LESSON #3

What To Do With Your Bible

James 1:17-27

 James starts off his epistle by speaking of the believer and his battles - with trials from God and with temptations from Satan. Chapter 1 continues by speaking of the believer and his Bible. There are several topics in the passage: hearing, speaking, getting angry, obeying, visiting, clean living. But there is a theme which runs through the whole passage. That theme is the believer's relationship to the word of God. The text refers to God's word in verses 18, 21, 22, 23, 25. There are various titles used to refer to scripture - "the word" (vss. 22-23); "the word of truth" (v. 18); "the engrafted word" (v. 18); "the perfect law of liberty" (v. 25). Please notice three things which every believer is instructed to do with God's word.

Receive The Word, 1:17-21.

"receive with meekness the engrafted word"

Every good thing which we receive comes from an unchangeable God (v. 17). God is not responsible for the temptations which we face (v. 13), but He is the one to thank for every blessing in life. One of the greatest gifts which God has given to us is His word. In these verses, we are instructed to receive that gift into our lives.

Why should we receive the word? First, because God's word is involved in our salvation. Verse 21 says that the engrafted word "is able to save (our) soul." Verse 18 indicates that we are "begotten" (born) "with the word of truth." Peter says that we are "born again ... by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever" (I Peter 1:21). Just as it takes two parents to have a physical birth, it requires two parents to produce a spiritual birth. We are "born of the Spirit" (John 3:6) and "born of the word" (I Peter 1:21). The word of God and the Spirit of God come together in the heart of a human and the result is a new birth. God's word is an essential part of salvation. "Faith cometh by hearing ... the word of God" (Romans 10:17). This phrase "receive(d) the word" is used numerous times in the Bible and is synonymous with being saved, see Acts 2:41; 8:14; 11:1; 17:11; I Thess. 1:6; 2:13. Further, we should receive God's word because it is involved in our protection. God's word helps to protect us from sin, see Psalm 119:11.

How should we receive the word? By being "swift to hear" (v.19), see also Ecclesiastes 5:1. Be quick (ready) to listen. Also by being "slow to speak", see also Proverbs 10:19; 17:27a,28; Ecclesiastes 5:2. We receive the word by being "slow to wrath" (v.19-20), see also Proverbs 16:32; 19:19. Furthermore, James tells us that we receive God's word by preparing our heart, v. 21. The word "engrafted" means "implanted." Thus, God's word is compared to seed, see also Matthew 13:3ff. The soil of your heart must be prepared for the seed of God's word. Therefore, we must "lay apart" (get rid of) "all filthiness" (moral filth) and "superfluity of naughtiness" (abundance of wickedness) to receive the engrafted word. Finally, receiving God's word requires "meekness", that is a humble heart.

Obey The Word, 1:22-25.

"Be ye doers of the word"

Some hear the word but will not heed the word. They learn the word, but will never live the word. They may mark their Bible, but their Bible never marks them. They read it, respect it, even reverence it but they do no obey it! James warns us against this. He tells us that there is a real deceptiveness in hearing without doing. We think we're O.K. just by going to church and listening to a sermon. But really we are deceiving ourselves. We must put the word to action in our own lives. God has always called us to obedience. There is a long list of references, see Mt. 7:21; John 13:17; John 14:21,23,24; Rev. 22:14; Eccles. 12:9; Luke 8:21. James is a great illustrator. This book is filled with illustrations. James illustrates this point of obedience in verses 23-25. He compares God's word to a mirror ("a glass"). In those days, people didn't have the kind of mirrors that we have today. They used a polished piece of brass. James says that a hearer only is like a person who glances for a moment into the glass and then immediately forgets what he saw. The doer of the word looks intently into the mirror and does not forget. He sees what he needs to do and does it! God's word is a mirror that enables us to see ourselves. But it is not enough just to see our need, we must do something about it!

Live The Word, 1:26-27.

"pure religion"

This is one of the few places in the Bible where "religion" is spoken of. Verse 26 speaks of counterfeit (vain) religion; verse 27 of real (pure/ undefiled) religion. True religion is not just seen in the sanctuary; it is lived on the street! Real religion is living God's word, fleshing out Christianity in our daily lives, see Matthew 5:16; II Cor. 3:2. James points out three ways in which our religion is lived. First, in our speech, v. 26. He who does not bridle his tongue has a counterfeit religion. James will have a lot more to say on this subject in chapter 3. Further, the purity of our religion is seen in our service, v. 27a. We should go to see people and care for those in need while they are afflicted. Finally, pure religion is seen in our separation, v. 27b. We must keep ourselves "unspotted by the world." The world of which James speaks is the system of life apart from God and under the control of Satan. The Bible gives many commandments for Christians to avoid worldliness, see Romans 12:2; I John 2:15-17.

God's word is very important part of the life of a believer.