Tips on What Pure Religion Is & Isn't |
James 1:1-27 The Epistle, [a.k.a. Letter,] of James [in Smaller Chunks] |
[From:] James, a servant of God, & the Lord Jesus Christ, [Greetings] to the 12 tribes, [who] are scattered [around.] My brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] when you fall into [various] temptations, [consider] it all joy. [Acts 5:41-42 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were [considered] worthy to suffer shame for, [a.k.a. on behalf of,] [Jesus Christ's] Name. And they [didn't stop,] teaching & preaching daily [about] Jesus Christ, in the temple.] |
[Know] this, that the trying, [a.k.a. testing,] of your faith, [works, a.k.a. brings about,] patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, [a.k.a. job, so] that you may be [perfected] & [whole,] wanting nothing. |
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask [for it] [from] God, [Who gives] [wisdom] to all men liberally, [a.k.a. generously,] & [doesn't scold.] And it shall be given [to] him. But let him ask in faith, [not] wavering. For he, [who wavers] is like a wave of the sea driven, & with the wind [is] tossed. For [don't] let that man think that he shall [deserve to] receive anything [from] the Lord. |
A [two-faced] man is unstable in all his ways, [a.k.a. actions.] But let the brother of low degree, [a.k.a. status,] rejoice, in that he is exalted, [a.k.a. elevated.] But in that, the rich, [are] made low, [a.k.a. reduced in status,] because [like] the flower [in] the grass, he shall [also] pass away. |
For no sooner [has] the sun risen with a burning heat, but it [withers] the grass, & [its] flower [falls.] And the [flower's] grace, & [beauty] of it [perishes.] So, shall the rich man also fade away in, [a.k.a. by virtue of,] his ways, [a.k.a. actions.] |
Blessed is the man, [who endures] temptation. For when he is tried, [a.k.a. tested,] he shall receive the crown of Life, which the Lord [has] promised to [those, who] love Him. [James 5:11 [Look,] we [consider] them happy, [who] endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, & have seen [that at] the [Lord's] end, [a.k.a. the Last Day,] that the Lord is very [merciful,] & [has] tender [mercies.] |
Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted [by] God. For God can't be tempted with evil, & neither [does] He [tempt] any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away [a.k.a.led astray, by] his own [lusts,] & [is] enticed. Then, when lust [has] conceived, [a.k.a. lust is within someone, like a baby is within its mother,] it [delivers] [what is:] [sinful.] |
And when sin is finished, [sin] [produces] death. My beloved brethren, Don't err, [a.k.a. be deceived.] Every: good & perfect gift, is from above, & [comes] down from the Father of Lights, with Whom is no [variability, a.k.a. fluctuation,] & neither shadow of [changing.] |
[From God's] Own will, He [begot, [a.k.a. Fathered,] us, [through] the Word of Truth. [John 14:6-7 Jesus said to [Thomas,] I Am the Way, the Truth, & the Life. No man [comes] to the Father, [except] by Me. If you had known Me, you should have also known My Father. And from [now on,] you know Him, & have seen Him.] |
[So] that we should be a kind of first-fruits, [a.k.a. first converts,] of [God's] creatures. [2 Timothy 2:15 Study to [demonstrate yourselves,] a workman, [a.k.a. laborer,] [sharing his faith in Jesus Christ,] that [correctly doesn't need] to be ashamed,] & [is] approved [by] God, [spreading] the Word of Truth.] |
[For this reason,] my beloved brethren, let every man be [quick] to hear; slow to speak [hastily;] & slow to wrath, [a.k.a. slow to get angry.] For the wrath of man, [doesn't work, a.k.a. accomplish, God's] righteousness. [ |
[For this reason,] lay apart, [a.k.a. set aside,] all [that is:] [filthy,] & [an] [abundance] of [being] [naughty.] And [instead] receive with meekness, [a.k.a. humbleness,] the [embedded] Word [of God,] which is able to save your souls. [Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this shall be the Covenant, [a.k.a. contract,] that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, [says] the Lord, I will put My Law [within them,] & write it [within] their hearts, & will be their God, & they shall be My people. And they shall no [longer] teach every man his neighbor, & every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord. For they shall all know Me, from the [powerless,] to the [powerful] of them, [says] the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, & I will no [longer] remember their sin.] |
But you be doers of [God's] Word, & not only hearers [of God's Word,] deceiving your own selves. For if [anyone is only] a hearer of [God's] Word, & [doesn't do] [it,] he is [similar] to a man [who] [sees] his natural face [reflected] in a glass, [a.k.a. mirror.] For he [sees] himself, & [goes] his [own] way, & [immediately forgets] what manner, [a.k.a. type,] of man he was. |
But [whoever looks] into [God's] perfect Law of Liberty, [a.k.a. Freedom,] & [continues in it,] not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work [of sharing his faith in Jesus Christ,] this man shall be blessed in his [deeds.] |
If any man among you [seems] to be religious, & [doesn't bridle, a.k.a. tame,] his tongue, [he] [deceives] his own heart, & this man's religion is vain, [a.k.a. worthless.] |
This is pure & undefiled religion before God & the Father: To visit the fatherless & widows in their affliction, & to keep himself unspotted, [a.k.a. not defiled,] from the world.] [2 Timothy 2:22-23 Also flee youthful lusts, [a.k.a. desires,] but follow [what is:] [righteous; faithful; charitable, & peaceful,] with [those, who] call on the Lord [from] a pure heart. But avoid foolish, & [uneducated] questions, knowing that they do [produce strife, a.k.a. arguments.] |