WEBVTT 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:03.439 Well, good morning. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:08.160 Turn with me, if you will, to James chapter 1. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:13.439 And this morning we will be looking at verses 19 through 27. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:20.320 That is James chapter 1, verses 19 through 27. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:31.039 Today we finally arrive to the main theme of James, a living and an active faith. 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:44.719 From verse 19 forward, the author's primary focus from this point on is a living faith, which is most explicitly later seen in chapter 2. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:49.920 So leading up to this point, James has talked about a tested faith. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:52.560 We saw that in verses 1 through 12. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:01:07.359 He talked about the nature of our temptations, and he talked about the goodness of God, which is all very relevant to the Jewish believers that he was writing to because they were enduring persecution. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:19.519 But from this point forward, all the way to the end of his letter, we see a huge emphasis on ethical instruction, faith-filled action in good works. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.480 And because of this, James often gets a bad rap. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:36.560 In fact, some theologians even accuse James of being a good works rather than grace epistle that ignores the grace of God through Christ. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:45.120 So many people read this letter and they look at it and they say there's just not a whole lot of doctrine here about the grace of God. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:53.760 Just a bunch of exhortations on good works and how we need to pick ourselves up by our own spiritual bootstraps. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:58.400 But that really is a bum rap for many reasons. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:04.079 First of all, nowhere in the letter of James is legalism taught. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:11.360 James teaches the same commands and doctrines that Jesus did and that Paul did. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:20.240 And the only reason that James places an emphasis on good works is due to his audience and his context. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.960 Take, for example, the Apostle Paul. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.719 So his ministry was primarily to Gentiles. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:35.280 And the Gentiles were constantly being told that they needed to earn their salvation by keeping the law. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:46.560 And so Paul's emphasis, when we read his letters throughout his epistles, was saying to them, you are justified by faith, not by works. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:03:01.520 Now, James, on the other hand, he's writing to Jewish Christians who foolishly thought that since the law was obsolete and since you are saved by grace alone, you don't have to do anything. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.719 Just sit back and enjoy the ride. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.840 God has saved you, so eat, drink, be merry. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.520 Obedience is optional. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.319 And so what we see is these two extremes. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:18.319 On one hand, we have a workspace faith, and on the other hand, we have a dead faith. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:24.639 And so these two things have historically haunted the church. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:29.759 And these two great deceptions have caused many people to go astray. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:32.800 And neither of these views are the gospel. 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:38.400 Some people say that the gospel is a healthy balance between the two. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:46.159 You got legalism over here, you got license over here, and the gospel's kind of a healthy balance between the two. 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:50.080 It is not a balance between two heresies. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.840 The gospel of Jesus Christ is in its own unique category. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:12.319 The gospel is salvation in the person and in the work of Jesus Christ that is received by grace through faith alone, that then produces transformation, fruit, and good works. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:24.240 And that is exactly what James is after in his letter: the production, the results, the evidence or the fruit of salvation in Christ. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:31.759 So he wants these Christians to live out and enjoy and experience the Christ life. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.560 He wants them and us to make their election and their calling sure. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:43.519 He's combating Christian laziness and promoting good works, not so that they can earn God's approval. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:57.519 They already have God's approval in Christ, but that they might live out their faith and be alive in Him, serving God more fully and experiencing the resurrected life that they've been given. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:03.839 So what James is after, or what I should say, what God is after, is a living faith. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:09.279 Not a dead faith, not a works-based faith, but a living faith. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:13.439 Not a faith that just says the right things, but does the right things. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:20.560 Not just a faith that can explain sound doctrine, but a lifestyle that reflects sound doctrine. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:29.600 Not a faith that just knows information about Jesus, but truly experiences him and strives to be like him. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:34.800 So where does James begin according to to live out a living faith? 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.199 He starts with the word of God. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:47.360 A living faith begins with receiving and then doing and then experiencing the blessing, the blessings of the living word of God. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:49.360 Let's start at verse 19. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.439 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:06:00.240 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.879 For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:18.399 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word which is able to save your souls. