TSK · James 4:8

Abraham approached and said,“Will you really sweep away the godly along with the wicked?

He met Asa and told him,“Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you when you are loyal to him. If you seek him, he will respond to you, but if you reject him, he will reject you.

although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.

The LORD repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before your altar, O LORD,

Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!

But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.

The Lord says,“These people say they are loyal to me; they say wonderful things about me, but they are not really loyal to me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual.

“At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be told,‘A scorching wind will sweep down from the hilltops in the wilderness on my dear people. It will not be a gentle breeze for winnowing the grain and blowing away the chaff.

You came near on the day I called to you; you said,“Do not fear!”

I will sprinkle you with pure water and you will be clean from all your impurities. I will purify you from all your idols.

Therefore say to the people: The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,“Turn to me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,“and I will turn to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Trees and Their Fruit“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.

“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

But the Lord said to him,“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Self-Purification Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.

for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you– not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God– through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,