BOOK OF JAMES
STUDY PART 7
“Doers of the Word”
James 1:22-25- (22) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (23) Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.
Intro-James approaches the main theme of his epistle this evening. It would seem that there were those in the early church who had heard the Word of God, but were not living according to its precepts. The mark of a true child of God is keeping His Commandments (1 John 2:3). This does not mean we will never fail. To intentionally disobey the commands of God means one of two things: 1) One is not a true child 2) Or one is a poor child who does not listen or read the Word and becomes disobedient. The theme of James is OBEDIENCE to the Word of God or a belief that behaves. This is evident in our previous lessons in vs. 2-21 of Chapter 1. These lessons become real only as they are allowed to become part of our lives. God calls on us not only to hear the Word, but to practice it in every day living.
I) “Doers of the Word” (Vs. 22)- (22) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. –God here givus us a direct command and we should be obedient. The Bible is not just written to educate us. It brings to us teachings concerning our every day living and behavior. Christians should be known for there life of obedience by trusting and obeying. Look at your life. When people think of you, do they think of you as a doer of the Word of God? (Matt. 7: 24-27) gives us insight as Jesus taught on the subject of obedience. In this passage, look at vs 24,25, our Lord states that the wise man hears and then obeys His sayings. In vs 26,27, while the foolish man HEARS ONLY, does not obey His sayings. Christ emphasis is on the fact that hearing the Word of God is NOT ENOUGH. Without, doing what the Word says, there will be disaster (II Thes. 1:8). God calls those who disobey His word “fools”, why are we so foolish? Vs. 22-do not merely listen to the Word or some versions say “and not hearers only-“ The Jews had the Old Testament and read it in the synagogue on each sabboth day. Great value was placed on attending and listening to these readings. Many Jews seem to think that this was there whole religious duty. Likewise, many men and women today feel if they attend church, the rest does not matter. A great truth is that “The Word of God is of no value unless its permitted to work in the heart.” Its like scattering seed on the hard ground where it cannot take root. (Col 6:7 and I Corith. 6: 9,10). Look at the last part of vs. 22, “so deceiving your own selves.” To deceive others has been going on since Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. But, look here in this passage, to deceive one’s own self is even worse. Many believe they are on there way to heaven, while in reality they are facing eternity without God’s Son and without hope. You ask these people if they are saved or if they are Christians, and the answer we receive is “yes, I go to church.” When the Phillippian jailor asked Paul “what must I do to be saved?” Paul did not reply “go to church”. Look at Paul’s response in Acts 16:31. Any Christian who thinks God is pleased with just hearing the Word is deceived. Just like a parent is not pleased with a child who only hears and never obeys. So, God asks us to obey and expects us to.
II) “Trying to Forget” –(vs. 23,24)- (23) Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror (24) and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like- look into a mirror or glass here is in reference to the Word of God. A mirror is something that tells the truth. You may fix up a photo to look better than it really is, but a mirror reveals the true person. God’s Word reveals that all natural men are sinners (Rom 3:23). Some would turn away and try to forget what they saw in the mirror. Others will avoid the mirror as much as possible, but the truth remains. “vs. 23 “is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like- Like the person who studies there natural face in the mirror, so this person studies his natural self as reflected in the pages of the Bible. “forgets what he looks like” here, to forget what he looks like refers to if a man has a blemish or black spot on his face, will not cleanse it. Forgetfulness is no excuse before the Lord. To forget one is a sinner will lead to eternal separation from God. For one of God’s own children, this means an eternal reward of obedience will be lost when we fail to obey.
III) “Doers receiving blessing (Vs. 25)- (25) But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.-- some versions “But who so looketh into means “to stoop down and look carefully”. This same thought is expressed in Mat 24:12 when Peter stooped and looked in the tomb. Stooping down would tell us we must be humbled as we look into the Word. The Word of God closely looked into and carefully heed will guide us, correct us, and lead us. (Ps. 139: 23,24) (II Corith. 13:5). The Bible is a perfect law that gives us freedom or some versions say “liberty”. The gospel is perfect in every way. It gives a man perfect salvation, and will eventually make him a perfect man. Because of Christ and his work on the cross of calvery, we shall stand in perfection on that day before the Father (Eph. 5:27). Law of liberty-laws are to maintain freedom. Some may restrict freedom to a degree, but what freedom would there be without any laws. Because of sin without laws, we would not be safe. We must have laws of restraint, in order to have liberty. To receive Christ, is to receive liberty. . We have liberty from the bondage of sin. To obey God’s Word, brings blessings (Rom 13:10). “If you know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” John 13:17. (Rom 8:15). To disobey is sin -James 4:17 (Gal 5:13)—Conclusion—What does God’s mirror reveal to you? If it shows you are a sinner, repent. The Bible not only shows our shortcomings, but provides a cleansing. Ps 119:9_”Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word.