RELIGIOUS SERVICE ACCEPTABLE

RELIGIOUS SERVICE ACCEPTABLE
James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,and to keep himself unspotted from the world. "
Introduction:
        A. "Religious, careful external appearance of divine service"
        B. It may be acceptable or not acceptable. Matt. 15:9, "worship me in vain."
        C. The most important thing in our lives is that our service is accepted by God. My purpose in this study is just that: help us always offer to God an acceptable service.
        D. James says that pure religion and undefiled (contamination) = visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
I. FIVE ACTS OF RELIGIOUS RIGHT SERVICE(AS the biblical pattern)

        A. Pray, pray not. 1 Tim. 2:8. "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
        B. Singing, Efes. 5:19. No musical instruments
        C. Preaching, teaching the word of God, Acts. 20:7. No experiences, opinions, and commandments of men.
        D. Lord's Supper every first day of the week, Ac. 20:7, 1 Cor. 11:23-27. No mass.
        E. Offering, 1 Cor. 16:1-2. As God has prospered.
II. THIS SERVICE NOT END IN THE BUILDING.
        A. We are driven to bring holy lives. Otherwise, by "right" to be the service is in vain.
        B. We are driven to help the needy James 2:14-18. If not, correct it by the service is in vain.
        C. It is "pure and undefiled religion". It is pure and unpolluted.
        D. These acts are inseparable from the five acts of public service. Without these two acts are acts of service are not acceptable in the sight of God.
        E. Because if no formal service drives us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world is vain service (not pure and undefiled).
        F. If no formal service drives us to help the needy is service vain.
        G. One of the main messages of the prophets was that the service was not formally substitute for showing mercy to the suffering need.
III. NOT JUST "SAY" WE HAVE FAITH.THE WORD NO SYMPATHY VALE. 1 Jn. 3:16-19.
        A. Sant. 2:14, "My brethren, What good is if someone says he has faith but has no deeds? Can faith save him? "
        B. Sant. 2:15-17, speaks of what works? "If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but not giving them the things needed for the body, what good? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. "
                1. The word "works" in this text means helping the needy brother. Help to meet the need of your body.
        C. Sant. 2:18, faith not shown there. Word is empty, hollow. "But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my works. "
                1. It is impossible to show faith if there are no works.
                2. Faith is invisible but can be seen in the works are a demonstration of faith, ie you do works driven (motivated, driven) by his faith.
        D. Sant. 2:19, Faith without works is like faith of demons. "You believe that God is one. You do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. "
                1. Demons have more faith that they profess to have faith but has no deeds, because the faith of the demons make them tremble.
                2. But faith is not the brother who works has no effect ON. The devil thought but still demon.
                3. His faith is purely intellectual. He says he "believes" but it's like Pancho Villa lived believe that faith but has no effect on life, it makes no difference in the way they live.
                4. There should be no Stoics (philosophical doctrines). In church. The philosophy that minimized every emotion, every feeling. They said what others suffer should not have any effect on you. Jesus did not speak well. He was very compassionate and church members who have compassion for needy brothers are not imitating Jesus but to the Stoics.
        E. What effect should have faith on him? Must produce compassion. Must urge you (motivate, move you) to share with the needy brother. Efes. 4:28.
IV. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK IS OFFERINGFor the needy saints.

        A. We read 1 Cor. 16:1-4 to prove that there must be collected each Sunday. We must emphasize the purpose of the offering. The offering is to minister to the needy saints everywhere.
        B. Everyone should make offerings as God has prospered him to help needy saints. Otherwise do not practice pure religion and undefiled and that the service is in vain.
        C. 2 Cor. 8:1-4. The Macedonians gave beyond their power to help the needy saints in Jerusalem to practice pure religion and undefiled for the service was not in vain.
        D. 2 Cor. 9:7, each must make offerings as has purposed in his heart to help the needy saints, and thus practicing pure religion and undefiled.
        E. In these texts on the offering (Rom. 15:25-28, 1 Cor. 16:1-4, 2 Cor. 8 and 9) all speak of one thing: the collection for the poor saints.
        F. We are not saying that the offering must be used exclusively for needy saints.
        1. Fil. 4:15,16 indicates that the Philippian church because funds had helped Paul.
         2. Furthermore, the commandment to gather to worship God authorizes arranging meeting somewhere.
                3. But if we quote 1 Cor. 16, 2 Cor. 8, 9 every Sunday on the offering and we must help those in need that abound.
V. REJECTED ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. MAT. 25:34-46.

        A. This text speaks of the judgment of the members of the church. 1 Pet. 4:17, judgment begins with the household of God.
        B. Members of the church are separated, each right hand of Jesus (saved) and other left (lost).
        C. On what basis do? What is the difference between them? Do some attended services and not others? No, this text does not speak of that. Some ministered to sick and needy brothers AND SO ministered to Christ and the other not.
        D. Jesus is saying that many who profess to be Christians will be lost because of this, by the indifference to those in need. This is pure selfishness. God gives us good jobs and spend most of the money on ourselves. Then there are crumbs for needy saints.
        E. What both preach and teach about this? Condemn many sins and negligence much (mostly the negligence of attending services) but how many sermons preached on this evil that many members will go to hell?
VI. Neglected WHY THIS?
     
        A. We do not mind the suffering of our brothers. We're good. We are not sick. We are not poor. We have houses, cars, good jobs, savings, insurance (life, hospital, etc..) And we are happy.
        B. It is pure selfishness. It is greed. God gives us good health and good job and earn good money and spend almost everything ourselves.
        C. Churches also may be lost. Read Revelation. 2, 3. Jesus looks at the church and tells them of their shortcomings. If the review of the churches of Christ today certainly would say they are very "self-absorbed", thinking only of themselves and only giving crumbs to the needy saints.
CONCLUSION:
        A. I repeat: The purpose of this study is to secure our salvation. Not to be missed.
        B. The service, the service on Sunday morning, it may be in vain if we do not meet rejected what James says: helping those in need and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.