True Religion: Separating Fact from Fiction #fakereligion

           When watching television, reading the newspaper, or listening to the radio sometimes it is hard to separate fact from fiction.  Of course, the only way to do this is to analyze the facts and the source to ascertain if what is said is true.  The same is true four some people’s religion. Some people talk a good talk but do they have true religion. James deals with true religion and teaches us how to separate fact from fiction in James 1:26-27.

            The fictitious view of some people’s religion is clearly evident by their words.  There are many who believe they can be a faithful Christian and talk about others and still possess the religion of Christ.  James tells us this is false religion.  The Scripture says, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (James 1:26 ESV).  James clearly teaches us that what we say and how we use our tongue is a direct indicator of our religion because it peers inside our souls to who we really are on the inside.  This is why James tells us we must bridle the tongue and  “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath” (James 1:19; James 3:1ff).

            True religion is also evident by a person’s character and actions.  The Holy Spirit says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27 NKJ).  How can we know we have “true” religion in our hearts. By our willingness to “do good unto all men especially those of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10).  Do we really love our  neighbor as our self (Mark 12:30ff)?  Do we strive every day  to make our bodies a living sacrifice to God separated from the world and holy in God’s sight (Luke 9:23; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:17-18)? 

            As we think about these indicators of true religion, we must each examine our own lives and see if we have true religion or if we are just “playing church".

Are New Testament Miracles Occurring Today? - Ben Bailey

Are New Testament Miracles Occurring Today?

Herod had wanted to meet Jesus for a long time (Luke 9:7-9).  While initially this seems like a very good thing, we learn a little later in the New Testament why Herod wanted to meet Jesus.  Luke 23:8 records their encounter this way: “Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.”  Herod was indeed curious, but really, he just wanted to see a miracle.  Did you know a lot of people today still put the focus of Jesus and Christianity in that same light—They just want to see a miracle.  What does the Bible teach about New Testament Miracles occurring today?  Is that happening today like it did when Jesus walked the Earth?

The Bible teaches that miracles were to come to an end with the completion of God’s Revelation in the New Testament.  The purpose of miracles in the first century was to confirm the truth of God’s Word (Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).  Miracles were never for physical gratification alone.  For example, Paul had the power to heal Trophimus, yet he left him in Miletus sick because miracles were not for physical gratification alone (2 Tim. 4:20).  The premiere passage that teaches miracles have ended is 1 Cor. 13:8-10.  Paul states, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”  In this passage Paul teaches prophecies, tongue-speaking, and miraculous knowledge will come to an end when that which is perfect comes.  We must determine what the “perfect” is.  The word for perfect in the original language carries the idea of complete or absolute.  In the Bible there are only four things that are perfect: God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.  Of these four perfect items, God (Mt. 1:21), Christ (Jn. 1:1-4) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4ff) have already come by the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.  The only thing left to come is the “perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25).  Therefore, Paul is saying that when the perfect law of liberty is completed (perfected) that which is partial (prophecy, tongue-speaking and miraculous knowledge) will end.  Dear friend, the Bible does not teach miracles still exist today. 

                  Also, it is evident if you look around honestly today that there are no genuine miracles happening today like they did in the New Testament.  These are the kinds of miracles we read of in the Bible: a man is raised from the dead (Jn. 11), a lame man walks instantaneously (Acts 3), blind people are given their sight immediately (Mk. 10:49-52), a man’s ear is attached back to his head automatically (Lk. 22:50-51).  If we are honest, we must admit these kinds of miracles are not happening today.  Now please don’t mistake a miracle for the Power of Prayer.  We believe God can heal people through prayer and providence (James 5:13-15).  In His time and way God will heal people, but people no longer have the power to do biblical miracles.  Why is it that not one miracle worker can go down to the cemetery today and raise a dead person?  Because that power no longer exists for us!

                  Like Herod, we live in a day and age when lots of people focus on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.   Would we not be better of spiritually by turning our attention to the product of the Holy Spirit—The Word of God (John 16:13) and letting it lead our lives.  Instead of getting worked up about miracles today, Christians need to be fired up for the Words of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 20:9).