©lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme Scripture: --James 4:17 “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.”

Theme Scripture Chapter One: 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:27

In essence, we must no longer be smudged with dirt, must no longer wreak of whatever defiles us and we must humble ourselves to receive the Word of GOD which HE plants in our hearts which is able to save our soul. According to the Holy Word of GOD when we repent of sin and freely invite JESUS into our heart because we have faith in HIS saving and redeeming sacrifice, our heart undergoes a transformation. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2

To the body of Chapter One: 

Doers—Not Hearers Only

Following is key information for anyone and everyone!

“22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 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; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

Imagine wanting to plant vegetables for food. You watch a video on how to plant and nurture with keen interest. You have the plant, you want to enjoy the fruit it has the potential to produce but you do not follow the instructions in the video. You now ‘know’ how to do it but if you do not do it what good is the knowledge? Knowing GOD, knowing our SAVIOR, knowing the Bible and knowing the HOLY work of the HOLY SPIRIT is knowledge learned. But if like the veggie, you do not follow the instructions for the potential fruit of the Holy Spirit then all you have is knowledge. And vs 24 is so correct. What is the saying in the world, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’? Same with Bible knowledge. Having the knowledge but doing nothing with it will only in time fade from our ‘memory/knowing’ and eventually not only disappear but could become lost and no longer influential. 

Here is a fact some believe: If you have been born again you are saved and the Holy Spirit lives in you. This is true. Exactly what Jesus said in John 3:3! Some believe you cannot be ‘un’saved. It is true that belief/faith in Jesus as having been put to death, resurrected to life along with a repented heart equals salvation. Nothing we do adds to that salvation. That salvation, the presence of Christ’s Holy Spirit in our hearts should continuously not only help us acquire knowledge but also remind us to DO something with that knowledge, primarily live it and share it with those who do not yet have the ‘good news’ of salvation by Jesus! But, if you become lazy, no longer listening to the urging of the Holy Spirit then like any other thing in our human body our saved heart could fade to lethargy to the point of entropy. Entropy is ‘the gradual decline into disorder’.  The  lack of using our knowledge can leave you so very vulnerable to sin. The consequences can be grave. Does it mean you are no longer saved? Only GOD knows that answer. But, the goal of the enemy of GOD has his eyes set on taking every believer out. He could see the disinterested inactive heart like a vegetable plant that never got planted and cared for in the garden to produce fruit. After exposure to long days without nutrients from the ground or rain water, no protection from bugs or disease it wilts and if not rescued by action may likely perish. It is not that the ‘work’ of keeping our faith strong brings us salvation. No, only Jesus does that. But, that salvation generally produces the work to keep your heart working eternally. Again, salvation comes from faith in Jesus and a repented heart. That fact should motivate us to be so grateful we do not become lazy in our walk with the Lord. In every lifetime together with circumstances changes can occur for the moment. Check our this observation from King Solomon: “I returned and saw under the sun that—

The race is not to the swift,

Nor the battle to the strong,

Nor bread to the wise,

Nor riches to men of understanding,

Nor favor to men of skill;

But time and chance happen to them all.” [Italics and bold added for emphasis]- Ecclesiastes 9:11 

We must stay the course, relationally with our Savior, pleading always as King David did: “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name.” — Psalm 86:11 NOTICE the action on David’s part – WALK in YOUR truth/Unite my heart/Fear Your Name. Do any of those indicate a sedentary faith? If this is difficult here is an excellent prayer King David wrote that may be of assistance to all of us. “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God;Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” – Psalm 143:10 There is nothing in his words from three thousand years ago which is out of step for the Christian walk today. Nothing!    

 25 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.”

There is evidence of being a doer of works which will be a blessing to those who are busy in the Lord. Busy is a subjective term. Each person has their life and being busy in the Lord will look differently from Christian to Christian but even if it is with all your might and it is really nothing in comparison to others, the key is ‘doing’ not ‘hearing’ only. The defining scripture of a doing Christian is found here: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Note the final admonition by the Apostle Paul after the definition of fruitage of the Spirit. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Again, activities, living, walking in the Spirit! 

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

And here comes the one thought that gets stuck in the craw of many who feel they are ‘religious’. Just the saying ‘I am religious’ can be a deception we have fallen for and should be well evaluated each time we think or say it. What does that even mean to me, why am I justifying myself with that statement? What do I think it counts to me as credit?Remember, salvation is from Jesus. Our lives living in HIM should be Holy  Spirit driven which produces its own fruit. Living a life directed by Jesus’ Holy Spirit will be evident to those looking on and they will themselves define it as you being religious. That is what is meant by James “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

That is it for James chapter One review. Please do your own research on all of James chapter one and see what the Holy Spirit reveals to you from your study. 

Remember the theme scripture too: “Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.” We will get to a deeper look at this when we review chapter four of the Book of James.

Chapter two should be posted July 18, 2023, GOD Willing. 

©lightwritingmatters 2015

 NOTICE: If you are feeling inclined or feeling led to want Jesus as your Savior, your leader, your King, your source of Peace and Joy but are feeling woefully inadequate, uninformed on how best to get to know HIM, or find yourself at wit’s end because you believe yourself trapped and in need of GOD, please know Jesus stands ready to welcome you with HIS Holy Spirit. Believe these words: “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “—John 3:16

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” – Acts 3:19-20

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

If you need help, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond.  †

DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post. Images are sourced from various places, mostly from travels done by the author and therefore the sole property of the author.