Be Doers of the Word – James 1:22-27
Your trust in God is demonstrated by your obedience to Him. In this sermon pastor David warns us not to be deceived into thinking the way we live our life doesn’t matter, rather Christians continually need to be transformed by hearing and doing what the Scripture says. Bible application is essential every time we encounter God’s Word.
James wants his readers to humbly receive the Word, and then put it into practice. Real Christians both hear and do the Word of God. This does not mean that we are somehow earning favor with God, but rather as those who are made righteous by the work of Christ we are now liberated to walk in righteousness. The Gospel frees us to trust and obey the Word of God.
But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect Law, the Law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:22-27)