Daily Writing

Tuesday, 25 June 2019

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. James 1:25

James now contrasts the individual of verses 23 and 24 by describing the person who not only hears, but also does. To describe him, he begins with, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty.” The word translated as “looks” is one which signifies, to stoop and peer into. It was used three times in Luke and John, each concerning someone stooping and looking into the tomb where Christ had been laid. For example, in John it says –

“And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.” John 20:5

Again, a few verses later, it says –

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.” John 20:11

Being an aorist verb, it signifies one who “has looked into” the matter. It is done and yet it actively continues even after having looked (as will be noted). In the use of the particular verb, one gets the sense of peering into. The person doesn’t just “hear” and forget. He hears, and then in his mind he stoops over and peers intently into what he has heard. It is as if there is a well of life which can be mentally seen and accessed. This marvelous access is then described as being from “the perfect law of liberty.”

The previous verse spoke of the man who observes the “face of his birth,” meaning his carnal self which is the Adam in him. That person saw this and then failed to act on what he saw. This person looks into God’s perfect law and he finds the cure for his fallen nature in “the perfect law of liberty.”

Liberty defines the perfect law. It is what is obtained from it. And so, it is a law which is completely different than the bondage of sin leading to death which is found in Adam. It is the law which looks to Christ and it is a law of life leading to freedom. In peering into it, the glory of God revealed in His plan of the redemption of man is found. And this is because the person not only stoops down to look into it, but he “continues in it.”

The word translated as “continues” is a compound word which gives the sense of remaining close beside. He has stooped and peered. He then continues at that spot, peering into the perfect law of liberty, receiving its wellspring of instruction, and being renewed in his mind and soul. Such a person is then described by James as being “not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work.”

In the Greek, the word “hearer” is a noun, not a verb. And, there is no article in front of the word “work.” The words are more rightly translated as “not a hearer of forgetfulness, but a doer of work” (Ellicott). The contrast is obvious. One hears but is a person of forgetfulness. He walks away from what he has heard and there is no change in him. The other is a doer. He hears, and when he does, he becomes a doer of what he heard, changing his life from the image of Adam to that of Christ.

Finally, James says, “this one will be blessed in what he does.” In this, the Greek more literally reads, “this one will be blessed in his deed.” The peering into the perfect law of liberty, and the continuance of that, is considered a single deed because it is an ongoing act which leads to life. In this act, the soul is blessed.

Life application: Remember the guy who looked at his grubby face in the mirror and walked away not caring? He is the person who hears the word of God and doesn’t care enough to apply it to his life. James contrasts him with someone who has true wisdom. This person looks intently into the Bible; he listens closely to the Sunday sermon; he checks what he’s been told, and then he applies it to his life. As Solomon said –

“The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.” Ecclesiastes 12:11

Goads are pointed sticks used to prod a cow along. The Bible should be like that to us. It should prod us in the right direction and toward our goal. When we look into the perfect law and then follow what we have read, it gives us a freedom we previously lacked.

The Bible isn’t merely a rule book of things not to do; it is a guide for our souls. Not only should we follow its precepts, but we should continue to follow them daily as we continue on life’s highway. By doing so, we will certainly be blessed in all we do. This doesn’t mean we will be free from troubles and trials, but unlike those whose trials never find a happy resolution, ours will. The Lord will restore all that is lost, heal all that is torn, and raise all who have died in Him.

How precious are Your words to our taste, O God. They are sweeter than honey to our mouths! Help us to learn them and then to apply them to our lives. And Lord, help us to continue in them all our days so that we will grow to maturity in You. We love You and praise You, our exalted King! Amen.

Monday, 24 June 2019

…for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. James 1:24

The verse is part of a single thought which comprises the previous verse and this one –

“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; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

James says that this person is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror. The Greek gives a sudden, lively sense to what is said. The man “observes himself.” It is an aorist verb indicating a fleeting act – he observed himself. He next “goes away.” It more literally reads, “and has gone away.” The perfect tense indicates a completed action but it continues into the present. From there it says, “and immediately forgets.” There is no remembrance at all of what he saw. He did see himself, but he neglected to consider what he saw, which is “what kind of man he was.” Young’s Literal Translation gives the sense of the Greek –

“for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was.”

The repetition of the word “and” reveals the sudden and swift nature of what occurred, and it brings out an ironic element. The person saw the face of his birth, meaning the carnal man, and yet it left no impression on him.

What is being compared here is this man to the hearer of the word who fails to act upon what he hears. In other words, he can be equated to the person in the pew who hears the words of the preacher, sees himself reflected in what was said, and who then fails to act upon the words which clearly pointed to his own natural, fallen state. There is no change in him except that he is a moment older in time.

