Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 1)
Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 2)
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 two parts of the message, we considered the first two of these truths – that we must repent and that we must receive. Now in this third and final part of the message, let us consider the third of these truths – that we must respond.
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 1)
Which Is Able to Save Your Souls - James 1:21-22 (Part 2)
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 two parts of the message, we considered the first two of these truths – that we must repent and that we must receive. Now in this third and final part of the message, let us consider the third of these truths – that we must respond.
We must respond to God’s Word in obedience.
Third, for the deliverance and transformation of our souls (of our inner character), we must respond to God’s Word in obedience to follow God’s will. James 1:22 delivers the in-struction, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Having repented of our sinfulness and having received God’s Word with meekness, we must then respond to God’s Word with obedience. We must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” This instruction connects to the previous instruction of verse 21 with the contrasting conjunction “but.” Yet this instruction is not set in direct contrast with the previous instruction of verse 21. Rather, this instruction is set in contrast to the false belief that receiving the Word is an end in itself. Receiving the truth of God’s Word with meekness is of great importance to our Christian walk. Yet receiving the truth of God’s Word is not enough in itself. Rather, receiving the truth of God’s Word leads directly to the responsibility of obedience to the truth of God’s Word. Even so, the contrasting conjunction “but” with which this instruction begins places this instruction in direct contrast and direct opposition to any hearing of the Word that does not result in active doing of the Word.
Indeed, a readiness of mind and an attentiveness of heart to the truth of God’s Word is necessary. Yet the truth of God’s Word has not truly been received with meekness until it is put into practice. The truth and teaching of God’s Holy Word is practical by its very nature. In fact, the Lord our God gave us His Word with the specific intent that we should be corrected by it from our unrighteous conduct and that we should be instructed by it unto righteous conduct. Even so, Deuteronomy 29:29 declares, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Obedience to God’s Word is one of the most foundational responsibilities of our daily Christian walk. It is the great desire of the Lord our God for our lives. Even so, in Deuteronomy 5:29 our Lord proclaimed, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Indeed, active obedience is the whole reason that we are to receive God’s Word, and learn God’s Word, and meditate on God’s Word. Even so, Joshua 1:8 states, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, [Why?] that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Yet the instruction of James 1:22 is not simply that we be doing the Word, but that we be doers of the Word. The focus of the instruction is not simply upon our activity of doing, but is even more upon our character as doers. It is not a focus simply upon what we do, but more upon who we are. It is not a focus simply upon the performance that we are to do, but more upon the person that we are to be. Obedient doing of God’s Word must become a foundational characteristic of our hearts and lives. It must become an integral part of our very character. We must be characterized by obedience. We must be characterized by responding to the truth of God’s Word with obedient doing. Yea, we must continually pursue after being doers of the Word. We must continually and systematically pursue after an obedient character every step of our daily walk. Obedient doing of God’s Word must be our habitual occupation and our primary business in everything that we do, whether it be an activity of religion, an activity of responsibility, an activity of relationship, or an activity of recreation. In everything, we should be known by all as doers of God’s Word. Yea, we should be known as doers always.
On the other hand, we should not be hearers only. Certainly, we should be hearers attentively. Yet we should never be hearers only. We should never allow hearing the Word to become an end in itself. The idea of a “hearer only” is that of an auditor. It is that of an individual who only attends a class to hear the information of the class, but who does not join the class and thus become accountable for the requirements of the class. We are not to be “auditors” of God’s Word. We are not simply to audit the teaching of God’s Word. Rather, we are faithfully to apply the teaching of God’s Word unto our daily lives. We are not simply to expose ourselves unto the teaching of God’s Word in order to fill our minds with Biblical information. Rather, we are to delight ourselves in the teaching of God’s Word in order to transform our character unto righteous living. Indeed, favorable and frequent hearing of God’s Word is of no spiritual value in our lives if it is not followed by fervent and faithful doing of God’s Word. Certainly, we cannot possibly grow forward in our Christian walk without feeding daily upon the truth and teaching of God’s Word. Yet our reception of God’s truth will only be spiritually effective in our hearts and lives as we respond to it with obedience.
In Matthew 7:24-27 our Lord Jesus Christ made this abundantly clear, saying, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” To be a hearer only, and not a doer also, is the way of the spiritual fool. It is the foolishness of building our lives upon sand without spiritual foundation. A strong spiritual foundation does not come from knowing the truth of God’s Word. Rather, a strong spiritual foundation comes from obeying the truth of God’s Word. Thus to be a hearer only, and not a doer also, will bring our lives to spiritual ruin. Indeed, great will be the spiritual fall and failure of our lives.
Even so, those who are hearers only engage in self-deception. They engage in the fallacy of thinking that mental assent and attentiveness to God’s Word is all that is required. They come to a false conclusion by false reasoning. Yea, they lead themselves astray from the path of truth by their own false reasoning. They yield to the temptation of thinking that they have a faithful walk with God simply because they frequently and favorably hear the message of God’s Word. They yield to the temptation of thinking that great knowledge of God’s truth equals a spiritual walk, and they become self-satisfied with their growth in knowledge. Yet although their heads may be filled with an abundance of Biblical information, if they are not actually walking in faithful, fervent obedience, their true relationship with God is far different than they imagine it to be. Hearers only convince themselves that much hearing produces spiritual transformation. Yet much hearing without obedient doing only produces self-delusion. Such individuals deceive themselves into thinking that they have truly received the Word because of their much hearing. Yet they have not truly received God’s Word at all, for they have not allowed it to take deeper root in their hearts so as to govern their character and guide their conduct. Indeed, they may honor the Lord with their mouth; but their heart is far from Him. Yea, they may think that they are under the favor of the Lord because of their much hearing. Yet in truth they are under the chastening of the Lord because they have forsaken obedience.
Our Lord’s favor is not poured out for our frequent hearing, but for our faithful obeying. Even so, in John 14:23-24 our Lord Jesus Christ declared, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my say-ings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” Again in John 15:10 He declared, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” Yet again in John 15:14 He declared, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
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