James 1: 22-27
Notes
Transcript
21-27
21-27
22-25
22-25
Also we are not to only read and hear the word of God we are to act, we are to be doers of the word. The Pharisees read and understood the law and the prophets but had no desire to live according to God’s will. We are not to be modern day Pharisees, we are not to be ones who read and understand what the gospels, epistles and letters say but not have them have an effect on our day to day lives. We must live according to the word and will of God, and be those who read the bible without any passion or desire to really know what is says and live out what it commands. Like reading the terms and conditions of some website, skimming over what it says, if reading it at all, then as soon as we are done reading it, we forget anything that is says, or as James says like one who looks at himself in a mirror and as soon as he turns away forget what he looks like.
Being doers of the Word and not only hearers is one of the main points in James’ letter. Faith without works is dead, or if you are not doing what is in the word of God then you are deceiving yourself about your faith and possibly your salvation.
In our own lives can we say that we have been good and faithful doers of the word?
Verses 23 and 24 is James’ analogy of someone who hears the word but does not have the works or fruit of it. Like a man who even though he looks in a mirror everyday and sees his face, but as soon as he is not in front of a mirror forgets what he looks like. Or someone who reads the bible everyday, several verses or chapters at a time and understands it on a surface level, but when the reading of the word is over completely forgets what he just read and continues on, being part of the world and doing what the fallen world thinks is good and normal and not what God commands.
How many times have we, me included, had to re-read a passage of scripture because while reading it our minds wandered off to other things, like whats for dinner, what needs to be done at work or in the home and now have no idea what we just read and what the word is saying to us?
Verse 25 has the converse of the forgetful person, those who look at the bible as it is, a perfect law, the words with the power to save, and also follows through on the words and is a doer of the commands and will of God, that person is blessed with many blessings. Namely the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven.
Again, have we ever been reading a passage and truly seen into what God was saying, have we ever experienced a revelation while reading and seen the awesome beauty of God’s word?
26
26
Those who claim to be religious but do not take care what they say, do not bridle or control where their tongue goes or spews forth, and deceives themselves by thinking that they are righteous because they are “religious” are proclaiming a worthless religion.
James uses another example of the two types of persons in 23-25, this time one who thinks or says that they are religious but does not do what the scriptures say, one who speaks out with incorrect doctrine or twisted, incorrect interpretations of scripture is deceiving themselves, or deceiving their own heart this person has a worthless religion. These will be some of the ones who cry out in Lord, Lord in Matthew 7:21–23 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
How important is good solid understanding of doctrine? Do we all feel confident in our knowledge of scripture enough to be able to tell if we hear a twisted or false interpenetration of scripture?
27
27
Christianity commands that we are careful and watch with all diligence what comes out of our mouths and that we care for those who are in need. Live not according to the world but according to God’s word and God’s will that is commanded of us in the bible.
I think that we can sum up these two characteristics of the pure and undefiled religion like this: to have love for one another and keep God and his commandments above anything that the world may say or offer.
How much do we value God and his commands over anything the world has to offer?