Life application: When a person gets up in the morning, looks at the shabby face in the mirror – unshaven, stuff in his eyes, hair all messy, etc – and then walks away not caring about his appearance, he shows that his natural, unkempt, and (to others) offensive looks mean nothing. The Bible is like a mirror to us. It gives us common sense life lessons and warnings that are meant to guide us. Take this proverb as an example –

“A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Someone who reads this verse, contemplates it, and then lives by it will certainly benefit from the counsel. No matter how correct your argument is, if you present it harshly, you will only stir up anger and chase people away from your view. If you are the type who has trouble dealing calmly with others, applying this proverb to your life can only benefit you.

However, by rejecting its words, you are just like the disheveled person mentioned above. You should know your appearance will offend others, but instead of shaving your whiskers, combing your hair, and washing your face, you go out as you are and no one wants to be near you. Then you wonder why you’re such a lonely guy.

Look into the Bible, absorb it, and then apply it to your life. Don’t be the person James uses for this negative example. Instead, be the person whom the Lord exalts because of his faithful application of sound biblical advice. In the end, you will benefit more than you can possibly imagine.

Heavenly Father, may we be wise when listening to sermons, reading your word, or contemplating daily devotionals. Help us to apply these valuable insights to our own lives, rather than walking away and forgetting what we have heard or read. In the end, we will certainly be the ones to suffer if we don’t. So prompt us to be responsible and faithful followers of You and Your word. Amen.

Sunday, 23 June 2019

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; James 1:23

James just spoke of those who are “hearers only” and not “doers of the word.” He notes that such people only deceive themselves. Now he begins to explain that by saying, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer.” The words speak of the person who hears the word read (or today, someone who has his own Bible and picks it up and reads it), but who then fails to apply what he has read.

One might think of a person who gets something in the mail which requires assembly. He opens the box, reads the instruction, but then decides that his way is better. Or maybe he simply reads the instructions without actually mentally cataloging what he has read. He will not do the things he has just read. The resulting damage will be irreparable. James says of a person who treats the word of God this way, hearing and not doing, that “he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.”

The Greek actually reads, “this one is like a man.” He is being made an object lesson for all others by singling him out in a definite way. There is a peculiarity about him which needs to be highlighted. James says he is like one who is “observing his natural face in a mirror.”

The Greek literally reads, “observing the face of his birth in a mirror.” The word is genesis, and it signifies his birth, lineage, or descent. It is the face he was born with and which carries the state he was in, even since birth. The idea here is that he is a man, a son of Adam. He is fallen and bears all of the nature of a fallen man. What will this man do about that state? He sees it, but will he take action concerning his natural state? James will continue to explain what such a person is like in the coming verse.

Life application: The Bible teaches many points of doctrine. One of them is that of “original sin.” This teaches that the sin of Adam is transferred to all of humanity. Further, it teaches that original sin extends to all humanity at the moment of their conception. Humans are conceived in sin, are born as fallen beings, and – without God’s corrective measure – will die in that state. In this, they will be eternally separated from God.

There is nothing man can do to be reconciled to God because the defect already exists. The cure for it is only found in Jesus. He came to replace Adam as humanity’s new head. Without Jesus, man’s sin remains. But in coming to Jesus, the sin-debt is paid, life is granted, and sin is no longer imputed to man. Thus, he is free from any future condemnation. Jesus Christ is the answer. Come to Christ and be cured of the inherited-sin defect.

Lord God, thank You for Jesus who alone can take away our sin. As only He can do this, may we demonstrate wisdom and receive the pardon that He purchased through His shed blood. Yes, give us this wisdom to receive and then to share, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 22 June 2019

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

James has just spoken of “the implanted word.” It is this, as he said, “which is able to save your souls.” He now builds upon that thought. It is the word which brings one to an understanding of the gospel (Paul says this in Romans 10:17 with the words, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”). Now James continues by saying, “But be doers of the word.”

In this, he is stating that believers don’t simply hear the word and become holy. Rather, they are to act upon it. Again, it is the same thing that Paul said in Romans 12:12, 13 –

“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law ¹³ (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.”

In Romans, as here in James, there is the thought of applying the word to one’s life, doing what it says. We are not to be “hearers only.” The word translated as “hearer” is found only there in Romans 2 and three times here in James 1. This is James’ first use of it, but he will repeat it in verses 23 and 25. This is a clear indication that Paul and James are on the same page despite having seeming differences in their messages. These seeming differences are fine points which will be considered one at a time as they arise.

Next, James says that when you are hearers only, you are “deceiving yourselves.” James makes a pun in the Greek which is not seen in our English translations. He uses the word paralogizomai. It comes from two words, para, meaning something which is contrary when it is compared side by side, and logizomi, meaning “to reason.” That second word comes from the same noun as that which is translated as “word” in the first clause, logos.

His pun can be seen if we show his thought in an English paraphrase –

But be doers of the word.
And not hearers only, thus contrary-to-the-wording yourselves.