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:26.079 So the main imperative here in these verses that I just read is receive the implanted word. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.720 That is the first step towards a living faith. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.560 This is where it all starts. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:38.480 There's no point in going any further if we are not receiving God's word. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:48.240 And if you want to come to the Christian faith, or if you're already a Christian and you want to grow in your faith, this is the starting point. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.399 Receive God's word. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:55.360 So the Bible is God's self-revelation to humanity. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.279 This is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:15.199 So His story, His plan of redemption, His Son Jesus Christ, everything we need to know concerning our sin and God's salvation and how we are to relate to God is sufficiently supplied to us in His Word. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:22.720 And so this is why we need to have a regular spiritual diet on God's Word. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:29.040 So there are two things we need to do first if we are going to truly receive God's word. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:34.639 Positively, we must posture ourselves so that we're ready to receive it. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:36.399 We are quick to listen. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:38.000 We are slow to speak. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:39.759 We are slow to anger. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:45.279 And then negatively, we must rid ourselves of any hindering sins. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:52.879 And only then will we be able to receive God's word, the word that is able to save our souls. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:56.399 So think of the parable of the sower. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:08:00.879 You got God's word, it's often referred to as a seed. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:04.560 Here, James refers to it as the implanted word. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:18.720 So if the seed of God's word is going to be planted and make root and grow, then the soil of our heart needs to be healthy and free from any deadly weeds. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:23.199 So, positively speaking, we need to be ready to receive God's word. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:29.199 We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:37.519 And by the way, this verse isn't just some random proverb or a fortune cookie saying that James just kind of fits in this passage. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:43.279 This verse right here is directly related to verse 21, receiving God's word. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:51.840 And so James is showing us the appropriate posture needed to effectively receive God's word in our lives. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:56.960 And so obviously, this is a good principle we should follow in life in general. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:02.720 This should be our posture towards our spouse, our coworkers, our strangers. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:11.759 But in context, James is saying this is the attitude that you should have when you're approaching God's word, so that you may receive it. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:15.120 So being quick to listen, what does that mean? 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:18.480 This simply means active listening. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.679 We are listening to understand. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:28.320 It is the art of closing your mouth and opening your ears and your heart. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:36.080 Now everyone can hear their grandma saying, Jimmy, God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:40.799 Being slow to speak simply means careful response. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:44.799 We hear God's word and we consider it prudently. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:49.360 We don't speak or react off fleshly impulses. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:52.080 We filter our response through the Holy Spirit. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:10:01.759 We hear truth and we we meditate, we slow roast and we say, Jesus, in light of what I'm hearing, what should my response be? 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:03.440 What am I to do? 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:07.440 What am I to say in light of what I'm hearing? 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:12.960 And being slow to anger simply means that we're not easily offended. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:17.279 And if we have feelings of offense, we don't entertain that. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:21.440 We don't allow it to make root and run its destructive course. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:25.120 So if God convicts us, we don't get angry about it. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:31.200 So think about just how hard it is when you're mad at someone to receive advice from them. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:33.200 It's extremely difficult. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:38.399 And James gives us a good reason why we shouldn't hold on to anger. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:44.399 He says, because it does not produce the righteousness that God requires. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:49.039 Wrath is not a proper tool to further righteousness. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:54.879 It does not advance the kingdom of God, and it certainly doesn't promote Christ in his gospel. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:11:01.279 So just for an example, yelling at your kids in wrath will not make them more Christ-like. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:08.960 Being passive-aggressive with your spouse, it will not produce righteousness in you or in them. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.440 Flipping someone off in road rage does not advance the gospel. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:19.120 And so in the history of Christianity has many examples of this fact. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:23.120 And a lot of the times we dress it up in religious garb, right? 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:33.279 And in the same way, if we're getting mad at God's word, if we're holding on to that emotion, it never practices things that God can approve. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:39.279 So this church should be our attitude towards receiving God's word. