You Are Clean

In the Grace Group that I’m a part of we’ve been looking at the book of James. It’s been interesting wrestling through a book that sometimes appears to be more focused on works. In our study we’ve discussed how the Epistle of James seems to be more akin to Wisdom Literature like Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. This has offered us a unique perspective to see the imperatives in James with Gospel eyes.

I wanted to share something we went over recently from James 1:26-27.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

There is a lot that could be said about the whole chapter of James 1 but I wanted to focus on these 2 verses.

There is a trend in James to demand things of us that we’re simply not able to deliver on. Sure, I could possibly bridle my tongue occasionally. I could do better at visiting orphans and widows. Then I get to the last one, “keep oneself unstained from the world.” Ouch! I don’t think I could ever do that.

We can read this text a couple different ways. You could read it in a religious way. Convincing yourself that you have it figured out, that if you do a few things you’ll be good enough. That if you witness more, pray more, or read the Bible more you’ll be pure. You compare yourself to others and think “I’m not like that dude.” This is religious pride.

You can also look at the mirror of the Word, which James speaks of earlier in this section and be honest with yourself. “I have already failed.” “I’m already dirty and it’s too late.” “There are things in my past I wish I could undo but I can’t.”

So how can I clean up myself? How can I walk this world clean? I can’t. Let’s read Zechariah 3:1-5.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

Satan will often accuse us with the truth. Yes, the truth. He’ll throw your sin in your face. You’ve heard the accusation of the enemy. “You’re a failure, a sinner, you’re gross, nasty, you’re an adulterer, a murderer, no one loves you, you’re a reject, you’re a hypocrite, you act holy in front of your church family but I know the real you.”

False religion says clean yourself up, wash your clothes. Jesus says, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

On the cross Jesus traded clothes with you. He took your rags and gave you a robe of righteousness. So when the accuser comes before you and says all these things, he’s right. He’s right but Jesus saves.

So when James sounds like he demands the impossible we must look at the mirror of the Word to see what James is trying to show us. We must recognize our need of a Savior. We hear our need, we hear the Gospel, and we hear that we can be a doer as well. John 6:28-29 tells us what we must do:

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Keep in mind, James wrote this to believers. So this isn’t just how we get saved, it’s the whole journey. So to be a hearer and a doer is to believe the Gospel. Believe in Jesus and in Christ you’re clean. For the one who believes, your sins are forgiven. You are clean.

I want to share a song with you that I shared with my group. It’s called Embracing Accusations by Shane & Shane.