James 8 – Not Hearers Only

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James 8 – Not Hearers Only

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: James 1:21-25


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STUDIES IN JAMES (8)

Tonight, we continue our study through the book of James.  The past 2 lessons have examined the need to think before we speak and to control our emotions (esp. wrath).  Building on that James now addresses our need for God’s word.

  1. Receive the implanted word (21)
    1. Therefore – ties this to our previous text – slow to wrath. Tying this to the next phrase, we can link together sinful wrath with filthiness and wickedness.  Certainly, when one “loses his temper” he might say things that are profane (hence, filthy) and possibly act wickedly toward the one he is angry with.  We have noted how hot anger can do irreparable damage to friendships and even lead to actions with lifelong consequences.  Think of one who in anger attacks another which results in death or great injury (e.g. road rage).  His life is now permanently altered.
    2. Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness
      1. To lay aside means to take off, as you would clothing. Recall our need to “put off” your former conduct and “put on” the new man. (Colossians 3:9, Ephesians 4:22-24).
      2. All filthiness – deals with immoral impurities, filth. BDAG describes it as moral uncleanness, vulgarity.  Again think of the words one might call someone else in anger.
      3. Overflow of wickedness – a term for that which is evil and depraved. The word is translated wickedness twice – here and Acts 8:22 – repent of this your wickedness.  But most commonly it is translated as malice – so think of malicious conduct.
      4. As to overflow – the word means an overabundance. Is James saying “a little wickedness is acceptable”?  Not at all.  But the point is, we know that we are going to sin (1 John 1:8-10 – but we do NOT HAVE TO sin), but it should not be our lifestyle.  The NASB, LSB translates this as “all that remains of wickedness.”  This is the idea.
      5. The POINT: To be able to receive God’s word requires removing that which conflicts with His word – Colossians 3:5-10. Ephesians 4:23 noted that we are renewed in the spirit of your mind.
    3. Receive with meekness – in place of what we put off, we are to “put on” or accept the implanted word. To do this requires a meek disposition.  Meekness is about gentleness (not cowardice or weakness).  It is “strength under control”.  This is a quality that will keep you from becoming wrathful and prideful, AND soften our hearts to receive the truth of God’s word.  Matthew 5:5 notes, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
    4. The implanted word which is able to save your souls – the theme of this section is the word of God.
      1. God’s word is to govern everything that we do as we have so often emphasized.
      2. Romans 1:16 – His word is the power of God unto salvation. Hebrews 4:12 – it is living and powerful and can pierce the soul and spirit.    1 Peter 1:22-23 –  we are born again through the word.   Acts 20:32 Paul not that the word of God is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.
      3. His word is to be implanted within us – this means it is deeply fixed within. This is what is emphasized in this text.  God’s word “takes root” – Psalm 1:2-3 – He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.   1 Corinthians 3:6 notes of God’s word that it was planted and watered, and God gives the increase.  This implanted word is the good and honest heart in the parable of the Sower (Luke 8:11, 15).
      4. Tying this together – are we receptive of God’s word? Consider the influence of God’s word – Acts 2:37 – they were cut to the heart and said, “What shall we do?”.  Act 7:54 – when Stephen preached they were cut to heart, gnashed on him with their teeth and stoned him.  Think of the response of the Pharisees and Sadducees to the teaching of Jesus.  How many today, when we seek to share God’s word with them become angry, or perhaps wrathful in their response?
  2. Be doers of the word and not hearers only (22-24)
    1. BUT be doers, NOT hearers only – James bluntly emphasizes our need to respond with action. It is NOT enough to hear God’s word!  We have to respond to it WITH ACTION.  James will develop this further in James 2:14-26– faith without works is dead.  James 4:17 says, Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.  Matthew 7:21-23 _ Jesus strongly taught this as well.
    2. Deceiving yourselves – not only are we called to action, but it must be the RIGHT actions. We cannot lie to ourselves and say we are ok – by doing what we want in the name of the Lord.
      1. Romans 10:1-3 – Paul grieved at his rebellious brethren. They had zeal for God but not according to knowledge.
      2. 1 Corinthians 3:18 addressing worldly wisdom Paul said, “Let no one deceive himself.”
      3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived – and he proceeds to list sinners who lifestyles will keep them out of the kingdom of God.
      4. Galatians 6:3, For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. We may think more highly of ourselves than we ought to (Romans 12:3).
      5. Galatians 6:7, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.
      6. Colossians 2:4, Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
      7. 2 Timothy 3:3, But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
      8. 2 Peter 2:13, describing false teachers he notes they count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you.
      9. 1 John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
      10. NOTE this with our text – when we are NOT doers of the word, we may be lying to ourselves.
    3. He is like a man looking in a mirror – James uses the illustration of one looking in the mirror and he walks away without making necessary changes.  What good has that mirror done for him?  Apply that to God’s word.
  3. Looking into the perfect law of liberty (25)
    1. We now look at the OTHER side of this admonition. What we OUGHT to be doing.
    2. Looking into – (looks intently – NASB, LSB)
      1. The word means to bend down or to stoop. Found 3x, the other 2 associated with Peter and John both stooping down and looking into the tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:12, John 20:5).
      2. The word means to investigate, to examine. As opposed to the one giving a passing and inattentive glance in the mirror, this is like one who looks in the mirror and studies her image with the intention of making sure that EVERYTHING is in order. Whatever is out of order is addressed.
      3. Thus, the idea is one doing more than superficial reading. Think of the typical posture of one studying – books open in front of him/her and he is looking down intently at the various texts to gain understanding.  This is about searching for answers.  Recall Matthew 7:7-8 – ask, seek, knock.
      4. NOTE: The mirror we are to be looking into IS God’s word!
    3. The perfect law of liberty – This is powerful description of God’s word.
      1. It is perfect – The word is found 5x in this letter – James 1:4 (2x) – let patience have its perfect work; 1:17 – every good and perfect gift is from above; & James 3:2 where the man who bridles his tongue is described as “perfect. It does not mean, sinless, but complete or mature.  Both could be applied to God’s word.  Psalm 19:7 – the law of the LORD is perfect converting the soul…; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – it makes us complete.   NOTICE also 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 where Paul describes love as a “more excellent way” than the spiritual gifts dividing the Corinthian brethren.  Paul notes that spiritual gifts (miracles) were temporal UNTIL “that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  Paul elaborates further using the illustration of a man putting away childish things AND For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  Is there correlation between these two writers.  James, like Paul, is anticipating the time when God’s word would be complete – perfect!
      2. A law of liberty – what exactly this law is has been debated. Is it the Law of Moses (recall that James is likely writing to Jewish converts) that has been fulfilled or is it God’s new law – the gospel?  The way James is writing seems to lean toward it being the gospel. Consider:
        1. This is the first mention of law in the letter – up to this point he has been talking about “the word”. In context there is NO distinction between the two.
        2. Furthermore, the idea of liberty is stressed in passages like Galatians 5:1 where Paul said, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
        3. Law is often used in reference to following Jesus. See Romans 8:2 which says, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
          1 Corinthians 9:21, to those who are without law (contextually a reference to Gentiles – TT), as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
          Galatians 6:2, Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
        4. So, what is our “liberty” a reference to? 1) We are free from the confining restraints of the Old Law (and similar law).  It was burdensome and impossible to keep perfectly.  And it was nailed to the cross – Colossians 2:14. 2) We are free from the bondage of sin (Romans 8:2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.) – Jesus defeated Satan and has given us a law that we CAN live by and obtain forgiveness when we do stumble.
      3. AND continues in it – being free from the constraints of these other laws does NOT make us free to do anything we want. We have simply changed masters.  And our Lord loves us and cares about us in every conceivable way – Romans 6:16-18).   This phrase also indicates that we must remain faithful to our Lord.
      4. And is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work – see the mirror illustration above.  God expects us to obey Him – Hebrews 5:9. He will elaborate on that in James 2:14ff (and so will we).   Jesus in Luke 11:28 said, But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Or consider His parable at the end of the sermon on the mount – Matthew 7:24-27 – the wise and foolish builders.
      5. This one will be blessed in what he does – the same word that Jesus used as He began the “sermon on the mount” – Matthew 5:3-12, is used here. This also goes along with what we addressed in our lesson this morning.  The one in whom God delights, He will bless them abundantly.

And thus James continues to emphasize faithful living.  In this lesson we have seen WHERE our standard is found.  It is not in word only, but also in deeds and in truth (cf. 1 John 3:18).  Will you humbly submit to His will?  Think about it!

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