Hearers and Doers of the Word

Brian Payne

James • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

James 1:19–27

Hear

A Doer of the Law

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Introduction

Throughout the things you men have been looking at the past few Sunday nights in the book of James, I trust you’ve been blessed and challenged. In the first couple of messages you thought about responding to trials and responding to temptation. Tonight is about responding to God’s Word.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not abridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

To be prepared for trials and temptations, we have to...

I. Receive the Word

How do we receive the Word? What’s the right attitude? What is the Lord’s standard?

A. The Standard (1:19)

Look at James 1:19 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” This means to be willing to hear the Word.

EXPLAIN- The context is important!

1. Spiritual receptiveness begins by receiving Jesus Christ

John 1:12–13 (NASB95) — 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

2. It is characterized by an open attitude

Mt 13:16–17

Matthew 13:16–17 (NASB95) — 16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Proverbs 18:15 (NASB95) — 15The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 20:12 (NASB95) — 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made both of them.

Of course this DOES NOT mean being open to every teaching.

B. The Motivation (1:20)

James 1:20 “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

EXPLAIN

Results of human anger

1. Strife

Ge 4:8

Genesis 4:8 (NASB95) — 8Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

See also 1 Sa 20:30; Ps 124:2–3; Pr 29:22; Pr 30:33

1 Samuel 20:30 (NASB95) — 30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?

Psalm 124:2–3 (NASB95) — 2“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us;

Proverbs 29:22 (NASB95) — 22An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

Proverbs 30:33 (NASB95) — 33For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose brings forth blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

2. God’s judgment

Mt 5:22

Matthew 5:22 (NASB95) — 22“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

C. The strategy (1:21)

James 1:21 “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

EXPLAIN

1 Peter 2:1-2 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

Colossians 3:8 “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”

Practical steps for overcoming sin and temptation

Meditation on Scripture

Psalm 119:11 (NASB95) — 11Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Psalm 18:22–23 (NASB95) — 22For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23 I was also blameless with Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity.

Matthew 4:1–11 (NASB95) — 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘Ontheir hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95) — 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Prayerful dependence upon God

Matthew 6:13 (NASB95) — 13‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

Psalm 19:13 (NASB95) — 13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Matthew 26:41 (NASB95) — 41“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB95) — 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Hebrews 4:15–16 (NASB95) — 15For we do not have a high prie t who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

II. Be a Doer of the Word

A. The command (James 1:22)

James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

B. The forgetful hearer (James 1:23-24)

James 1:23-24 “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”

1. Those who are deceived over their sin

1 John 1:8 (NASB95) — 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

See also Ps 36:1–4; Je 2:34–35; Je 17:9–10; 1 Co 6:9–10; 1 Jn 1:10

Psalm 36:1–4 (NASB95) — 1 Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 (NASB95) — 9“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NASB95) — 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 1:10 (NASB95) — 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

2. Those who are deceived over their spiritual state

Revelation 3:17 (NASB95) — 17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

See also Mt 23:13–15; Mt 23:23–33; Jn 8:33–34; Jn 8:39–47; Jas 1:22–26

Matthew 23:13–15 (NASB95) — 13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Matthew 7:21–23 (NASB95) — 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

C. The faithful doer (James 1:25)

James 1:25 “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Examples of obedience in the OT

Joshua 11:15 (NASB95) — 15Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lordhad commanded Moses.

Genesis 6:22 (NASB95) — 22Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

Genesis 12:1–4 (NASB95) — 1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4So Abram went forth as the Lordhad spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 22:2–3 (NASB95) — 2He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Exodus 40:16 (NASB95) — 16Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lordhad commanded him, so he did.

Jonah 3:3 (NASB95) — 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.

Jesus Christ is obeyed

By the wind and the waves

Mt 8:26–27

Matthew 8:26–27 (NASB95) — 26He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Obedience and love

Jn 14:15; 1 Jn 5:3

John 14:15 (NASB95) — 15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 5:3 (NASB95) — 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

See also Ps 119:167; 1 Jn 2:5; 1 Jn 3:10; 2 Jn 6

Psalm 119:167 (NASB95) — 167My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.

1 John 2:5 (NASB95) — 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

1 John 3:10 (NASB95) — 10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

2 John 6 (NASB95) — 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

Obedience and faith

Heb 11:8; Mt 7:21 Obedience to the will of God demonstrates the reality of a person’s faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:8 (NASB95) — 8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Matthew 7:21 (NASB95) — 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

See also Ro 1:5; Jas 2:14–26

Romans 1:5 (NASB95) — 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

James 2:14–26 (NASB95) — 14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

God rewards those who obey him

Ex 19:5; Jn 15:10

Exodus 19:5 (NASB95) — 5‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;

John 15:10 (NASB95) — 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

See also Dt 5:29; 1 Ki 3:14; 2 Ki 18:5–7; Mt 7:21; Mt 7:24–25; Mt 12:50; Jn 12:26; Jn 14:21; Jn 14:23; Jn 21:4–6; 1 Jn 2:17

Deuteronomy 5:29 (NASB95) — 29‘Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

1 Kings 3:14 (NASB95) — 14“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

2 Kings 18:5–7 (NASB95) — 5He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lordhad commanded Moses. 7 And the Lordwas with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

Matthew 7:21 (NASB95) — 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Matthew 7:24–25 (NASB95) — 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Matthew 12:50 (NASB95) — 50“For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

John 12:26 (NASB95) — 26“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

John 14:21 (NASB95) — 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

John 14:23 (NASB95) — 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

John 21:4–6 (NASB95) — 4But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

1 John 2:17 (NASB95) — 17The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Obedience to the word of God

Mt 7:24–27; Jas 1:22

Matthew 7:24–27 (NASB95) — 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

James 1:22 (NASB95) — 22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

See also Ps 119:9–11; Jon 3:3; Lk 11:28; Jn 17:6; Jas 2:14–20

Psalm 119:9–11 (NASB95) — 9How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Jonah 3:3 (NASB95) — 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.

Luke 11:28 (NASB95) — 28But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

John 17:6 (NASB95) — 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.

James 2:14–20 (NASB95) — 14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Examples of people who obeyed God

Ge 6:9 Noah

Genesis 6:9 (NASB95) — 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

Abraham:

Ge 12:1–4; Ge 17:23

Genesis 17:23 (NASB95) — 23Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the very same day, as God had said to him.

III. Share the Word

A. The practice desired (James 1:26-27)

James 1:26-27 “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

1. The need to be a good witness to unbelievers

1 Peter 2:15 (NASB95) — 15For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 3:15–16 (NASB95) — 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

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