Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 1)
James 1:21-22 reads, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
In the opening portion of this paragraph (verses 19-20), we receive an exhortation concerning right relations with those around us. As a whole, this exhortation indicates that we should deny the ways of selfishness in the manner that we relate to one another. Yet selfishness is the natural principle of our hearts. Thus in order to deny our selfishness and in order to relate aright toward one another, we must be delivered from the natural characteristic of selfishness in our hearts and from the spiritual corruption that flows out of it. Yea, our soul, our inner man, needs deliverance from its own, naturally selfish and sinful desires.
So then, by what means can we obtain this spiritual deliverance from the natural corruption of selfishness in our hearts? James 1:21 gives the answer, saying, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” The conjunction “wherefore” with which this verse begins connects it directly to the exhortation of verse 19 and the explanation of verse 20. Because self-denial in our relations with others is not natural to our selfish hearts, and because the wrath that naturally flows out of our selfishness does not produce the righteousness of God, we need to be delivered from the selfish corruption of our hearts and to be transformed unto the spiritual character of righteousness. Even so, the closing line of James 1:21 reveals that the Holy Word of God is able to accomplish this deliverance for our souls.
Yet this verse does not specifically refer to God’s Word as the Holy Word of God, but as the engrafted Word of God. In so doing, it indicates that the message of this verse is for those who are already saved eternally through faith in Christ. The Word of God is not engrafted (or, implanted) in the hearts of lost sinners. The Word of God is only engrafted (or, implanted) in the hearts of God’s children. Therefore, the deliverance about which this verse speaks in this context must not be viewed as the salvation of our eternal souls from eternal condemnation to hell. Rather, the deliverance about which this verse speaks in this context must be viewed as the salvation of our inner character from the corruption of selfishness.
Grammatically, James 1:21-22 can be divided into three parts, each providing us with an instruction. First, there is the preparatory instruction to repent of sin – “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.” Then there is the central instruction to receive the Word – “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Finally, there is the extended instruction to respond in obedience – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Thus the path of deliverance from the selfish corruption of our hearts and of transformation unto the spiritual character of righteousness can be summarized with three words of instruction – repent, receive, respond. Central to all of this is our relationship toward God’s Word. We must repent of anything contrary to God’s Word. We must receive the truth and wisdom of God’s Word. We must respond obediently to the instruction of God’s Word. In the first part of the message, we considered the first of these truths – that we must repent. Now in this second part of the message, let us consider the second of these truths – that we must receive.
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 1)
James 1:21-22 reads, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
In the opening portion of this paragraph (verses 19-20), we receive an exhortation concerning right relations with those around us. As a whole, this exhortation indicates that we should deny the ways of selfishness in the manner that we relate to one another. Yet selfishness is the natural principle of our hearts. Thus in order to deny our selfishness and in order to relate aright toward one another, we must be delivered from the natural characteristic of selfishness in our hearts and from the spiritual corruption that flows out of it. Yea, our soul, our inner man, needs deliverance from its own, naturally selfish and sinful desires.
So then, by what means can we obtain this spiritual deliverance from the natural corruption of selfishness in our hearts? James 1:21 gives the answer, saying, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” The conjunction “wherefore” with which this verse begins connects it directly to the exhortation of verse 19 and the explanation of verse 20. Because self-denial in our relations with others is not natural to our selfish hearts, and because the wrath that naturally flows out of our selfishness does not produce the righteousness of God, we need to be delivered from the selfish corruption of our hearts and to be transformed unto the spiritual character of righteousness. Even so, the closing line of James 1:21 reveals that the Holy Word of God is able to accomplish this deliverance for our souls.
Yet this verse does not specifically refer to God’s Word as the Holy Word of God, but as the engrafted Word of God. In so doing, it indicates that the message of this verse is for those who are already saved eternally through faith in Christ. The Word of God is not engrafted (or, implanted) in the hearts of lost sinners. The Word of God is only engrafted (or, implanted) in the hearts of God’s children. Therefore, the deliverance about which this verse speaks in this context must not be viewed as the salvation of our eternal souls from eternal condemnation to hell. Rather, the deliverance about which this verse speaks in this context must be viewed as the salvation of our inner character from the corruption of selfishness.
Grammatically, James 1:21-22 can be divided into three parts, each providing us with an instruction. First, there is the preparatory instruction to repent of sin – “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.” Then there is the central instruction to receive the Word – “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Finally, there is the extended instruction to respond in obedience – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Thus the path of deliverance from the selfish corruption of our hearts and of transformation unto the spiritual character of righteousness can be summarized with three words of instruction – repent, receive, respond. Central to all of this is our relationship toward God’s Word. We must repent of anything contrary to God’s Word. We must receive the truth and wisdom of God’s Word. We must respond obediently to the instruction of God’s Word. In the first part of the message, we considered the first of these truths – that we must repent. Now in this second part of the message, let us consider the second of these truths – that we must receive.
We must receive God’s Word with meekness.
Second, for the deliverance and transformation of our souls (of our inner character), we must receive God’s Word with meekness to learn God’s ways. The closing portion of James 1:21 delivers the instruction, “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Having repented of our sinfulness, we must receive God’s truth. Having put off the filthiness and naughtiness of our selfishness, we must then be renewed in the spirit of our mind through the transforming power of God’s Word (Ephesians 4:22-23). Indeed, it is the truth of God’s Holy Word that is able to deliver our souls (our inner character) from the sinful corruption of our selfish flesh; and it is the truth of God’s Holy Word that is able to convert our souls (our inner character) unto the pure righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).
