The Believers Relationship to the Word. James 1:18-25 {18} In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. {19} This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone 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 .

INTRODUCTION:
What is your relationship to the Word of God. Let me share what I believe about the Bible. I comfortable using three words beginning with the letter "I" to describe what I believe about the Bible.

The word Inspired, tells us God breathed the scripture. He inspired the writers to write. What is written is the word of God.

The word Infallible, tell us the Bible will not lead someone in a fallible way when it is properly interpreted and applied.

The word Inerrant, tells us the Bible is without error in the original language. God has also watched over the translations so mankind has always had a trustworthy Bible.

I prefer the New American Standard Bible but I believe the King James and the New International Bibles are trustworthy. When I go to the Bible I approach it as the very word of God. I do not go to the Bible looking for a word form God, I believe it is all the word of God. Therefore I believe we Receive much from the word of God.

1. We Receive Our . . Birth Instructions from the Word.

2. We Receive Our . . Behavioral Instructions from the Word.

3. We Receive Our . . Blessing Instructions from the Word.

1. We receive our . . Birth instructions from the Word. v 18 -19 a

{18} In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.

A. The . . Plan of Birth. v 18 a
"In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, . . . "

1. The work of the Word.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB) In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

1 Peter 1:23 (NASB) for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

B. The . . Process of Birth. v 18 b
". . . so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. "

1. First Fruits belong to Him.
2. First Fruits indicate second, third etc.

C. The . . Perception of Birth. v 19 a
"This you know, my beloved brethren."

            1. You know Salvation is God's Work..
            2. You know Salvation is God's Gift.
            3. You know Salvation is God's Starting Place.

ILLUSTRATION:
It is a joy to be around new Christians. Most of them have a joy and expectancy.
I heard one evangelist say "I like to be around new Christians, when you say Jesus is coming again the look up into the sky and say right now?" Older Christian want to debate the different theories about he second coming.

APPLICATION:

1 Pet 2:2
2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, (NAS)

2. We receive our . . Behavioral instructions from the Word. v 19 b - 24

v 19 b But let everyone 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.

A. Instructed In . . Swift Behavior. v 19 a
"But let everyone be quick to hear. . . "

Revelation 2:7 (NASB) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.'

B. Instructed In . . Slow behavior. v 19 b - 20
". . . slow to speak and slow to anger; . . . {20} for the anger of man
does not achieve the righteousness of God.

1. Speech Behavior. "slow to speak"

Matthew 12:36 (NASB) "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall
speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.

Psalms 19:14 (NASB) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Psalms 141:3 (NASB) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

2. Temperament behavior. "slow to anger"

Mark 3:5 (NASB) And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their
hardness of heart, He said(0) to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Ephesians 4:26 (NASB) BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Galatians 4:16 (NASB) Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the
truth?

C. Instructed In . . Secure behavior. v 21
{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.

            1. Secure In Receiving the . . Word.
                    a. Receive with Repentance. v 21 a "Put aside"
                    b. Receive with Readiness. v 21 b "in humility"
                    c. Receive with Relating. v 21 c "the word implanted,"

D. Instructed In . . Serving behavior. v 22-24
{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.

ILLUSTRATION:
Some young men in a college dorm decided to kidnap the opposing college mascot. The mascot was a mule. The boys decided to take the mule into their dorm. On e of the young men said what about the smell. One of the boys said "he will just have to get used to it."

APPLICATION:

By the laughter I can tell some of you have been in the boys dorm. But we are to live a clean, and pure life.

1 Pet 2:12
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe {them,} glorify God in the day of visitation. (NAS)

1 Pet 3:16
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (NAS)

3. We receive our . . Blessing instructions from the Word. v 25

{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 shall be blessed in what he does

A. Aiming . . to be blessed. v 25 a
"But one who looks intently at the perfect law, . . . " .

B. Abiding . . to be blessed. v 25 b
". . . and abides by it, . . . "

C.    Acting . . to be blessed. v 25 c
        " . . . not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man
        shall be blessed in what he does."

ILLUSTRATION:
In the Southern Baptist Convention a peace committee was elected. I was told by two different members of this committee that the laymen made the decisive votes and they were impressed by those who stood for and with the word of God. The principal of abiding swayed the layman whose mind had not been made up before the discussions.

The men and women who stood for and with the scriptures could give clear answers as to where they stood. Those of a less conservative persuasion seem to dance around the issues and never clearly stated what they believe.

APPLICATION:

John 15:4-7 (NAS)
4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither {can} you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

Conclusion The Believers Relationship to the Word.

1. We Receive Our . . Birth Instructions from the Word.

2. We Receive Our . . Behavioral Instructions from the Word.

3. We Receive Our . . Blessing Instructions from the Word.

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