Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: For the anger of man works not the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and extreme wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:19-27 KJ2000)
Previous posts showed our need to receive the revelation of the Word of God and the “implantation” of that Word into our souls. James tells us to receive with meekness the implanted Word. Now he tells us to do it, to do the Word.
I remember once hearing about or actually reading a quote by Martin Luther, the great reformer of Catholic heresies, which said that he wished that he could just discard or throw away the book of James. Why? Because James’ focus on works seemed to contradict Paul’s clear teaching of salvation by grace through faith. Paul says,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
The reality, though, is that Paul speaks about works in the very next verse, saying, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV) Paul possessed the same expectation that James had that Christians ought to walk in good works. James simply teaches Christians that the Word they wash themselves with should express itself in visible good works. If it does not, then one should consider whether or not the Word has been revealed to them and implanted in them. Remember, Paul said that you could fail this test! “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Cor. 13:5 (ESV)
If the Word is not implanted in you, then Jesus Christ is not in you. It is as simple as that. But it does not have to, and will not, end there. You will one day come to true faith in him if you have not already. But, continuing with our theme today, the idea of doing the Word is another expression for Paul’s teaching to the Philippians, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ….” Philip. 2:12 (ESV)
But, he doesn’t leave it here. He goes on, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philip. 2:13 (ESV) And, “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power…” 2 Thes. 1:11 (ESV)
And so, the point of it all is that a “doer of the Word” does works of faith by God’s power. This does not at all conflict with salvation by grace through faith. It simply establishes that our faith is in fact genuine. And, this doctrine clarifies that true “good works” are God’s works, not our own works of the flesh. The point of all our works should be “that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thes. 1:12 (ESV) Amen?