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:48.720 As we open our Bibles in the morning, as we read it during the day, as it goes forth on Sunday, we are eagerly listening to understand. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:57.919 We are slowly processing a response, and we're simmering any tempers that God's word might provoke in us. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:24.879 And if this is not our attitude, if you are not slow in listening, or if you're slow in listening, you're distracted by other seemingly important things, and if you're quick in responding, heckling in your mind, or constantly objecting or explaining away interpretations, and if you're easily offended, you're mad at God's conviction, and you're unwilling to accept God's truth, forget about doing the word. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:27.279 You won't even receive it. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:36.639 And so if this needs to be our attitude towards God's word, is this your attitude towards others? 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:40.480 As I'm preaching this morning, are you thinking about dinner plans? 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:44.799 Or are you leaning in with open ears to hear God's word? 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:51.200 As I stand up here and read scripture, are you carefully considering your response? 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.200 Or are you just explaining away everything that I'm saying? 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:00.799 As I read God's word, does it stir up in you anger, conviction? 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.279 And are you dealing with that? 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:05.440 Are you slow in your anger? 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.679 Are you becoming bitter? 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:12.480 This is step one in humbly accepting the word of God. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:18.559 A quickness in listening, a slowness in responding, and a slowness in temper. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:27.039 Now the second thing we must do is rid ourselves of all of the moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:34.000 So we must strip away all of the sins that might hinder us from receiving God's word. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.720 Sin has a way of hardening our hearts to God's word. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.159 It has a way of choking out God's word. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:48.399 So sin is the great hindrance when it comes to humbly receiving the word of God. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:53.919 I think of Zechariah 7, 12 speaking about Israel. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:14:06.559 It says, they made their hearts like flint, so that they could not hear the law in the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:12.720 So the phrase stripping away, it's this idea of uprooting or riddance. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:17.519 And so some translations say riddance or stripping away. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:22.720 So this reminds me of uh Molly and I's first garden when we first got married. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.639 It was a disaster. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:34.480 Um I tilled the garden and I left all kinds of weeds up, and I put in a lot of effort, I felt like. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:37.360 And so I said, ah, the seeds will still grow. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:37.919 Right? 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:52.720 And so when we planted the seeds that year, uh nothing grew, and weeds prevented the seeds from growing, and the seeds that did sprout and did grow uh produced very little because they got choked out by the weeds. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:58.799 And so I like this imagery because it communicates an important spiritual truth. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:07.039 Just like weeds in a garden, sin is constantly sprouting up in our lives. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:12.559 Sin is so prevalent, says James, even for Christians. 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:16.879 So repentance is not a one-time ordeal. 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:26.480 And if we do not weed out sprouting sins and we allow them to grow, it will affect our relationship with God's word. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:30.799 It will affect our reception of God's truth. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:39.600 So that is why James says, rid yourselves of all the moral filth, so that you can receive God's word. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:47.519 And so repentance is necessary for obtaining and receiving God's word and in our spiritual growth. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:53.600 There is no humble receiving if there is unrepentant and unconfessed sin. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:16:00.720 And so that is the reason why Jesus in the first words of his public ministry was repent. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.559 Why would he say that? 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:07.200 Because his good news would have bounced off sin-hardened hearts. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:11.279 John the Baptist, he came and preached repentance. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.159 Why? 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:19.759 To prepare the soil of the people's hearts so that their hearts would be ready to hear the Messiah's message. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:30.559 That's why when we come to church, we should ask ourselves and examine ourselves, Lord, is there any sin in my life that might hinder me from hearing your word today? 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:34.799 That's why we pray a prayer of confession every Sunday, each week. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:41.759 It's not because we're martyrs, these miserable martyrs, no, we do it to self-examinate. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:46.080 That's why we promote self-examination before communion. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:52.559 That's why we're not afraid to preach repentance because sin is so blinding. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:57.440 It's so deceptive, and it hardens our hearts to God's word. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:06.799 So if you have any chance of receiving God's word even this morning, you must get rid of any hindering sin. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:10.319 Renounce any sinful addictions. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:22.400 Clean the home of your heart, then go before our gracious God, and he is gracious, and ask him to cleanse you and prepare you for his word. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:27.440 Now, this is important, says James, because look at verse 21. