DOERS versus FORGETFUL
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
The Epistle of JAMES is one of the most practical Books of the Bible, full of advice for the daily living, and at the same time, theologically deep;
The Epistle of JAMES is one of the most practical Books of the Bible, full of advice for the daily living, and at the same time, theologically deep;
James teaches, for example, about the importance of the faith connected with good works, and that “faith, without works, is dead”. He talks about several themes that help us to understand that a Christian life is much more than “knowing it”, it’s about “doing it”;
it’s also JAMES who teaches us in the chapter 4 of this same epistle that “if you know that you have to do good things and you do not do it, you are sinning”;
But perhaps one his most intriguing themes in James is: “What is the reason we have so much difficulty in obeying the Lord?”
But perhaps one his most intriguing themes in James is: “What is the reason we have so much difficulty in obeying the Lord?”
Let’s read our main text:
Let’s read our main text:
MAIN TEXT
MAIN TEXT
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 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; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 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.
Sed hacedores de la palabra y no tan solamente oidores, engañándoos a vosotros mismos. Si alguno es oidor de la palabra pero no hacedor de ella, ese es semejante al hombre que considera en un espejo su rostro natural; él se considera a sí mismo y se va, y pronto olvida cómo era. Pero el que mira atentamente en la perfecta ley, la de la libertad, y persevera en ella, no siendo oidor olvidadizo sino hacedor de la obra, este será bienaventurado en lo que hace.
For James, (remember that this James is not the apostle brother of John, but the one considered by many, one of the brothers of Jesus), listening only and not obeying is the same thing as deceiving ourselves;
For James, (remember that this James is not the apostle brother of John, but the one considered by many, one of the brothers of Jesus), listening only and not obeying is the same thing as deceiving ourselves;
Because there is sometimes such A DISCREPANCY between what we hear and what we do, I would like to study with you today, under the light of the Holy Scriptures, the following theme:
Because there is sometimes such A DISCREPANCY between what we hear and what we do, I would like to study with you today, under the light of the Holy Scriptures, the following theme:
DOERS VERSUS FORGETFUL
DOERS VERSUS FORGETFUL
In the Christian life, there are only these 2 categories of believers: 1. those who learn the ways of the Lord and put it into practice, and 2. those who know what to do, but are not willing do obey.
In the Christian life, there are only these 2 categories of believers: 1. those who learn the ways of the Lord and put it into practice, and 2. those who know what to do, but are not willing do obey.
The idea with the exposition of this text today is not to make any accusation, but TO STIMULATE a self-examination, letting the Lord Himself search our soul and guide us into His truth and will for our lives, and for that, I would like to examine 3 principles:
The idea with the exposition of this text today is not to make any accusation, but TO STIMULATE a self-examination, letting the Lord Himself search our soul and guide us into His truth and will for our lives, and for that, I would like to examine 3 principles:
1. DOERS ARE OBEDIENT / HACEDORES SON OBEDIENTES
1. DOERS ARE OBEDIENT / HACEDORES SON OBEDIENTES
The example that James uses in the text we just read is of someone who looks in a mirror and goes away quickly, forgetting its own image, whereas the other, stops, observes the “perfect law”, and obeys it. The idea in the second case, is of someone who bends himself to look carefully into the law of God.
The example that James uses in the text we just read is of someone who looks in a mirror and goes away quickly, forgetting its own image, whereas the other, stops, observes the “perfect law”, and obeys it. The idea in the second case, is of someone who bends himself to look carefully into the law of God.
The Bible is absolutely clear that obedience is better than any sacrifice or ritual. God is pleased with our obedience, with us walking with Him, and following His advices, because THAT is what will make us to fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.
The Bible is absolutely clear that obedience is better than any sacrifice or ritual. God is pleased with our obedience, with us walking with Him, and following His advices, because THAT is what will make us to fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.
Look at what Jesus said about obedience:
Look at what Jesus said about obedience:
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
»¿Por qué me llamáis “Señor, Señor”, y no hacéis lo que yo digo?
The Apostle Paul also explains in Romans:
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
pues no son los oidores de la Ley los justos ante Dios, sino que los que obedecen la Ley serán justificados.
We, as human race, are born in sin, with this tendency to rebellion, to disobedience, therefore, we MUST submit ourselves to the Lord, first, to have our nature regenerated, and second crucifying the flesh and its passions, everyday, in order to be obedient, instead of forgetful.
We, as human race, are born in sin, with this tendency to rebellion, to disobedience, therefore, we MUST submit ourselves to the Lord, first, to have our nature regenerated, and second crucifying the flesh and its passions, everyday, in order to be obedient, instead of forgetful.
2. OBEDIENCE TAKES EFFORTS / OBEDIENCIA DEMANDA ESFUERZO
2. OBEDIENCE TAKES EFFORTS / OBEDIENCIA DEMANDA ESFUERZO
Jesus always connected obedience with a practical living before God (maybe James remembered his older brother Jesus when he wrote this Epistle). Jesus said:
Jesus always connected obedience with a practical living before God (maybe James remembered his older brother Jesus when he wrote this Epistle). Jesus said:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
»No todo el que me dice: “¡Señor, Señor!”, entrará en el reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos. Muchos me dirán en aquel día: “Señor, Señor, ¿no profetizamos en tu nombre, y en tu nombre echamos fuera demonios, y en tu nombre hicimos muchos milagros?”. Entonces les declararé: “Nunca os conocí. ¡Apartaos de mí, hacedores de maldad!”.
