James 1:18-21 Final Sermon Transcript

This is our 9th sermon from the book of James. Since we began our study I have labored to express two main points. First, James became a believer later in his life and when this happened his life was radically changed. Before his conversion James was preoccupied with this world. James was enslaved to his fleshly passions, his godless desires, and his will was bent towards these things. When James would sin he would probably do one of two things. He would either blame others (13) or he would use earthly wisdom to justify his sin.

After James became a believer his life forever changed. When he wrote this letter he does not write it according to earthly wisdom; rather, he wrote this letter according to a new heavenly wisdom. God’s wisdom replaced his passions as his primary motivator. His will was now inclined to honor God and His Word. And living this way brought him great joy.

The second point that I have been making is that verse12 is a very important verse. James had been building up to this verse from the beginning of this letter and then after he writes verse 12 he uses the rest of this chapter to support what he had written. In verses 13-27 James writes about things that we can do which will help us to have an enduring hope, a steadfast faith, and an enduring love for God.

Now let’s read James 1:19-21 which is our text this morning. It says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

We should ask ourselves, What are these believers to know? Are they to know something that has been previously stated or is this something that James is about to say?

If your reading from the KJV there is a conjunction at the beginning of verse 19 which connects this verse to the text that has come before. The NASV begins verse 19 with an imperative verb which also connects it to verse 18 but even more strongly, “This you know, my beloved brothers and sisters, now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger...”. It seems clear that James is connecting verse 19 with what he has previously said.

We have been saying that knowing biblical truth is crucial for believers because we no longer live according to our passions and worldly wisdom. We now live according to God’s wisdom so we ought to ask, “Where will James tell us to go to get this wisdom?”

James told us in verse 5 that we are to pray for wisdom but how does God give us this wisdom? Does this mean that we will all start receiving personal revelations? No, when we pray for wisdom God opens our minds to understand the truths in His Word. (Ephesians 1&3)

I say these things because of the number of times that James speaks of the Scriptures in the surrounding verses. For example,

• vs. 18- the scriptures are the Word of Truth

• vs. 21- the scriptures are the implanted Word

• vs. 22-23- the scriptures are referred to as the Word two times

• vs. 25- the scriptures are called the Perfect Law and the Law of Freedom

“What good would it do if we prayed for wisdom but then we were not quick to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger regarding the Word of God which reproves, rebukes, corrects and equips a Christian for good works?” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In verse 19 the word ‘know’ is in the perfect tense which means that these believers have known something in the past and it continues to be true even now. This makes sense because salvation is of the LORD and there is no shadow or variation of change’ in Him. (17) The gospel is the faith that has been once and for all given to the saints. (Jude 1:3)

We learned in our study of the Book of Hebrews that a christian can quickly drift away from what they had once known. (2:1; 5:11-6:20) This also happened to the Galatians so Paul says, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

Our text hints at the fact that these Christians needed to be reminded of what they already knew to be true. They needed to be quick to hear the Word of God, slow to speak against the Word of God, and slow to be angry at the Word’s instruction.

When James tells them that they ‘know’ something he is using a word that implies that they know something that had important implications for their daily lives. Therefore, they are to have a high regard for this knowledge and they are to be skilled in how it is applied to their lives. In other words, it is a doctrine of first importance for the Christian. (1Corinthians 15:1-2).

What is this knowledge to which James is referring? Let’s consider two things.

• First, let’s consider the broader context that has come before.

• Secondly, let’s consider the immediate context that has just preceded these words.

The broader context is seen in verses 13-16. We discovered that a believer is to take personal responsibility and deal with sin because sin always results in death. (15) Sin is our greatest danger because it is deceptive (16, 22, 26) and it always leads to physical death, spiritual death, and judgment.

The only way that this process can be changed is if the Lord Jesus sets us free. The LBC describes these things by saying, “By God’s appointment, they (Adam and Eve) were the root and the representatives of the whole human race. Because of this, the guilt of their sin was accounted, and their corrupt nature passed on, to all their offspring who descended from them by ordinary procreation. Their descendants are now conceived in sin, and partakers of death and all other miseries- spiritual, temporal, and eternal-unless the Lord Jesus sets them free.” (6.3)

James has already told us that we are not to be deceived about our sin and ignorant of the fact that it always results in death; (13-15) but James also tells us that even though we cannot free ourselves from our sin God provides every good gift and every perfect gift to accomplish His will in our lives. (16-17) {This includes salvation, sanctification, and His Word}

Conclusion regarding the larger context in 1:13-16: When we are told in James 1:19, “This you know my beloved brothers and sisters... ”, he is encouraging us to know and to apply this knowledge. Yes, our flesh is weak and sin is a strong adversary but the LORD gives us good and perfect gifts to provide help. He has given us His very great and precious promises so we can be partakers in the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:3-4) Therefore,

• we are to be quick to hear the Word of God

• slow to speak contrary to the Word of God

• and slow to become angry when the Word of God trains us in righteousness.

