Welcome To Search The Scriptures

1. Welcome • To • Search The Scriptures

2. James 1:19-21, “Thisyou 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.

3. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. • For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural fact in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was

4. 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 bless in what he does. • If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own hear, this man’s religion is worthless

5. 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.

6. James gives us a series of “Tests” by which we can judge the level of and authenticity of our faith. • We have been applying these “tests” to our own lives . . . • At least that is the plan

7. The first test: • As believers, how do we respond to trials? • James 1:2-12 • “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, • knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (vv. 2-3)

8. The Second test: • “What is our response to temptation?” • James 1:13-18 • “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. • 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”(vv. 13-14)

9. The third test: • “How do we receive the Word of God?” • James 1:19-21, “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.

10. What happens when a true believer hears God’s Word? • There is an affection for its truth, and, • There is a desire in his heart to • Obey it. • The most reliable evidence of our salvation is • A hunger for the Word of God

11. Psalm 1: 1-2 • “Blessed is the man • who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, • nor stands in the way of sinners, • nor sits in the seat of scoffers; • 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, • and on his law he meditates day and night”.

12. 1 Pet. 2:2, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” • John 8:31, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;”

13. Jesus warned: “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you.” (Mark 4:24) • True believers are to pay close attention to the content of what they hear and read . . . Measuring every idea, every principle, and every standard against the infallible and sovereignauthority of God’s Word.

14. The person who possesses true saving faith respondsgladly to His Word. • The person who has no interest in hearing much less obeying God’s Word gives evidence that he does not belong to Him. • The unbeliever’s naturaldesire is to disregard and disobey God’s Word. • Why is that?

15. It is because of the Scriptures deep and convicting truths. • They naturally rebel against it. • It exposes their sinfulness, lostness, and • Condemnation under God • They reject His truth with their minds and with their hearts.

16. Willingness to Receive the Word with Submission • James 1:19-20, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God

17. Commands for believers who receive the Word of God submissively: • We must “be quick to hear” • Means to be a careful listener, (to the Word of God) making sure that we pay attention in order to get the message right • Prov. 29:20, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

18. (b) Be slow to speak • You cannot listen carefully while you are talking • Or even when you are thinking about what to say next. • Slow to speak includes the idea of being careful not to be thinking about one’s own thoughts and ideas while someone else is trying to express God’sword. • We need to keep silent inside as well as outside.

19. We should pursue every opportunity to read the Word ourselves, to hear it preached and taught, and to discuss it with other believers who love, honor, and seek to obey it. • We should be cautious, patient, and careful when we have opportunity to preach, teach, or explain it to others.

20. (c) Be slow to anger • The Greek term that is used here does not depict an explosive outburst of anger, but . . . • An inner, deep resentment that seethes and smolders, that others cannot see • Because it is so private, it can be a special danger and not dealt with properly

21. James says, “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” • It doesn’t accomplish what is right in God’s eyes • When the hostility is against the truth of God’s Word, it is against God Himself!

22. Willingness to Receive the Word With Purity • James 1:21a, “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness,” • Before God’s Word can produce His righteousness in us, we must renounce and put away the sin in our lives that is hindering our spiritual growth

23. Willingness to Receive The Word in Humility • James 1:21b, “in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” • It is the idea of self-less receptiveness, of putting self, as well as sins aside • We accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting

24. It is the idea of being teachable • The Christian is to receive the Word with a • Submissive • Gentle • Teachable spirit • Cleansing of pride, resentment, anger, and every form of moral corruption

25. The Fourth Test: A Proper Reaction to the Word of God (James 1:22-27) • But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 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

26. What kind of person he was. 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. • 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.

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.”

28. It is possible to receive the Word of God well, but if there is no obedience to it, • It is without benefit, and, • It is a further judgment against its readers. • Obedience to the Word is the most basic spiritual requirement and is the common denominator for all true believers

29. There is a proper response to God’s Word that involves: • Confession of sin • Celebration for forgiveness • A promise to obey it

30. 1 John 1:9, • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

31. “But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” • (keep on striving to be . . . doers of the Word) • Some individuals may, after studying the Word of God, become so proud of what they are learning, • They become satisfied with the learning, • And neglect to make the effort to live out what they are learning!

32. “Doers” – has the idea of the whole personality, • All of a person’s inner being—mind soul and spirit, and emotions. • There is an emphasis on what we are rather than just what we do • It is when we are dedicated to not only learning God’s word, but also faithful, continual obedience to it.

33. “Hearers” • Refers to those who sit passively in an audience and listen to a speaker • In college, a person may ask to “audit” a class . . . • There to listen to the lecture, but do not want to do the papers, tests, etc. of a student • Someone can do that in a church very easily, ie, • Be an “auditor” of the service, sermon, but have no intention of obeying what is taught

34. Such people are merely hearers and not doers. • They are pretenders who think they belong to God, but in reality do not • 1 John 3:10, “By 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.”

35. 2 Peter 1:10, “be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.” • It is not a question of what one claims to have experienced but of how onelives in light of the Word of God.

36. The basic longing of a true believer is to do God’s will, manifest in His Word. • 1 John 2:3-4, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. • The one who says ‘I have come to know Him’, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in Him.”

37. How we behave is proof of our salvation, or our lack of salvation. • Are there many who claim faith in Christ, and yet their lives do not verify it? • Matt. 7:21-22, “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.

38. 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?” • And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

39. Josh 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, • so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; • for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you shall have success.”

40. John 14:23, “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.” • 1 John 2:3, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” • John 14:24, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” • 1 John 2:4, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him’; and does not keep His comandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.”

41. 1. There is a willingness to apply the Word without deception

42. James 1:22b-26, “who delude themselves. 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.

43. 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. • 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.”

44. “delude” – incorrect reasoning, or even intentional false reasoning, for the purpose of deceiving. This is what a person is doing – “delude themselves” • It is a self-deception • Now, James uses an illustration to make this clear

45. 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.

46. But one who looksintently 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. • 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.”

47. It is the forgetfulness that is the point of the illustration • Distracted? • Not pleased with what he has seen? • Poor memory? • Regardless, all that careful looking is wasted.

48. A person who looks at God’s Word, regardless of how carefully and diligently, and does not apply the truths he has discovered . . . To his own life • Is just like that person who looked in the mirror and immediately forgot what he saw. • Except . . . • The consequences for not doing God’s Word have eternalimpact

49. On the other hand . . . • “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.” • God did not reveal His Word simply to be learned, but to be obeyed and applied.

50. “looks intently” – means to ben over and carefully examine something from the clearest possible vantage point. • “the perfect law, the law of liberty” – The Bible is without error, sufficient. “the law of liberty” is referring to the power it has to redeem us from the bondage of sin, to righteous obedience