Weekly Sermon
James 1:22-24 reads, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
In James 1:21-22 God’s Word presents a three-fold instruction for the transformation of our spiritual character unto the righteousness of Christ. First, we are instructed to repent of all our sinfulness. In the opening portion of James 1:21, the instruction is given, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.” Second, we are instructed to receive God’s Word with meekness. In the closing portion of James 1:21, the instruction is given, “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Third, we are instructed to respond unto God’s Word with obedience. In James 1:22 the instruction is given, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
The third of these instructions is presented, not only as an instruction concerning what we ought to do, but also as an admonition concerning what we ought not to do. We are to be faithful doers of God’s Word, but we are not to be hearers only of God’s Word. In fact, this admonition against being hearers only extends from James 1:22-24. Grammatically, this passage can be divided into three parts. First, there is the imperative about our responsibility – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Then there is the illusion about which we must beware – “Deceiving your own selves.” Finally, there is the illustration about the hearer only – “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
James 1:22-24 reads, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
In James 1:21-22 God’s Word presents a three-fold instruction for the transformation of our spiritual character unto the righteousness of Christ. First, we are instructed to repent of all our sinfulness. In the opening portion of James 1:21, the instruction is given, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.” Second, we are instructed to receive God’s Word with meekness. In the closing portion of James 1:21, the instruction is given, “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Third, we are instructed to respond unto God’s Word with obedience. In James 1:22 the instruction is given, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
The third of these instructions is presented, not only as an instruction concerning what we ought to do, but also as an admonition concerning what we ought not to do. We are to be faithful doers of God’s Word, but we are not to be hearers only of God’s Word. In fact, this admonition against being hearers only extends from James 1:22-24. Grammatically, this passage can be divided into three parts. First, there is the imperative about our responsibility – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Then there is the illusion about which we must beware – “Deceiving your own selves.” Finally, there is the illustration about the hearer only – “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”
The Imperative about Our Responsibility
In the opening portion of James 1:22, the imperative about our responsibility is given, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” As we have already noted, this imperative is presented in two parts. The first part is positive concerning that which we ought to do. The second part is negative concerning that which we ought not to do. Positively, we ought to be doers of God’s Word. Grammatically, this verse does not instruct us, “But be ye doing the Word.” Rather, this verse instructs us, “But be ye doers of the word.” Certainly, we are to be obediently doing what God’s Word requires of us. Yet the emphasis of this verse is not upon our conduct of doing, but is upon our character as doers. This is the imperative for our daily Christian walk. From the very character of our hearts, we are to be characterized as doers of God’s Word. Doing God’s Word must not just be a part of our conduct, it must be a part of our character, so much that we may be described as doers of God’s Word. Indeed, this characteristic must be our continual pursuit. We must ever pursue being and becoming more and more characterized as doers who are doing God’s Word. Doers of God’s Word must characterize who we are more and more throughout our growth in spiritual maturity. This is the positive part of the instruction in James 1:21.
On the other hand, negatively we ought not to be hearers only of God’s Word. Certainly, we are to be hearers of God’s Word; but we are not to be hearers only of God’s Word. We are not to be those who are only hearers, but not also doers. We are not to be characterized as believers who hear much, but obey little. This is also an imperative for our daily Christian walk. We must not be satisfied with frequenting the preaching and teaching service and with frequenting personal Bible study times only for hearing, learning, and knowing God’s Word. God forbid! We must not stop at only hearing, learning, and knowing God’s Word. Rather, we must go forward in faithfully applying, obeying, and doing God’s word. We must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
The Illusion about Which We Must Beware
Indeed, we must beware the spiritual illusion that develops when we are hearers only, but not doers also of God’s Word. The closing portion of James 1:22 alerts us concerning this illusion with the admonishing phrase, “Deceiving your own selves.” Brethren, when we are hearers only of God’s Word, and not doers also, we quickly become self-satisfied and self-deceived in our hearing. At such times, our selfish, sinful flesh begins to engage in the false reasoning that our frequent hearing of the Word is enough to make us spiritual. At such times, we become satisfied with ourselves because of our hearing and learning of the Word; and we convince ourselves that our hearing and learning alone causes us to be in a righteous walk our Lord. Yet the Lord our God Himself is not satisfied only with our hearing and learning of His Word. He will not be satisfied with us until we are faithfully characterized as doers of His Word. Thus our self-satisfaction with only hearing and learning God’s Word is a spiritual illusion, an illusion that we perpetrate against ourselves. It is a false conception and false conclusion concerning our own spiritual character. Yea, it is self-delusion and self-deception; and it will ultimately result in our spiritual destruction. My beloved brethren, beware this spiritual illusion! Beware this self-satisfaction with being a hearer only of God’s Word! Beware this self-delusion and self-deception! We are only right with the Lord our God when we are “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Yea, the Lord our God is only satisfied with our daily walk when we are characterized as “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
The Illustration about the Hearer Only
Now, in order to emphasize and explain the admonition against self-deception, James 1:23-24 provides an illustration about those who are hearers only. Therein we read, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” This illustration begins with the phrase, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer.” Therefore, this illustration is a Biblical description of any believer who is a hearer only of God’s Word, and not a doer also. Even so, this illustration likens any hearer only to a man who beholds his natural (or, physical) face in a mirror. Yet having truly beheld his face and taken note of its defects, he goes his way without making any changes or corrections. Then having gone his way without making any changes or corrections, he immediately forgets about the defects upon his face and behaves throughout the day as if everything is perfectly acceptable.