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:33.039 This is the word which can save our souls. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:36.400 This is the living word of God that saves. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:44.400 We're not just receiving uh instructions or positive vibes or a roadmap to life, as some people would call it. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:58.640 This is the word of God that contains God-inspired revelation, it contains Christ's glorious salvation, and it has on every page life-changing power. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:03.599 So this is available to you, even in this moment. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.759 God's word which saves you can receive it. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.759 But you must listen. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:27.279 You must be careful in your response, you must be slow in your anger, and you must cast away hindering sins, and you must bow low in humility and receive God's living word, the word that can save our souls. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.319 But James doesn't stop there. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:36.160 We don't just listen and then receive and then move on with life, not at all. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.480 Look at verses 22 through 25. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:45.279 He says, But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:52.720 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his face in a mirror. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:59.519 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:13.279 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer who works, this person will be blessed in what he does. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:18.799 And so listening to God's word is not enough. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:25.839 James is not trying to undermine the importance of hearing God's word. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:28.799 How can you do the word if you don't hear it first? 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:46.160 But if that's all you're doing, you're just listening to God's word, you're listening to sermons, you're listening to good Bible teachers, but there is no transformation, no fruit or application of it in your life, that's deception. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:49.119 James says, you are deceived. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.759 Now, why is that deception? 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:56.799 One, because listening is not the end goal of God's word. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:05.759 God did not give us his living and active word so that we could hear it, sit back passively and say, Amen. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:25.200 God did not give us the account of his story, the account of Israel, the account of Jesus Christ, and the account of his glorious redemption and his amazing love and his glorious grace, for us to read that and be left unaffected and unchanged. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:36.880 He did all this so that we would not only know him and experience him, but to live for him, obeying his commands and walking in his will. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:44.160 And it's deception too because this listening without doing, it promotes false assurance. 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:55.440 There are many people out there today who call themselves Christian simply because they listen to or read the Bible. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:02.880 But just because you hear it or even study it does not mean that you are saved. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:23.680 So if your Christian faith is solely intellectual, meaning you have adopted the right beliefs, or if it is merely confessional, meaning you say the right things about God and theology, and yet it is not transformational and practical, it's not a living faith. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.680 It's a false faith. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:29.519 And you're standing in the same delusion as Judas. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:38.640 If you are not practicing the word of God, but just sitting around listening to it, and that is your habit, that's a scary, scary place to be. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:46.640 Because if that becomes your lifelong habit, it might just be evidence that you are not saved. 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:51.519 And I say that lovingly, for all of our best interests in mind. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:59.759 As Mark Devers says, if you know all about good theology, but it doesn't affect the way you act, you're not saved. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.640 Saved. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.359 In 1 John 2, do what he commands. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:17.599 1 John 2, 4 says, Whoever says, I know Jesus, but does not do what if we are not doing the word, it could be evidence that we never genuinely received it to begin with. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:22.559 The apostle Paul was worried about this when he wrote to the Galatians. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:27.440 He says, I'm afraid that I might have labored in vain. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.359 Were you actually saved when I preached Christ? 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:38.240 Because your actions are not lining up to the life and the salvation that Jesus offers. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:44.559 Now someone might raise their hand now a lot and say, Are you saying, Jimmy, that we're saved by works? 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:51.359 Because it sounds a whole lot like you're saying that we're saved by our obedience to God's word. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.000 And I would say, not at all. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:58.480 You are saved by Jesus Christ and Him alone. 00:22:58.640 --> 00:23:02.000 You're not saved by your works or your obedience. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:06.880 And you do not keep your salvation by your works or by your obedience. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:26.960 But the evidence that you have been saved by Jesus Christ is that you have a new life, a life that desires the things of God, that delights in hearing the word and strives to live out the word, not perfectly, but progressively and incrementally. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:31.839 Behold, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:35.200 Doing the word is not the means of salvation. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.000 It is the result of salvation. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:46.000 It is the fruit of being supernaturally saved by God and radically cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:48.400 And yes, we still fall. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:51.759 Yes, we still sin, even grossly at times. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.920 And we don't live there, though. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:57.119 We can't live there because God lives in us. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:05.039 We serve Christ and we stumble forward, slowly growing in our obedience to God's word. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:10.160 So, church, make your election and your calling sure this morning. 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:13.599 Don't be a phony, don't be a faker. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.640 Do the word. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:21.440 Don't just come up to me and say, great sermon, Jimmy. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.920 Go home, love your spouse. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:26.480 Go home, put it into practice. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:36.319 Love your family, make disciples, meet the need of the church, evangelize the lost, enjoy life more fully with Christ. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:47.599 As much as the Spirit dwells in you, read God's word and allow it to move from your mind and work in your heart until it works in your physical bodily members. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.279 Do the word. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:55.039 Don't just be a talker or a theological philosopher. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:00.000 We can sit around a table all day and talk about scripture, and that's important. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.119 That's good. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:12.319 We need to discuss theology, but if if we're leaving that theological discussion unchanged and unaffected, there's a serious, serious problem. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:18.079 So James even gives us a comical analogy to make his point. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:25.279 He says, forgetting to do God's word is as absurd as forgetting what we look not enough. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.359 We walk away from a mirror. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:31.039 In other words, merely looking is not enough. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.519 We must retain what we see. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.000 We must act on what we see. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:42.319 And when we do that, says James, you will be blessed in all you do. 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:44.720 And friends, that's a promise. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:55.599 If you are listening to God's word and you're cherishing it and you're doing your best to apply it, you will be spiritually well and satisfied. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:01.200 The Word of God is living and active according to Hebrews 4. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:05.039 It's not just a book from the library, it's not just a book of magic. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:08.720 It's reality, it's truth, and it's alive. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:16.480 And when you do what it says by God's grace, you experience the greatest spiritual blessings. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:20.720 And much of our misery is simply because we are not doing that. 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:25.839 We're not feeding on it, we're not digesting it and we're not putting it into action. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:31.440 But you are most blessed when you are walking with God according to his word. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:41.599 When you hear love your neighbor and you do that, you experience some of the coolest things in life. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:50.400 When you hear praise and felt proud, do that, you put that into practice, you experience some of the greatest peace and felt presence of God. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:58.559 When you hear make disciples, you do that, you experience some of the coolest, most amazing providences of God. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:10.000 When you read resist temptation, and you actually would have from the sin you were tempted, it's far greater pleasure and blessing than you would have from the sin you were tempted. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:13.359 So God's word, it works. 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:19.279 Therefore, receive it, do it, and experience the blessings that are involved. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:34.400 And in case you need an example of what it looks like to not do the word, and an example of what it looks like to do the word, James gives us two tangible real life examples in verses 26 through 27. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:45.279 He says, If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless, and he deceives himself. 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:58.160 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:01.920 So the first example is what a dead faith looks like. 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.119 They say, I love Jesus. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:07.279 Claims to be religious, but they can't control their tongue. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:22.640 They say, I love Jesus, I'm super spiritual, but yet they gossip, they cut down other people, their mouth is like venom, they speak every carnal impulse, and their tongue dominates them. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:26.559 This person, says James, is deceived. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:32.400 And whatever they might think they have, it's useless. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.680 Wow. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:38.079 Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 12. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:41.680 He says, out of the heart, the mouth speaks. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:51.119 And so if you say, My heart is for God, but your mouth speaks evil and it controls you, that's a contradiction. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:54.079 Or as James says, that's a deception. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:59.519 So then we're shown what doing the word looks like, or true religion. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:02.880 And by the way, the word religion here just means devotion to God. 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:10.400 It's caring for orphans and looking after widows in their distress and walking in holiness. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:25.440 Now, this is a strong example because culturally, during this time, orphans and widows were probably the most undermined, unappreciated, and neglected group of people during this time, especially by religious folks. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:34.640 And so the so-called religious people, the the ones who, you know, the ones who can't control their tongues, they considered such people a nuisance. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:44.720 We see that with the Pharisees, the way they oppressed those who were sick or with leprosy or some sort of a disease or unfortunate life circumstance. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:56.799 But according to James, caring for such people, the needy and the broken, orphans and widows, that is pure and undefiled devotion. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:04.880 And so now James is not telling us that we all need to go out and start a widow ministry or plant an orphanage in Africa. 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:07.200 Maybe he would cause us to do that. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:11.680 And we should certainly help widows, and we should definitely help orphans. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:21.119 But the point that James is trying to make here is this true religion expresses itself in helping those in need. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.799 That's true religion. 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:26.319 Pure religion sees a need and meets that need. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:40.400 Pure religion sees someone in a slimy pit and says, I don't care what social class you're from, I don't care what your background is, I don't care what you've been through, I want to help you because I see a need. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.960 And that's agape love. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:53.119 In the same way that God reached us and helped us in our time of distress, we can't help but to do the same. 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:55.839 And this is what it looks like to do the word. 00:30:56.079 --> 00:31:00.559 This is what pure and undefiled religion looks like. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:08.559 And true religion is always rooted in holiness, keeping ourselves unstained from the world. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:11.759 This is another example of doing the word. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:20.400 We keep ourselves clothed in Christ, not allowing the world to stain our garments. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:26.240 We keep ourselves from being influenced by this world's evil system. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:31.039 And so this is the difference between false and true religion. 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:34.559 False religion, it just talks the talk. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:42.640 It just chatters all day about religious stuff, even Jesus, but it denies him through a lifestyle of ungodliness. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:49.039 But true religion loves to talk about and then do this and then imitate him. 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:53.759 Pure devotion, it enjoys listening to the word and then doing it. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:32:06.960 A living faith loves to learn more about God and then look for ways around them to show that love to others, especially to those who are poor, those who are needy, and those who are broken. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:14.720 So just to recap, this whole sermon, and guys, really, this sermon didn't need much commentary. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.559 It's it's pretty straightforward. 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.240 But I just want to exhort us one last time. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:37.519 Open your your ears, open your heart, open your eyes, be slow in your response, slow in your anger, repent of any hindering sins, and receive that which saves our soul. 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:41.839 And don't just receive it, but then turn around and do it. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:47.519 Don't leave here and go home and live life unaffected by God's word this morning. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:51.839 It's not enough just to receive, but go and do. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:59.359 And as you do the word, experience the amazing blessings of the word. 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:02.960 And remember what pure devotion is. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.319 Remember what it looks like. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:07.359 It's not just chatter, it's not just talk. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:14.319 It's a love for God that expresses itself in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:24.000 So Jesus did not die on the cross bearing our sin to simply remove the penalty of sin and stop there. 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:35.839 God did not kill his one and only beloved Son on that wretched tree for us to be forgiven of sin and yet leave us still addicted to sin and enslaved in it. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:54.640 No, God did all this not only to forgive us and not only to reconcile us back to himself and to give us eternal life, but to set us free from the power of sin in our lives so that we might be free to live in righteousness and to live for him. 00:33:55.119 --> 00:34:05.359 So we're accepted by him, we're loved by him, we're chosen by him so that we can live for him and live out our life for him. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:16.800 And so go now and do just that and read your Bible and live out the word like your life depends on it, because it does. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:18.159 Let's pray. 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.960 Father, thank you. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:30.960 Your holy truly is uh alive and active. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:42.079 Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would plant the seeds of your truth in our hearts this morning. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:49.760 Lord, remind us how great a God we serve of Calvary. 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:52.559 Remind us of who we are in you. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:35:00.719 And Lord, get rid of any unhealthy thinking patterns, get rid of any uh sin in our lives. 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:03.119 Help us, Lord, grant us repentance. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:04.559 We need your help. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:07.280 We're so desperate for you each day. 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:17.119 Lord, continue to build your church, continue to work in our lives, and help us to enjoy you more fully and serve Christ more obediently. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:17.760 I pray. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.119 In Jesus' name. 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:20.800 Amen.