This sermon is the first in a pair that should be considered together. The topic of Pure Religion is a follow-on to this message. I. Christ never condemned the sinner but...  A. Luke 18:10-14  B. Attitude of the Pharisee.  C. Whited sepulchres Matthew 23:27-28 II. The Results...  A. It blinds. Revelation 3:17   1. Pastor Roberts related a story of a time when he was in Medellin Colombia. Students were watching brids through a window and one had binoculars. When he looked through the binoculars, the bird appeared very close, yet he could not see the screen that was inches away from him. He was blind to the screen.   2. "There are many... who profess to be children of God, but they are not free from sin. They are selfish and self-sufficient. Their experience is Christless. They neither love God supremely nor their neighbor as themselves. They don't see their own defects. They are so blinded that they cannot discern the subtle work of pride and iniquity." RH 2/26/1901. They are hyperopic not myopic.

 B. It deceives. Matthew 7:21-23
  1. Oneself - T5:389. "That religion that does not exert a regenerating power upon the world is of no value. We cannot trust in it for our salvation. The sooner we discard it, the better, because it is powerless and is spurious."
  2. Others - Matthew 5:13 Salt that has lost its savor - throw out. Religion without power is compared to salt without flavor.

 C. It condemns
  PP:523 - "Love to God is the very basis of religion. To participate in its service merely for the hope of reward or the fear of punishment will accomplish nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and formal worship."
  It is a cold life and Christless. "Many times young people are urged to do their duty to speak or to pray in the meeting; they are urged to die to pride. At every step they are urged. Such religion is worthless." T1:162

III. How Can We Know If We Have The True Thing?

 A. It has to begin correctly. John 1:12,13
  1. [quote from Caryle B. Haynes]
  1. [quote from John Wesley - 1738 - Aldersgate]

 B. There are observable signs
  1. Belief that Jesus is the Christ. 1 John 5:1
   a. Not as demons. James 2:19
   b. It means to accept Him, love Him, and follow Him.
   c. As the twelve - leaving all, Matthew 4:20, and going anywhere.
  2. Love to the brethren.
   a. 1 John 3:14,
   a. Romans 13:10, Romans+12:10.
   b. Pastor Roberts related a story of Pepa in Medellin. How her attitude towards people changed dramatically. Before she did not like to be greeted at all, but after her conversion she anxiously jumped up to greet others.
   c. Eligio praised Colombino.
  3. Does not practice sin.
   a. 1 John 3:9,4 ( 1 John 5:17)
   b. Pastor Roberts related the story of a lady who changed her lifestyle dramatically when she was converted.
  4. Overcomes the world.
  a. 1 John 5:4

IV. The False (Formalism) Salt To Be Thrown Out. The True (Christ In You) Pearl of Great Price.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.