Grammatically, this illustration reveals four characteristics of those who are hearers only of God’s Word, but not doers also. First, we find that a hearer only does make contact with the truth of God’s Word. The closing portion of James 1:23 states, “He is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.” The emphasis here is that this man actually comes to and makes contact with the mirror in order to behold the appearance of his physical face. In like manner, the believer who is a hearer only of God’s Word does actually come to and make contact with the revealing truth of God’s Word. He or she is not one who completely rejects or neglects the truth of God’s Word. He or she is not one who forsakes the preaching and teaching services of the church, or one who neglects personal Bible study times. Rather, he or she is one who does attend the services, does give attention to hear the message of God’s Word, and does spend personal time in God’s Word.
Second, we find that a hearer only does experience conviction through the truth of God’s Word. The opening portion of James 1:24 states, “For he beholdeth himself.” The emphasis here is that this man actually takes notice concerning the condition of his face and concerning the defects upon his face that need to be corrected. In like manner, the believer who is a hearer only of God’s Word does actually experience the convicting work of God’s Word, wherein God’s Word reveals those characteristics that need to be changed and corrected. He or she is one who actually does hear and consider the reproving truth of God’s Word concerning his or her own character. He or she is one who actually does recognize the need for change and correction and who actually does experience conviction of heart concerning this need for change and correction.
Third, we find that a hearer only then neglects correction in accord with the truth of God’s Word. The opening portion of James 1:24 continues, saying, “For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way.” Herein there is no indication that this man put forth any effort to make any change upon the appearance of his physical face. Yes, he considered the condition of his face and took notice of the things that needed to be changed and corrected. Yet he beheld and went his way without putting forth any effort to make any changes or corrections. In like manner, the hearer only of God’s Word neglects to put forth any effort in making changes or corrections in his or her character. Although he or she actually does consider the reproof of God’s Word and actually does experience conviction of heart thereby, he or she does not actually do anything about it. He or she beholds the spiritual need for change and correction, but puts forth no obedient effort for change and correction. Rather, having experience the convicting work of God’s Word, he or she goes away without obeying the Biblical requirement for transformation of character. Thus he or she goes away still in disobedience and defilement.
Finally, we find that a hearer only immediately forgets the corruption revealed by the truth of God’s Word. The closing portion of James 1:24 states, “And straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Having departed from the mirror without putting forth any effort for change or correction, this man then completely forgets about the defects that needed to be changed and corrected. In fact, he goes his way, behaving as if there is nothing defective about his face at all. In like manner, the hearer only of God’s Word quickly forgets the correcting and convicting truth of God’s Word. His or her heart is immediately distracted by selfish desires and worldly attractions. Even so, the correcting and convicting truth of God’s Word passes out of the heart and mind as if it had never existed therein. Thus he or she proceeds throughout his or her daily walk as if there is no spiritual defect or defilement in his or her character. Yea, he or she then proceeds as if he or she is perfectly acceptable in the sight of the Lord our God. This is the behavior of the hearer only. In fact, according to the tenses of the verbs in James 1:24, this is the characteristic behavior of the hearer only. So then, we are instructed and admonished, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
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