Now let us consider the more immediate context. The words, “This you know my beloved brothers and sisters...”, is most closely connected to what James is referring to in verse 18, where he says, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

• When James writes, ‘Of his own will’, he places it in the emphatic position in the Greek. James is stressing this particular fact concerning how we are saved. James also uses a passive verb which means that the recipient is passive and merely receives the action is done by God. James is emphasizing that God, of His own will, brought us forth. The means that He uses to do this is His Word and the Spirit.

• When James writes, ‘has brought us forth’, James is speaking of being regenerated, being born-again, being made alive and transformed to be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. It is this action by God that enables a person to freely and willingly repent and believe upon Christ.

Consider the seriousness of our situation before God does this. There are several obstacles that stand against us from ever being reconciled to God. First, we are enemies against God, His rule and reign, and we are opposed His Word. Secondly, God was angry with us and our rebellious hearts and we are under His wrath. Third, when God sent His Son, who is our Great High Priest, we were not drawn to Him.

James says that God brings us forth from these things ‘by the Word of Truth’. This refers to the effectual call that gives life to dead people, sight to the spiritually blind, and spiritual understanding to foolish people so that they can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In our sinful condition we cannot reconcile ourselves to God; but God by His own unchangeable will determines to save undeserving people by regenerating them according to His benevolent mercy (Romans 9:23) and through this they willingly come to Christ through repentance and faith.

I think it is important to remember that the person who is writing these things in verse 18 was not saved until he was in his thirties. Why is this important? Because James knew what type of divine power it would take to raise a person from their spiritual and moral deadness. James was a religious man who had believed that salvation was through keeping the Law of Moses. James was a prideful man who once thought that he could recognize the Messiah when he showed up. And yet, amazingly, James was Jesus’ half-brother and he did not believe that Jesus was the Christ until the effectual call came.

The apostle John testifies of this in John 1:9-13, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own (even to His own brothers), and his own people (His own brothers) did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (But how can this be?), who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

James testifies along with John about the sovereign power of God that is required when anyone is saved.

• James is not testifying to a synergistic view of salvation (the view that God and man work together in regeneration),

• James testifies to the monergistic view of salvation (the Holy Spirit is the sole agent in regeneration through means of the Gospel).

The LBC speaks of this Effectual Calling when it says, “In God’s appointed and acceptable time, He is pleased to call effectually, by His Word and Spirit, those He has predestined to life. He calls them out of their natural state of sin and death to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills and by His almighty power turns them to good and effectually draws them to Jesus Christ. Yet, He does all this in such a way that they come completely freely, since they are made willing by His grace.” (10.1)

In 10.2 we read these words, “The effectual call flows from God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in those called. Neither does the call arise from any power or action on their part; they are totally passive in it. They are dead in sins and trespasses until they are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this they are enabled to answer the call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. This response is enabled by a power that is no less than than that which raised Christ from the dead.”

Let me make three observations as to why these things are important. First, this is important if we are to appreciate what was said in James 1:12. These things reveal the details that pertain to the promise of eternal life and how the LORD fulfills that promise. Those who understand these things that God has done for them will have an abiding hope in Him! They will have an enduring love for God! They will have an unshakable faith in Him! (12)

The second reason this is important is because we can see that James believes in the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ that Paul and the rest of the scriptures speak about. James does not believe that we are saved by grace plus works as some have said. However, because James has this view of salvation he believes that Christians must bear the fruit that is appropriate for being made the firstfruits of His creation.

If we understand the things we will not struggle, as so many have, regarding the apparent contradiction between James’ view of justification and Paul’s view of justification when we come to James 2:14-26. The foundation for what James says in chapter 2 is already being laid out in James 1. There is no controversy between these two men and their teachings.

The third observation is most closely associated with our text today. When we consider God’s sovereignty in our salvation these things almost instinctively provoke anger within us. This should not surprise us when we realize that before our conversion our passions and desires were on the throne of our heart and our will was bent in that direction. Our flesh and our carnal mind does not want to give up that throne so easily.

