James 1:19-27- Be Doers Of The Word And Not Hearers Only
The letter of James begins with these words, ‘James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ’. (1) We had a whole sermon on those ten words and saw the importance of being called ‘a servant of God’.
We looked at Luke 4-6 and saw what Jesus did to make disciples and servants. To do this Jesus continually preached a message of repentance and faith. As a result of Jesus’ preaching and teaching this way many progressed...
from speaking well of Jesus, seeing Jesus as a popular and famous figure
to becoming convinced that Jesus was their King and they called Jesus their Master and LORD.
In Luke 4-5 the crowds were watching and listening to Jesus as He taught. They heard His messages, witnessed His power, formed their own opinions regarding Jesus and His message. They accepted some things and rejected other things.
There is something comfortable about thinking that the Christian life is about us observing Jesus and then drawing our own conclusions about Him?
These crowds were not, as James taught us last week, receiving the implanted word with meekness and a humble and teachable spirit. (21)
When we considered Luke 6 we saw something different was happening. We discovered that Jesus had been watching and listening to the crowds. Jesus listened to them and watched them and formed His own opinions about them. (Recently we went to the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame. They had copies of the scouting reports which showed how they graded the players. Similarly, Jesus had a scouting report on everyone in the crowd who was claiming to be His disciple and who professed that Jesus was their Master and LORD.)
Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable to realize that you were being watched by Jesus and He was listening to your words and your actions? (You often hear it said that some people go to churches that are large enough that they can hide among the crowd and go unnoticed. They slip in and out of church and are happy if they go unnoticed. However, Jesus always sees us and our hearts. Jesus is watching, listening and evaluating the lives of the people.)
There were many who were not obeying His teaching even though they called Him LORD.
“Will Jesus address this or will He conclude that it is not that important?”
“If Jesus does think this is important, How will He respond?”
Apparently this problem was so pervasive that Jesus did not simply pull one or two people aside but He addresses the whole and preached a sermon to them. (Isn’t this a good indication of the priority and the importance that Jesus placed in the preaching of the Word of God. Is sitting under the authority of the Word of God a priority for us?)
We learned in Luke 4-5 that Jesus was preaching sermons everywhere He went. This, however, is the first sermon we get to hear for ourselves. In Luke 6:20-49 Jesus preaches this sermon and near the end Jesus says these words, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
This is when we realize that Jesus has been observing the crowds and watching them. Jesus says, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
“Why do you profess to be my servants but you do not obey me?
Why do you call me Master and yet you say and do what is contrary to my Word?”
“Why do you claim to be a Christian and not submit to my teaching?”
“Why do you claim to be my disciple and not obey my commands?”
This problem is so important that Jesus will do something about it.
This problem was so pervasive that Jesus addresses everyone. Jesus doesn’t want anyone deceived.
This is serious because Jesus gives a warning to everyone before and after He spoke these words.
Luke 6:43-45- “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:47-49- “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (47-49)
As we come to our text in James 1:19-25 we find that James, like Jesus, is teaching us the importance of not only hearing the Word of God but also being doers as well. James, who was introduced to us as a servant of God knows that all who call Jesus their Master and Lord ought to obey His commands.
In James 1:19 we read, “Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters…”. The words, ‘Know this’, calls us to remember all that James has just taught us regarding the new birth which makes a sinner a new creation who now lives according to God’s wisdom.
Then James teaches us how a Christians is to receive the Word of God, “...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.”
Every Christian is to be, ‘quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger’ when we hear the Word of God and if we do NOT respond in this way the righteousness of God will not be produced in our lives. However, if the Word of God IS responded to appropriately it will be evidenced in two ways.
First, that person will, ‘put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness’. (Repentance).
Secondly, that person will ‘receive with meekness the implanted word’. (Faith)
James then tells us that when the Word of God is received in this way it is able to save our souls (Acts 20:32). Let me make a few brief observations about this.
