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Permalink Reply by Tammy on March 20, 2015 at 12:16pm

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:2-6, in my belief is another explanation of what you're asking.

In James, the term for religious is referring to the diligent performer of divinely ascribed duties of outward service to God. It is predominantly the ceremonial service of religion. It is the external framework while as eusébeia (2150), godliness, is the inward piety of soul. According to James, true thrēskeía or religion is not merely ceremonial formality, but acts of mercy, love, and holiness.

This is an act of religious piety. Prideful acts which are useless & in vain. 

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 20, 2015 at 5:02pm

Thanks Tammy, I have to admit I don't get it. My brain is foggy today, so maybe I'll have to come back to it with fresh eyes later. 

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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on March 20, 2015 at 8:00pm

Tammy,

Excellent word.............

Grace and Peace.

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 21, 2015 at 9:10am

So this isn't saying that a person who can't control their tongue isn't saved...?

It's talking about someone trying to make themselves look good and religious on the outside, but their hearts are not changed?

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on March 21, 2015 at 1:10pm

No. If I based my salvation on my tongue, I'd be the first one in line for hell. I do much better with it but it's a problem we all fight for. And yes, to your second questions - Pharisees, Priests, Saducees, etc

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 21, 2015 at 4:15pm

I'd be shoulder to shoulder with you, no doubt. 

I have a problem of often thinking verses are talking about salvation, when really they're not. I'm paranoid about salvation at times, so often mis-interpret verses to be all about salvation. It's a headache. 

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on March 21, 2015 at 4:47pm

It's because many teach us that we must work to maintain that salvation when in reality it's because of our salvation that we desire to work. 

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Permalink Reply by thewatchman on March 21, 2015 at 5:02pm

Amen, Amen, Amen.....

"An apple tree doesn't grow apples to become an apple tree, it grows apples because it IS an apple tree."

John 15:5--I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on March 21, 2015 at 7:38pm

Amen

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Permalink Reply by JB on March 21, 2015 at 4:19pm

What are the implications for people who can't bridle their tongues?

In the secular world, they are advised not to talk, if they do, anything they say can and will be used  against them in a court of law. In the spiritual world, according to

Mark 11:23..... he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Should read Ja.3, as well

JB

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Permalink Reply by Carla on March 21, 2015 at 9:22pm

Hi Jenny,

Luke 6:45 comes to mind.  Here are a couple different versions to compare the verse:

Luke 6:45New American Standard Bible (NASB)

^4"5 The good man out of the good ^[a]treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from ^[b]that which fills his heart."

Luke 6:45New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴⁵ A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

I understand this to be that whatever is in our heart is what will eventually come out of our mouths. 

It also makes me think of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5:

¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

We know we are new creations..  The old has gone the new has come... (2 Cor 5:17)

But we are also very aware of our struggle as we see in Romans chapter 7:

¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power^[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The most beautiful encouraging thing is found in Rom 7:24:  "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

So--there is a sanctification process... a growing time that is life long.  We all are going thru it.  So, we're told to 'bridle our tongue'.  The fact that you care shows that The Holy Spirit is having His way in you.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on March 22, 2015 at 9:28am

Thanks for this Carla. So it seems that even if we see evil things come out of our mouths, which means we have evil treasures in our hearts, we're still to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. 

And the reckoning isn't based on the fruit we see in our lives (whether good or bad), but only because we're trusting in Christ:

Rom 7:24:  "Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

Is that what this all means?

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