TEXT: James 1:21-27

SUBJECT: Exposition of James #3: Receive the Word

In vv.13-20, James urges us to quit blaming God for our sins. He is not responsible for them because--negatively--He is not sinful, and therefore, cannot cause or contribute to our sins; and--positively--He is good, and therefore, does us nothing but good. Of the many good things He does for us, one stands out: He provides spiritual life through His Word.

In vv.21ff., James picks up on the theme and applies it with his customary force. If spiritual life comes through the Word--he argues--it behooves us to take the Word seriously.

We take the Word seriously when we prepare ourselves for it, v.21a: "Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness..." The Word is no less holy than God Himself; it cannot tolerate sin. Therefore, as long as sin is clutched, the Word remains ineffective. There is a man in the Bible who was interested in the Word and deeply impressed by it. But it did him no good. It failed, however, not because it was poorly presented or wrongly understood, but because the man would not "lay aside all filthiness of the flesh". The man's name is Felix; his story is told in Acts 24:25-26:

The Word shook Felix, but did not save him. Because he loved money more than God, the life-giving Word could only bring death. When the Word is approached proudly, without a willingness to follow, it can do us no good. People who "Hold down the truth because of unrighteousness" can expect nothing from it but "the wrath of God". We must approach the Word humbly--ready to be disciplined by it.

Coming to the Word, therefore, demands preparation. It should be preceded by self-examination, confession of known sins, and a readiness to have other sins and errors exposed and corrected. Psalm 139:23-24 provides a good formula:

"Search me, O God,

and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting".

We prepare for other things: Students study for tests, athletes get "psyched up" for games--dare we come unready for "the one thing needful"?

Don't get me wrong: Preparing for the Word is not the five minutes spent in "quiet time" before church, family devotions, and so on. It is the whole of your life. Lashing out at your children on Thursday night affects your hearing of the sermon on Sunday morning. We prepare ourselves for the Word, therefore, by devoting ourselves more fully to Christ.

We take the Word seriously when we welcome it into our lives, v.21b: "Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls". The word, "receive" is too tame; it means "to welcome with open arms". James assumes the Word has already been "implanted" in our hearts; now we must show hospitality to the Word; make it feel at home. How do we do that? We pay attention to the Word; we enjoy its company; we urge it to stay longer; we expel the company it doesn't like; we act in a way the Word finds attractive.

There is a good deal of superstition Orthodox Judaism. But one thing about it--its affection for the Word. If a boy drops his Torah, for example, he picks it up and kisses it. If a desk or table is piled up with books, no volume is ever placed on top of the Torah. On one of their festivals, the Sacred Scrolls are brought out and danced with! Much of this is purely traditional, of course, but we could learn from it. What kind of welcome do we give the Word?

The reason we're to so welcome it, is because it "is able to save [our] souls". The Word is no burglar who will leave your home with more than he came with! No, the Word is the Bearer of Gifts. We ought to welcome the Word into our hearts, therefore, not as a stranger or salesman, but as our dearest and most generous Friend.

Are we "receiving the Word"? We ought to. "Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in [us]".

We take the Word seriously when we obey it, v.22: "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves". It is very tempting to be satisfied with a mere hearing of the Word (or its reading). Some add meditation, discussion, or preaching. But one can do all of these things, and be no better for it. The Word is sanctifying in its effect only insofar as it is obeyed! We must beware of the comforting effect of Scripture when left undone. Ezekiel was a true, colorful, and popular preacher. No one opposed him; no one persecuted him; no one tried to silence him. They flocked to him. But note carefully how they received his Word.

They were "hearers of the Word"--attentive and appreciative hearers--but nothing more. They never became "doers". Consequently, James tells us, they were only "deceiving [themselves]". The Word lulled them to sleep. Has it done the same to us? I pray not!

An illustration follows, vv.23-25: "For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does".

The "hearer of the Word" is like the man who doesn't look at himself too closely in the mirror. Therefore, he comes to church with his hair standing up, his shirttail out, his tie crooked, and so on. If he spent a little more time in front of the mirror, he would look much better.

The "doer of the Word" is like the man who stares into the mirror till everything is just right.

The "mirror" is the Word. Those who glance at it once in a while, are spiritually unkempt. Those who peer into it for hours on end are spiritually impeccable. You soul's appearance depends largely on how often and carefully you check it in the mirror of Scripture.

In summary: We take the Word seriously when we prepare ourselves for it, when we eagerly welcome it into our lives, and when he regularly check ourselves against it.

James has made his point. But, as usual, he won't let us go without a searching application. He tests our obedience. We are truly receiving and obeying the Word if--and only if--we pass three tests, vv.26-27:

Firstly, there is the "tongue test": "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is in useless".

A bridle prevents a horse from "doing its own thing" and makes it obey his rider. A bridled tongue, therefore, is kept from certain kinds of speech: corrupt, abusive, deceitful, and gossipy, for instance. It is also directed to certain kinds: wholesome, edifying, true, thankful, and God-praising speech. Paul provides a good summary in Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers".

If we're to pass the "tongue test", we had better do three things: Watch what we say; watch what we think; and earnestly pray: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips".

Secondly, there is the "compassion test". "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble". Caring for physical needs is not the Gospel. It is, however, a powerful witness to the Gospel. In a world seething with hatred, the early believers stood out for their brotherly love. This was never limited to meeting each other's spiritual needs; physical needs were included, as I John 3:16-18 makes clear:

Our Lord assumed we would "have the poor with [us] always" and that we would have--and take--the opportunity to "do them good". We must feel for each other; and more--help each other. If we don't, we flunk the test of compassion, and have no reason to believe our religion is real.

Thirdly, there is the "separation test": "To keep oneself unspotted from the world". By "the world", James means "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life". Adultery and covetousness, drunkenness and pride, blasphemy and gossip are lumped together. We must avoid them like leprosy; if we are infected, we must seek their cure by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ".

Living in the leper colony of this world, it is not easy to remain "unspotted". James never says it is; he says it is necessary, however, if we're to become "doers of the Word".

"The implanted Word is able to save our souls". Therefore, let us humble ourselves before it; let us receive it with all joy, and let us put it into practice!

Let's do so, not as a way of earning the favor of God, but as a token of our appreciation for what He has done for us in Jesus Christ. Surely the God who sacrificed His Son for sinners is worthy of our love and obedience. Let's give them to God, in His way, by "Receiving His Word".