First, we should always respond to the Word with repentance and faith because the Scriptures will be the means through which our souls are saved. When we know that we were terminally sick then we will gladly take the needed prescription which will save us. Community Church’s discipleship program says, “The Living Word (Jesus) and the Written Word are our protection from sin’s danger. The antidote is most effective when administered from birth by the family and by the local church. The antidote is most effective when taken at the best time and meditated on throughout the day and night. The antidote is most effective when it is hidden in the heart.” (LifePlan, p.29)
Secondly, James shows us that when the Word of God effects the soul it will influences every area of our lives. As the Word of God does this internal change we are then able to express these things through how we respond outwardly as we live by faith. We are told that the Word of God saves our souls.
The soul speaks of the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart).
The soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids (means of grace) offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life.
And finally, the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death. (Mathew 10:28, Matthew 11:29, Eph. 6:6, 1 Thess. 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, James 5:20, 1 Peter 1:22, 3 John 1:2)
Third, the word ‘able’ is in the present tense which means that the Word of God is at work right now delivering, setting free, and saving us from sin, making us whole, healthy and well. We should remember this when we wonder if our devotional life is doing anything at all. We should remember this when we wonder if we got anything out of the sermon at church. If we are faithful to receive the implanted Word into a good and honest heart it will work salvation in our souls and with patience we will bear much fruit. (Luke 8:15)
Conclusion of these things: The implanted Word is able to save the soul and it then produces outward fruit of holiness and sanctification. When we hear the Word of God and it works internally we should be doers who reflect the Word. The Word is at work immediately even though the fruitfulness of its work will progress and increase over time.
Recap of 19-21:
We are to prepare our hearts to hear and receive the Word of God with a teachable spirit and be ready to respond with repentance and faith.
As this is done the Word brings forth a miracle and our souls are saved from danger, made healthy and whole and will ultimately receive the promise for which we hope- eternal life.
After this James tells us in verse 22 that we are to respond in obedience to the Word which will give proof that we have become a new creation in Christ Jesus. This is evidence that we have been been born-again, regenerated, given life and that we continue to grow in the grace of God. We who were once dead in our trespasses and sins are now to ‘be (become, or show ourselves to be) doers of the word, and not hearers only (emphasis is on the word ‘only’), deceiving ourselves”.
Ephesians 2:10- “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
James says that we are to be doers of the Word so that we won’t be deceived. What does this type of deception look and sound like?
James describes it this way in James 2:14-26 when he writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James goes on to say, “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
James says, “What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Then James asks, “Can that faith save him?” (2:14) In our text today Jame is asking,
“Can a faith without works save a man’s soul?”
“Can faith without works give proof and evidence that a man’s soul is healthy and whole?”
After James gives this command and warning he gives an illustration. James begins by illustrating the man who does not respond in faith that produces good works. He says in verses 23-24, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” This illustration speaks of a person who looks into the Word of God and at once forgets the importance of what he saw.
The person that is mentioned in vs. 23-24 can sit under the teaching of the Word of God but it does not penetrate to the saving of the soul. Such a person comes to the Word of God and he cannot see the spiritual realities that would lead Him to respond to Christ and the Gospel.
This person does not have a heart that hears and receives the Word of God.
This person does not have a teachable spirit ready to respond with repentance and faith.
This man’s interaction with the Word does not bring forth a miracle in his soul which is able to save him. The Word of God shows him his filthiness and wickedness (21) but he quickly goes away and forgets what he is like.
Nicodemus in John 3 is an example of such a man. We read in John 3:1-21, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered him, (3)‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, (5-8) ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’
Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, (10-12) ‘Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
(16-20) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
On this occasion Nicodemus was not been ‘born-again’ and in that state he was unable to see the things concerning Jesus. However, church history suggests that he probably came to the LORD later. His story is a lot like James who came to the LORD later in life.
