Passage: James 1: 17-25: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. {18} He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
{19} My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, {20} because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. {21} Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
{22} Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.’
Text: James 1: 25: ‘But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.’
Introduction:
Focus: Our new garage door motors and one motor’s loss of responsiveness to the remote control. The solution was simply to retune remote for motor to engage and for doors to work. Similarly, a fruitful Christian life is a matter of being in tune as our passage indicates.
Method: For better understanding, we will ask some questions of the passage. First: ----
What kind of word?
The word of Christ, the gospel (vv. 18, 21, 25).
Also see Rom 10: 8 –‘the word of faith we are proclaiming’; Col 3: 16 – ‘the word of Christ’, and Eph 4: 15 – ‘speaking the truth’).
Example: Only the gospel has the power to save. E.g., Joyce’s dilemma with the garage doors when Western Power repaired some poles in our street recently. Motors won’t operate without power!!
Paul: ‘Rom 1: 16: ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.’
What kind of listening?
The listening or hearing of faith (v. 19).
Also see Gal 3: 2, 5 (not Colossians as on the slide) – ‘I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? … 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?’ and Heb 4: 2-3a – ‘For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest’).
Examples: (a) Mounties’ messages prefix: ‘let’s hear what God has to say to you.’ Only the hearing of faith engages with the word. E.g., (b) our car key and next door neighbour’s both activated our old front door bell (cf. some car remotes used to affect pacemakers).
What kind of mirror image?
Our new creation image (v. 25).
Also see Gal 5: 25 – ‘Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit; Col 2: 6 – ‘So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him’; Col 3: 1-3 – ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ and Eph 4: 1-3 - 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’.
Example: What kind of mirror image? That of ourselves newly created in Christ. E.g., Have you ever lost your (new) car in the car park due to the ‘wrong image’ (read=old car) being in your mind? One method is to use remote to see which car winks its lights!
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