Does God’s Word Change You? James 1:22-25

Does God’s Word Change You?James 1:22-25 • Looking ahead to 2013: • Daily Bible Reading Plan - Old Testament Historical Books • Many Christians don’t’ read their Bibles • Psalm 1:1–2 (NIV) - Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. • Does God’s Word change you?

James provides us with a warning: • James 1:22 (NIV) - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. • James is writing to a primarily oral culture. • He is telling us that listening to or reading God’s Word alone is not enough •  it is dangerous - We “deceive ourselves” • God didn’t give us his Word to simply make us theologically informed, apologetically equipped or emotionally secure.

God gave us his word to TRANSFORM US into the image of his Son. • Romans 12:2 (NIV) - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. • Romans 8:28–29 (NIV) - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.

The way we behave always tie back to what we believe about God’s Word. • AGC Statement of Faith: • The Scriptures: The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the complete Word of God. As originally given, it is verbally inspired, without error, and entirely trustworthy. The Bible constitutes supreme authority in all matters of faith, teaching, and behaviour. Jesus Christ is the focus and fulfillment of Scripture.

1. God’s Word is Authentic • The entire Bible is God’s Word • God gave his message to the authors through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. • 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

2 Peter 1:20–21 (NIV)- Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. • The Bible originated with God – “God-breathed” • The written word of God came to us through the Holy Spirit moving the authors to write what God intended them to write.

Verbal inspiration: not just ideas or concepts found in the Bible are inspired but the words themselves that communicate God’s truth. • God did NOT dictate the Bible to the authors. • The Bible is without error. • We can trust it – it is reliable for us to use to live by. • 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

2. God’s Word is Authoritative • The Bible has the right to direct a person’s behaviour. • God’s Word came from his heart and mind so his word carries authority. • The Bible is the final word – the final court of appeal on all matters that it speaks about. • AGC Statement of Faith: • The Bible constitutes supreme authority in all matters of faith, teaching, and behaviour.

Psalm 138:2 (NIV) - …for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. • God is the source of all truth and his word is the final authority for how we are to live. • If we believe God’s Word is authentic we can trust it’s reliability. • If we believe God’s Word is authoritative it demands our obedience. • Then it must bring about a change in us.

3. God’s Word Requires Action • We need to put God’s Word into practice. • a. Studying It • The time we spend in God’s Word needs to be more than just a superficial readingto gain more knowledge. • What is God showing me that I need to change in my life? • Journaling helps us record what God reveals to us through our quiet time with him.

b. Submitting to It • Four ways Christians think they are applying Scripture to their lives but are not: • (from “Living by the Book”, Dr. Howard Hendricks) • i) substitute interpretation for application • ii) substitute rationalization for repentance • iii) substitute emotional reaction for volitional reaction • iv) substitute superficial obedience for transformational life change

When God speaks to us through his word we need to submit ourselves to it •  to let it transform our lives • James 1:22 (NIV) - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. • Are you willing to let God’s Word change you? • Jesus Christ is the focus and fulfillment of Scripture (AGC Statement of Faith)

The master theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, so the way we treat the Bible is the way we treat Jesus. The Bible is light (Psalm 119:105), and Jesus is light (John 8:12). Jesus called himself “the bread of life” (John 6:48), and the Word is bread that nourishes our spirit (Matthew 4:4). Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6), and the Word of God is truth (John 17:17). To ignore the Word of God is to ignore the Son of God. • (Warren Wiersbe, Forward to NLT Transformational Study Bible)

Matthew 7:24,25 (NIV) - “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” • Let’s not be those people who simply listen to or read the Word of God… • Let’s be people who put it into practice. • Let God’s Word transform you into the image of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does God’s Word Change You? James 1:22-25