Therefore, we are commanded to receive God’s Word of truth. If the truth of God’s Word is to be effective in delivering our character from sinful corruption and in transforming our character unto Christ’s righteousness, it must be received. We must not be dull of hearing and hard of heart against God’s Word. Rather, we must incline our ears unto the wisdom of God’s Word and apply our hearts to the understanding of God’s will (Proverbs 2:2). We must not stop our ears against God’s Word and turn our hearts away from God’s Word. Rather, we must open our ears toward God’s Word and focus our hearts upon God’s Word. We must not refuse to receive the commands and corrections of God’s Holy Word. Rather, we must be ready to receive the commands and corrections of God’s Holy Word. We must not resist the truth of God’s Word. Rather, we must receive the truth of God’s Word. Yea, we must receive the truth of God’s Word with a spirit of meekness, not with hardness of heart, but with humility of heart, not with stubbornness of heart, but with submission of heart.
Those who will not hear and receive the truth of God’s Word are described by our Lord as a rebellious people. In Isaiah 30:9 our Lord declared concerning His people Israel, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD.” Even so, such a rebellious refusal to hear and receive the truth of God’s Word will kindle a great wrath from the Lord our God against us. In Zechariah 7:11-13 our Lord declared concerning His rebellious people, “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts.” Indeed, just as our Lord’s wrath was kindled against them, even so it will be kindled against us when we refuse to hear and receive the truth of His Holy Word.
On the other hand, Psalm 25:9 proclaims, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” So then, what does it mean to receive the Word with a heart of meekness? It means that we must deny our own self-will and must desire our Lord’s true Word. It means that we do not argue against the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction of God’s Word, but that we humbly accept the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction of God’s Word. It means that we do not despise the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction of God’s Word, but that we desire and even delight in the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction of God’s Word. It means that we do not twist the teaching of God’s Word to conform unto our thinking, but that we be teachable in relation to God’s Word that it may transform our thinking.
To receive God’s Word with meekness means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with an absolute conviction of its divine origin, “as it is in truth, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with unwavering belief in its absolute truth (Psalm 19:9; 119:128). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a ready mind to learn its wisdom (Acts 17:11; Proverbs 2:1-4). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a daily diligence to study its teaching (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a hungry desire to grow spiritually thereby (1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 119:131). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a loving delight to mediate therein continually (Psalm 1:2; 119:47-48). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a yielded response to its piercing correction (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:10). It means that we receive the truth of God’s Word with a humble submission to its divine authority, observing “to do according to all that is written therein” (Joshua 1:8).
Now, James 1:21 indicates specifically that the content which we are to “receive with meekness” is “the engrafted word.” Certainly, this “engrafted word” is a reference to the Holy Word of God. Yet with this reference to God’s Word as “the engrafted word,” we are brought to an illustration of spiritual truth. When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, God the Holy Spirit regenerated our spirit and came to indwell us permanently. At that moment of regeneration and indwelling, God the Holy Spirit engrafted (or, implanted) the seed of God’s Word into our hearts. Yea, at the moment that we received the gospel of Christ through faith, the seed of God’s Word spiritually germinated in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and began to take root therein. At that moment the Lord our God, through His Holy Spirit, put His Word in our inner man and wrote His Word in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). Thus the living seed of God’s Word is already implanted in the hearts of us who are God’s children. Yea, it is already implanted in our hearts as a vital element of our new spiritual life in Christ.
Yet we are instructed to “receive with meekness” that which is already implanted. Why is it necessary for us to receive that which we already have? It is necessary to continue receiving “the engrafted word” in order that it may continually take deeper root within our hearts as the governing principle of our hearts and lives. Having received the gospel truth through faith, we are not done with the truth of God’s Word. Rather, we have just begun with the truth of God’s Word. The seed of God’s Word has now become a principle of correction, instruction, and direction in our hearts for our lives. Thus we must yield ourselves more and more to be governed, guided, and guarded thereby. Yea, we must yield ourselves more and more to be transformed in character thereby. We must allow the truth of God’s Word to become more and more rooted as the governing principle of our hearts so that we might bring forth the fruit of righteousness in our lives.
We must not neglect the truth of God’s Word, hardening our heart as stone against it and allowing it only to take shallow root in our hearts, so that we spiritually wither in time of tribulation and testing (Luke 8:6, 13). We must not be distracted from the truth of God’s Word, refusing to separate ourselves from that which it reproves and allowing it to be choked out by the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life,” so that we spiritually bring forth no fruit unto maturity (Luke 8:7, 14). Rather, we must purposefully open our hearts toward the truth of God’s Word, maintaining “an honest and good heart” of humble submission toward it and allowing it to develop and direct our character, so that we bring forth much spiritual fruit unto righteousness for our Lord’s glory (Luke 8:8, 15). We must welcome the transforming work of God’s Word in our hearts, receiving it with meekness.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, James, Spiritual Growth, Biblical Humility,Receiving Correction, Word of God
Please share this post with others: