A Proper Reaction to the Word

James 1:22-27

Introduction:
- as important as the proper reception of the Word of God is, without obedience to its truths it is not only without
benefit but becomes a further judgment against its readers.
- it is essential to hear the Word with submission but it does not end there.
True spirituality is not momentarily feeling of compliance or commitment but long-term obedience to Scripture.
- But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

DOER
- Prove yourselves = be continually or keep on striving to be doers of the word.
- When people are blessed with regular, in depth preaching and teaching of the Scripture, they may become so filled
with their knowledge of Gods Word that they become self-satisfied with that knowledge and forsake the effort to
live out the profound truths that they have come to understand.
o How long have you been listening to in depth preaching?
o Are there truths you understand? About God? Christ? HS? Sin? Evangelism? Missions?
o What did you do with that knowledge? Have you been self-satisfied with that knowledge?
- a true believer will not be inwardly satisfied because his conscience and the prompting of the Holy Spirit will keep
convicting him of his failure until he becomes obedient.
- So that he becomes a Doer = poiete (carries all the whole personality of a person, all of a persons inner being
mind, soul, spirit, emotions)
- Doer of the word = James emphasizes what they are rather than what they do. It is not one time obedience to the
understood word but lifetime obedience.
o One week armed conflict vs. a professional soldier whose life is dedicated to warfare
o A one week rescue volunteer but a professional rescuer
HEARER
- Hearers = akroates (used of those who sat passively in an audience and listened to a singer or speaker. Today, it
refers to those who audit college classes. In our words, sit-in, they are not required to submit assignment or take
quizzes.
- In churches, these are those who willingly expose themselves to teaching and preaching but have no desire to obey
it or be changed by it.
- This gives evidence that they are not real Christians; they are pretenders or merely heares.
- 1 John 2:3-4 by this we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandment. The one who says, I have come to
know Him, and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him
- Background: most of Jews hear the Law read in the synagogues but were content only in hearing and superficial
compliance and had no real desire to obey these words. This is called as self-deceptive.

As a believer, there are 3 elements to obeying the word.

1. In relation to himself, he is willing to apply the word without deception (1:22b-26)
2. In relation to others, he is willing to apply the Word without selfishness (v27a)
3. In relation to the word, he is willing to apply the word without compromise (v27b)

Willingness to Apply the Word without Deception 22b-26

- What is deception?
- Delude or delude literally means to reason beside or alongside for the purpose of deceiving (dishonesty,
misleading)
- Listening without obedience is self-deceiving.
- sermon tasters who never tasted the grace of God
Analogy for self-deception (23-24)
- Look = katanoeo, careful or cautious looking
- Background: Mirrors during that time were not glass, they are made of brass or bronze, wealthy person could buy
silver or gold. Not as good as glass.
- These mirrors give dim or distorted reflection but until one finds the good angle and best light, one could see a fairly
accurate image of his face.
- James by careful and patient observation, he could actually discover what he looked like.
- But for whatever reason, when he stops looking at himself and goes away, he immediately forgets what he has just
seen. Maybe of distraction, not pleased with what was seen, or poor memory. Whatever the purpose was for
looking at oneself, what is seen is quickly forgotten.
- A person who looks at Gods Word even if it is careful and accurate and yet does not apply the truths he has
discovered to his own life is like someone who immediately forgets what he has just seen in a mirror except the
consequences are worse.
- He sees his sin, sees Gods provision in Christ, yet he goes on his way as it were never exposed to those realities.
Opposite of self-deception (25)
- Looks intently = parakupto, bend over and carefully examine something from the clearest vantage point.
- Perfect law Gods Word, when it discovers a truth and abides by it.
- He will be blessed Gods blessing results from believers obedience.
The doer is not merely involve in religious activity (26)
- Religious = external religious rituals, routines or ceremonies. Worship in the temple.
- And bridleth not his tongue = corrupt or unholy speech.
- if the tongue is not controlled by God, it is a sure indicator that the heart is not either.
- Application: a person who trusts in outward things such as external religious rituals will sooner or later expose their
faithlessness with their mouth.
Point: True Christianity is shown in obedience and words.

Willingness to Apply the Word without Selfishness (1:27a)

- With genuine concern for the welfare of others, especially those in great need. John 13:35
- Pure (katharos) and undefiled (amiantos) are synonymous, the emphasis of the first is cleanness and the second
freedom from contamination.
- The clean religion is measured in the sight of God
- It is not determined by anyones standard but by Gods
- This is the greatest spiritual mistake that the scribes, Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. The had replaced Gods
standards with their man-made traditions. (Matt. 15:6-8)
- To visit (episkeptomai) means much more than to drop by for a chat but it carries the idea of caring for others,
exercising oversight on their behalf and helping them in whatever was is needed. To strengthen, to encourage, to
help
- To visit in a way that is pleasing to our God and Father is to meet as best we can all the needs of orphans and
widows and any others in their distress.
- Background: orphans and widows are the neediest people in the church, job for either group were scarce and if they
had no close kin, none would really help them.
Point: True Christianity is manifested from a pure and loving heart by the way they act. In caring for those who are in
need.

Willingness to Apply the Word without Compromise (1:27b)

- Unstained = not sinless perfection
- Rom. 7:18-19
- Every Christian falls short of the Lords standards. Like Paul we find ourselves doing things we know are wrong and
not doing things we know we are right.
- Unstained by the world = kosmos, world but often represent the fallen mankind in general.
- 1 John 2:15-16 over riding love of and allegiance to such ungodly things.

Godly religion that is Biblical Christianity is a matter of holy obedience to Gods Word reflected in our honestly regarding
ourselves, by our selflessness in regards to the needs of others and by our uncompromising moral and spiritual stand in
regard to the world.