The word is what gives wisdom, but the word is also to be acted upon. In not acting upon the word, one fails to make use of the wisdom which the word provides. Thus, we are to 1) know the word (which can only come about through reading and studying the word), and 2) apply that same word to our lives, demonstrating that we have obtained the wisdom of the word, and are willing to act upon it.

Life application: James was written at a time when people would have heard the word spoken, but there weren’t many copies of Scripture for personal use. So, when you read your Bible or daily devotional, keep this verse in mind as it applies as well. However, we will stick with the example given – listening to the word.

When you go to church, the pastor speaks on a given subject that he has studied and which is meant for you to listen to and then apply to your life. Many pastors add in real-life examples as they speak about the particular passage being analyzed. At times, you may have thought, “This applies to exactly my situation today.” Or, you may know someone in the congregation who really needed to hear a particular sermon because it applies to a situation in his life right at that time. However, he might walk out of church having heard the word spoken directly to him, and yet he will continue down the same unhealthy path that he was on before going to church.

Surprisingly enough, you may even hear the guy who listens even comment on what a great sermon it was. It is as if the message went in one ear and out the other, having no effect at all on his life. James is asking us to not allow this to happen. When you hear the word which specifically applies to you, it is because the Lord is trying to wake you up! Don’t merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Instead, do what it says!

Pay attention to your devotional each morning as it may be speaking to you, and pay attention to your morning Bible reading as it is certainly speaking to you. God sends His word out for your benefit. Pay attention to His word!

Lord God, we surely thank You for the times You prompt us to action through Your word – spoken or read. Give us wisdom and discerning hearts to apply the instructions we receive to our lives. Let us not simply deceive ourselves by hearing only, but let there be positive growth in us. All this is to Your glory alone. Amen.

Friday, 21 June 2019

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

James now says, “Therefore.” That is given based on what he has been saying over the past verses concerning the temptation we face being something which comes from our own desires, not from God. As this is so, he implores the reader to “lay aside all filthiness.” Here is a word found nowhere else in the Bible, rhuparia. It properly means, “dirt.” It is the dirt or filth that clings to a person. Thus, it is equated with moral filth that stains the soul of a person. Peter uses a cognate noun, rhupos, in 1 Peter 3:21 which carries much the same sense. It is a grease-filth which soils everything it touches. James implores the reader, like Peter, to put away all such moral uncleanliness.

Next, he adds in “and overflow of wickedness.” The idea of “overflow” here is that which exceeds normal expectations. There is wickedness in the heart which can be controlled, but there is wickedness which overflows from a man and which seems to exude from him in all he does. Again, James says that this needs to be laid aside so that only purity and that which is morally correct issues forth.

He then gives a positive exhortation by saying, “and receive with meekness the implanted word.” Again, James uses a word unique to Scripture, emphutos, or “implanted.” It signifies that which is inborn, congenital, and natural. This is not the same as the idea of grafting which Paul speaks of in Romans 11, and which some translations use here. That is a different concept where something unnatural is brought into a source of life. This signifies that which is rooted.

The gospel is that which is planted in a person, and it is the source of that “which is able to save your souls.” When the gospel is planted, it is what establishes the person as being “in Christ.” It is what makes it possible to do the other things James has stated in this verse. Paul referred to the power of the gospel in this same way in Romans 1 –

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16, 17

The planting of the gospel, which then takes root and grows within man, is that which has the ability to save. And more, it is that which has the power to transform the one who is saved. James understood this, and his words are given so that his reader can as well.

Life application: James’ words were written over two thousand years ago. Immorality is nothing new. However, due to TV, the internet, etc. it has become a part of almost every living room in the world. We now no longer look with contempt upon someone who uses the name of God (or Jesus Christ – who is God) on a television show or a movie. Instead of walking out and refusing to watch that actor again, we ignore what we heard and continue on watching.

Further, the Bible clearly portrays homosexuality as moral perversion, and yet we condone it by watching such people on talk shows, reality shows, etc. without even batting an eyelid. But what we should do is turn that person off and refuse to give our attention to someone who so openly opposes the truth of what God says about such things.

Our lives are to be lived in holiness, not drunkenness; our speech should be seasoned with grace, not obscenities; our close friendships should reflect our character – never shunning the lost, but never condoning what is biblically inappropriate.

As Christians, we all must face the judgment seat of Christ. How will your judgment go? Will it be one of sadness and loss or one of expectation of joy and reward? The lost will face their own judgment and condemnation unless they come to Christ. But we cannot lead them to Christ if we are living like them and not drawing a line between what is acceptable and what isn’t. Keep the word close to you, learn it, live it, and understand that moral filth and evil will be judged for what it is.

Lord, certainly we fail You often in how we relate to the moral perversion which permeates our society. We let you down by not standing against those things which Your word forbids. May we be angry at sin and stand against it lest our morals grow cold and You be disappointed in the conduct of our lives. Help us to be vessels which are holy and set apart for Your good purposes. To Your glory alone. Amen.