The Tongue (Sunday Sermon) Part 1

The Tongue: a Test of True Faith

James 1:26

Lord’s Day January 10, 2010

Port Cities Reformed Baptist Church

Pastor Michael Kelly

James 1:26

As far as finances are concerned on a budget the biggest liability that one has is the thing that costs them the most.

Well, the tongue costs the Christian the most.

What causes most damage to the church of Christ?

What causes more damage than our tongue?

______

In this passage, James is specifically dealing with the tongue as its use reveals the one who is self-deceived.

The one who is self-deceived is the one who thinks themselves to be religious (that is, they are pleased to a large degree with their profession and practice of religion), but their religion is worthless.

James goes on to talk about the use of the tongue in a more general sense by all Christians in chapter 3.

But here he has a specific kind of person in mind.

______

It’s important to realize here that James is addressing those who are IN THE CHURCH.

His concern is for those who think themselves to be religious!

Religious = pious – scrupulously religious (a pharisaical attitude if you will).

_______

The tongue of those who think themselves to be religious – has been an instrument greatly used in the destruction of churches.

James 3:5-8 the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse men.

_________

Now we want to deal with the tongue this morning as it relates to our own profession of faith.

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” (NKJ: “Useless”)

James is exhorting us to examine ourselves in this text – when we come to deal with the tongue it is easy to find fault with others…

Robert Johnstone “A Spiritual Mirror”

So let us say a few words about who James is writing to and the purpose of his letter.

Now James, is the half brother of our Lord, the brother of Jude. He is the leader of the Jerusalem church and he is writing to Christians who are scattered all over.

James is writing about those who are within the church. “If anyone thinks himself to be religious…”

James instructs these Christians that faith without works – is not faith at all.

Many have taken these words of James and claimed that James is teaching a “Works Salvation.”

But James is not teaching that you must work in order to get faith…

He is simply teaching that you can tell true faith because true faith works.

______

James wants these Christians to realize that there is a great difference between those who merely profess to love and serve God, and those who truly do love and serve Him.

James tells these brethren to be “DOERS of the Word, not just HEARERS of the Word.”

Because those who only “HEAR” the Word and do not “DO” the Word, are self deceived.

James is making a distinction between two kinds of people.

_____

James is the leader of the Jerusalem church where many, many Jews profess the Christian faith, but they are mere professors…

Their actions are not in accord with what they profess.

James wants these Christians to examine themselves to see whether they be in the faith…because those who hear the Word, but do not DO the word are self deceived.

______

Those who think themselves to be believers but yet do not bridle their tongue; their religion is worthless…

_______________________________________________________

Observe in a general way that: Our tongues reveal our spiritual condition.

James says: If any man thinks himself to be religious, and yet he does not bridle his tongue…his profession of religion is worthless.

_______

R Kent Hughes, “This is a spiritually terrifying statement, to say the least! An out-of-control tongue suggests bogus religious devotion, no matter how well one’s devotion is carried out.”

One, “A true test of a man’s religion is not his ability to speak,” as we are apt to think, “but rather his ability to bridle his tongue.”

We learn here that our tongues reveal our spiritual condition.

Our speech reveals who we really are; it reveals our spiritual condition.

It reveals whether our profession of faith has any credibility, or if our profession is worthless.

Our speech is the window into which other people can see our souls, and we can see our own souls.

Matthew 12:34 ³⁴ "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

______

You can tell much about a person by listening to their speech.

You can see a person’s heart by hearing their words.

It is interesting to note that our Lord says: “Out of the ABUNDANCE of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

The words and the tones of the words that come out of our mouths are forced out (in most cases) by the abundance of what is in our hearts…

______

The words of a person, to a large degree, reveal that person.

A Greek philosopher of old used to start his conversations out with someone new by saying: “Say something so that I can see you.”

______

Notice that James wants these Christians to base the credibility of their own profession of faith by the use of their tongues.

And James hinges this distinction on whether or not a professor of religion bridles their tongue or not.

James says “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless”

The person whose religion is worthless is the one who does not bridle their tongue (and notice that they are IN the church!)

So then seeing that our profession hinges on this bridling of the tongue.

We have a couple of questions to answer:

#1 – What is an unbridled tongue?

#2 – What is a bridled tongue?

_______

Tomorrow I will post the answer to question #1