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A DOER OF THE WORD. James 1:21-25. 08/11/2024. #6.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
1. Preparing to receive the Word
a. James stated that we need to be “quick to hear”
a1. A search of the Word must come with a receptive heart
a2. To read the Word without being ready to receive and respond to the Word is futile
b. The first step to receiving the Word is to lay aside sin in our lives
a1. Lay aside = used of taking off dirty clothes
a2. We must recognize wickedness in us (KJV-superfluity of naughtiness)
b1. Isaiah 6 need to recognize the evil in our thoughts, motivations, deeds…
b2. Jeremiah 4:3 breaking up fallow ground
a3. Until spiritual weeds are removed, good plants with spiritual fruit can’t grow
c. It is the willingness to confess (1 John 1:9) and repent of sin that prepares the heart to respond to Word
a1. Humility to forsake our sins
a2. Only a humble heart receives correction
2. The Word in action
a. James 1:22 = one of most important spiritual verses
a1. Many believers read verses, but never put what they read into action
a2. James 2-5 illustrates failure to follow Word
b. Be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only
a1. If we read Word without intending to obey the Word, we defy the Lord of the Word
a2. Luke 6:46 Why do you call me Lord, Lord, but do not do the things I command you?
c. If we think that we are spiritual by reading, we have totally deceived ourselves
a1. Reading is merely receiving instructions
a2. Doing is obeying the instructions
d. Most believers read but do not receive
a1. Reading the Bible is not a spiritual act
a2. Obeying the Bible’s teaching is holiness
e. Often, Christians are accused of hypocrisy because their lives do not align with their convictions
a1. Church attendance, carrying a Bible, memorizing Scripture, studying the Word, and spiritual works are useless without applying the Word of God to one’s life
a2. II Timothy 3:10-17 the applied Word changes lives, not the read Word
f. James compares the inattentive reader of the Word with a man who looks into a mirror and then leaves the mirror unchanged and unaffected
a1. A selfish heart won’t be changed by Word
a2. We are responsible to obey the Word
3. Perfect law of liberty
a. James is not speaking of the OT Law here
b. Perfect law of liberty = the complete will of God that sets us free
a1. John 8:31-36 sin enslaves, but God’s Word frees us from sin to be what God intended
a2. Psalm 1 it is the man who responds properly to God’s Word who is blessed and free
c. The reason we are told to meditate on the Word of God is so we will not forget it and so it will guide us
a1. Romans 10:17 the Word teaches how to walk in faith and avoid the pitfalls of sin (Psalm 119:105)
a2. A focus on doing the Word leads to reward
d. God’s law is to love him and others (James 2; Mari 12) and this is done through obeying the Word
Key passage: II Timothy 3:10-1710 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.