Doesn’t it seem appropriate then that the very next thing James says is, “...let every person be quick to hear (the Word of God), slow to speak (talk back, make excuses, attempt to justify our own view\), and be slow to anger (to rebel against the testimony of the Word); for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (19-20)

If a person continues in their willful rebellion that person will NOT come to Christ. And if this sinful rebellion is not overcome by the Effectual Call and then continually crucified in a believer they will not produce the righteous life that God desires.

Isn’t it evident that even among professing Christians today we see signs of angry rebellion against the reproof, rebuke, correction and the training of the Scriptures that are intended to bring salvation and good works?

We are to be quick to listen to the Word of God and receive the Word of Truth. I am sure that Jesus could say to us, as He did to His own disciples, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25)

We must appreciate the fact that James is not asking us to believe his own opinion about these things. No, he is asking us to be quick to receive the testimony of the scriptures. This is evident from all the different references to the Scriptures in this surrounding context: the Word of Truth, the implanted Word, the Word, the perfect law, and the law of liberty.

Neither am I trying to convince you to believe these things on my own authority simply because I believe in the Doctrines of Grace. As we study the book of James I am trying hard to understand these things from within the context of this letter and I think this is the argument that James is making through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Every Christian ought to have a teachable spirit that listens, is open to the reasoning of the scriptures, and then in meekness submits to the teachings of scripture. (3:17) Perhaps there is no better summary of the words, ‘be quick to listen and slow to speak’, than Proverbs 18:13, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

James says we are to be slow to become angry when the Scriptures attempt to correct, reprove, rebuke and train us in righteousness unto every good work. To expound upon this let's consider John 6 where Jesus speaks to a group of people and the majority of them get angry with Him and no longer follow Him. (66)

Jesus says to this crowd, “You have seen me and yet do not believe.” (36) This is important because the things they have seen should convinced them that He is the Christ if this ability resides within them. Jesus has taught them, showed them signs and wonders, fed them miraculous bread, healed them, and cast out demons from among them; and yet, they do not believe. They claimed they needed to see one more sign before they would believe! (30)

Jesus explains all of this when He says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should loose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (36-40)

How did the disciples respond to this teaching?

They began to get angry and they grumbled against Him and His words. (41) So Jesus says to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me…’” (43-46)

All of those that have been effectually called by the Father will be quick to listen to His Word, slow to speak against the Word, and slow to become angry at God and His Word. {This is evident through the actions of his apostles that day with the exception of Judas. (68-71)}

However, the larger crowd hardens their hearts to Jesus and His message. They take offense at Jesus and His teaching, they refuse to listen to Him, and they leave Him. We read, “When many of His disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do not take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe…This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (60-65)

Even after all of the teaching that Jesus does this story ends with these sad words, “After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.” (68) The crowd was not willing to do what James says in verse 21, “...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

The implanted word which saves our souls must be received with meekness and humility. We must be willing to receive the true King who came as a suffering servant and not as the king that we thought He should be. Our carnal nature wants a king who will give us bread, conquer our enemies, make us prosper, and make us happy by giving us everything our adulterous hearts desire.

• Do you have ears to hear and are you quick to learn from God? (6:45)

• Are you slow to respond with your own opinions as the Holy Spirit instructs you in the Word? (42)

• Are there times when you come to the Word and you find that your flesh begins to grumble, to take offense, and becomes angry and turn away from the LORD? (6:41, 61, 66)

I have often found that if I am studying the scriptures and my flesh begins to rebel and become angry at what is being said I know what interpretation of that passage I am probably supposed to take. There are so many scriptural views that will often make our flesh angry and we will want to rebel against these doctrines. We should do the opposite and embrace these doctrines.

When these things make us angry Jesus might say to us, as He did to His disciples that day, “Do you want to go away and join the rest of the unbelieving people?” (67)

May we say with Peter because we have been taught by the Father (45), “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (68-69)

What a testimony concerning the great work the Father has done in Peter. He does not say, “Where am I to go because I left everything to follow after you?” (Matthew 19:27) Peter does not say, “Where are we to go? We think you can still salvage this situation and become Israel’s King.” No, Peter says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

These words that Peter speaks are within the context of what Jesus had just aught. Jesus had just taught that no one will come to Him apart from the Father drawing him. Peter is not arguing with Jesus about this point. No, on the contrary, Peter fully accepts it and remains close to Christ.

My friends, each day as we come to God’s Word we need to confess our sin, receive God’s gracious gifts, be quick to listen to the Word, slow to speak back to God, and slow to excuse our anger towards Him and His Word. If we will do this we will continue to say with Peter to the very end, “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” All glory to the LORD for these things!