And again in Luke the Lord says:
But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Él entonces respondiendo, les dijo:
—Mi madre y mis hermanos son los que oyen la palabra de Dios y la obedecen.
It’s worth to say that obedience takes at least 3 unavoidable steps/efforts:
It’s worth to say that obedience takes at least 3 unavoidable steps/efforts:
Eliminate postponing - (we have to start obeying TODAY!);
Start small - (you won’t be able to do everything at once - PV 4:18);
Embrace discipline - (discipline is the closest brother of accomplishment/logro).
Remember what I call the “Rule of the 3 D’s”: DIRECTION, DISPOSITION AND DISCIPLINE
Remember what I call the “Rule of the 3 D’s”: DIRECTION, DISPOSITION AND DISCIPLINE
You need direction from the Lord to know what to do;
You need disposition to start what you have to do;
You need discipline to continue going when discouragement tries to stop you.
3. KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ENOUGH / CONOCIMIENTO NO ES BASTANTE
3. KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ENOUGH / CONOCIMIENTO NO ES BASTANTE
Illustration - (Man who went to cross a river on a boat and started boasting about himself with the simple man conducting the boat):
Illustration - (Man who went to cross a river on a boat and started boasting about himself with the simple man conducting the boat):
- “Do you know mathematics?” “You will never comprehend the beauty and mysteries of knowing numbers!”
- “Do you know geography?” “You will never know the space you occupy in the world!”
- “Do you know astronomy?” “You will never be able to understand how majestic the cosmos is!”
- “Do you know the history of the world?” “You will be always an ignorant about everything!”
Suddenly, they noticed a whole in the boat, and as the small boat started sinking… the man humbly asks the passenger:
- “Sir, do you know how to swim?” - “No”, he answered
“You will die!”
Knowledge is not enough!
Knowledge is not enough!
Maybe one of the most serious warnings of the apostle Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy, when talking about perilous times that would come in the last days and how men would behave, is this:
Maybe one of the most serious warnings of the apostle Paul in his Second Letter to Timothy, when talking about perilous times that would come in the last days and how men would behave, is this:
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Estas siempre están aprendiendo, pero nunca pueden llegar al conocimiento de la verdad.
Jesus Himself, being a Teacher, a Rabi, always rebuked the Scribes, Pharisees and Teachers of the Law about the same danger: you know too much, but do nothing about it!
Sometimes we come to church to hear the Word of God for hundreds of times, but we just don’t do it!
God Himself spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, about people that would come to him:
God Himself spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, about people that would come to him:
So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.
Y vienen a ti como viene el pueblo, y están delante de ti como pueblo mío. Oyen tus palabras, pero no las ponen por obra, antes hacen halagos con sus bocas y el corazón de ellos anda en pos de su avaricia. Y tú eres para ellos como un cantor de amores, de hermosa voz y que canta bien. Ellos oyen tus palabras, pero no las ponen por obra.
We all talk so much about being blessed by the Lord. It’s interesting how we can see that the Lord Jesus associated “blessing” and even “intimacy with Him”, with obedience:
We all talk so much about being blessed by the Lord. It’s interesting how we can see that the Lord Jesus associated “blessing” and even “intimacy with Him”, with obedience:
As far as Blessing we read:
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Si sabéis estas cosas, bienaventurados sois si las hacéis.
and...
But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Pero él dijo:
—¡Antes bien, bienaventurados los que oyen la palabra de Dios y la obedecen!
As far as Intimacy with the Lord we observe:
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
Vosotros sois mis amigos si hacéis lo que yo os mando.
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
John Calvin said that “OBEDIENCE is the mother of the knowledge of God”, if we want to know God, if we want to be blessed, and to enjoy of His intimacy, we need to obey Him;
The Lord Jesus, telling the parable of the seed, makes clear that in order to be a fruitful seed, the soil has to be a good one; and he compares the hearer of the message as the good soil that has to be ready to bear fruit
The Lord Jesus, telling the parable of the seed, makes clear that in order to be a fruitful seed, the soil has to be a good one; and he compares the hearer of the message as the good soil that has to be ready to bear fruit
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Y los que fueron sembrados en buena tierra son los que oyen la palabra, la reciben y dan fruto a treinta, a sesenta y a ciento por uno.
Cain, the first son born to mankind, had a conversation with God, where the Lord told him: “sin lies at the door, but you should rule over it”; in other words, you are responsible for what you do with the knowledge you have about what God wants.
Cain, the first son born to mankind, had a conversation with God, where the Lord told him: “sin lies at the door, but you should rule over it”; in other words, you are responsible for what you do with the knowledge you have about what God wants.
As I said in the beginning, this is not intended as a message of reproach, but a warning of the Word of God, for all of us!
As I said in the beginning, this is not intended as a message of reproach, but a warning of the Word of God, for all of us!
Let us search our hearts today, with an honest and humble approach, and ask ourselves in which category we are, if we are among doers, lets continue for the glory of God, until we finish the race, but if we somehow became forgetful, lets confess to the Lord and become doers of His will, today!!
Let us search our hearts today, with an honest and humble approach, and ask ourselves in which category we are, if we are among doers, lets continue for the glory of God, until we finish the race, but if we somehow became forgetful, lets confess to the Lord and become doers of His will, today!!
Allow the Lord to help you to answer this question today: “Am I a doer, or a forgetful”?
Allow the Lord to help you to answer this question today: “Am I a doer, or a forgetful”?
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.
incluir na proxima vez luke 9:44