of it.

Religion cannot save man and salvation comes by faith in Christ. Our daily activity is a good indicator of genuine rebirth. The Word of God becomes the law of liberty and our change of heart is accompanied by the work of the Spirit. There is no room for an empty profession of faith and we are now, in Christ, to behave as we believe.