Similarly, the apostle Paul also spent a large portion of his life as an unbeliever. He had heard Stephen’s sermon and responded to it in unbelief and with murderous anger. However, later after Paul was saved, he testified in Galatians 1:13-17 with these words, “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.” There was a particular moment in time when Jesus was revealed to Paul and upon seeing Him he repented and believed. (Acts 9)
At some point in our life we have all been the person who is described in verses 23-24. Illustration: Yesterday at the men’s breakfast someone at our table said that for twenty-four years he had heard the gospel and it did not do much. All that time he continued to live a godless and faithless life. However, one night at a bible study everything changed and he has never been the same. That day Christ was made known to him.
Our response to these things: If we have the opportunity to share the gospel with a person we should do it even if they have already heard it numerous times. We never know when God’s grace will call them and Christ will be seen by them for the first time. This is the type of person that James illustrates in verse 25, “...the one who looks (stoops down to look carefully at) into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
The verbs ‘looks’ and ‘continues’ (perseveres) speaks of a moment in time when this begins and it continues after. The person who does this will be blessed (future tense indicative {fact}). Presently such a person soul is made well and there are still future blessedness to be experienced because of their obedience .
There was a moment when the LORD ‘sets a person apart before he was born, and then LORD calls that person by his grace, and is pleased to reveal his Son to him’. After this decisive event happens, every time that man comes to the perfect law he sees his sin and how Jesus Christ has saved him from it and will continue to do so.
Romans 13:11-14 describes what James is expressing here. In this text Paul says, “...you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, nor in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
After we got up this morning we probably all went quickly to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. When you did this you saw how we were looking and then determined what actions you needed to take before you came here. It would have been foolish for us to look at ourselves in the mirror and notice we were wearing our PJ’s, our hair was all messed up, and we had bad morning breath and then quickly left the mirror and forgot about everything that needed to be done.
Similarly, it would be foolish if a Christian were to look into the perfect law and then walk away and not begin to put away the sin it revealed and put on the righteousness of Christ that it showed us. For the Christian the night is now far gone and it is time to wake up and prepare for the day. As we do this we cast off and put away those sinful things that are associated with darkness and in its place we put on the things that are associated with the day (the holiness and righteousness of God). We are not to engage in sin any longer, but we are to walk properly as Christ would have us.
Paul says that we are to put on the LORD Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Football season is upon us and this means that we will not have to try very hard to see who the Packer fans are. They will wear Packer clothes, talk about the upcoming game, and prioritize everything around that event each week.
In November when hunting season comes upon us you will not have to try real hard to spot a hunter. They will be wearing the hunting gear, their vehicles will be loaded down with supplies, and those who shoot their game will proudly have it strapped to the roof of their car.
Every weekday it is not hard to distinguish between an office worker and a construction worker. An office worker wears certain things and a construction worker is easy to spot.
If these things are true in almost every area of our lives, then how much more ought it be easy to recognize a Christian when they talk, how they dress, how they prioritize their life, how they act, etc.
James ends chapter one with some practical applications for Christians to engage in when he says, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this persons religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (26-27)
Last week we considered Psalm 90 and observed that Moses contemplated a lot of the same things in that Psalm that James does here in chapter 1. At the end of Psalm 90 Moses prays that the LORD would display His glorious saving power. He says in verse 16, “Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.”
Notice that the LORD does not display His glorious saving power so that we are free to continue in sin or live lives that do not reflect His glory and righteousness. No, Moses says, “Let your work be shown to your servants”. We are freed form slavery to sin to serve the LORD and to live according to the perfect Law and the Law of Liberty. As a new creation we have been given everything needed to be free to do those things which we could not do before.
We see this in the next verse, Psalm 90:17, when Moses prays, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”
What is the will of God for us that we want God to establish? What is the work that we want God to bless?
James, the servant of God gives us some examples when he writes, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this persons religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
As we leave this morning let us determine to pray as Moses does in Psalm 90:16-17. Lord, save us by your glorious power. May we serve you with our new found freedom according to your Word. Establish the works of our hands even as you have saved our souls! Therefore, let us consider these words as I end in prayer, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 2)
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