Be Doers of the Word James 1:22
Be Doers of the Word Hearing without doing James 1:22-25 Build your house on the rock Matt. 7:24-27 Jews not saved by having the Law Rom. 2:13 Blessed are those who hear and keep Luke 11:28 If you hear and don’t act on what you hear, you’re deceiving yourself James 1:22 If you hear the word and do what it says, you’ll receive God’s blessing James 1:25
Be Doers of the Word Keep most of law without doing all James 2:10-11 Pharisees should’ve obeyed all Matt. 23:23 Rich young ruler lacked just one thing Luke 18:18-24 A powerful, shocking image Mark 9:43-48 If you fail in one point of the law, you’re guilty, you’re a lawbreaker James 2:10-11 Speak and act like law-abiding citizens James 1:12
Be Doers of the Word Speaking without doing James 2:14 Claiming to have faith James 2:14 Claiming to serve God Matt. 7:21 Claiming to know God I John 2:3-6; Titus 1:16 Claiming to love Jesus John 14:15, 21, 23 It’s important to confess our faith, but it must be more than just words
Be Doers of the Word Faith without doing James 2:14-26 Demons acknowledged Jesus Mark 1:23-24; Matt. 8:29 Would we consider Abraham a man of faith if he had not taken Isaac up the mountain? Gen. 22 Inaction would’ve proven disbelief Heb. 11:17-19 Everyone believed, but only Rahab acted Josh. 2:8-11, 24; 6:21, 25 If we believe but have no works, faith will not save us – it’s useless, it’s dead James 2:17 If we show our faith by our works, we’re justified like Abraham and Rahab and others James 2:24
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” Are you a doer of the word? Is there something you haven’t done? Repented and been baptized? Is there something you aren’t doing? Worship, prayer, being faithful, helping others? “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” James 1:22
Be Doers of the Word James 1:22
Be Doers of the Word Self-approved but not doing James 1:26-27; 3:13-14 Jews prided themselves on the law they did not keep Rom. 2:17-24 Accurately measuring self Rom. 12:3-8 We seek God’s approval, not our own, through diligence 2nd Cor. 10:17-18; 2nd Tim. 2:15 We will find real approval when we put God’s word into practice James 1:27
Be Doers of the Word Judging instead of doing James 4:11-12 Does not contradict our responsibility to help sinners James 5:19-20; Col. 1:28; Gal. 2:11; John 7:24 Sinful judgment involved slander James 3:14; 4:1-3 Selfish – intended to tear others down, not help them Diotrephes was a judge, not a doer 3rd John 1:9-10 We preach God’s law and his judgment Acts 17:30-31 One cannot be a lawgiver and judge as well as a doer who is subject to the law James 2:12
Be Doers of the Word Knowing right without doing it James 4:17 We learn what is right in God’s word Psa. 119:172, 137 We must do it Matt. 28:20 Pharisees knew right, but failed in practice and teaching Matt. 5:19-20 Jesus taught his disciples to be servants, but knew it would be difficult to practice John 13:17 We must learn what’s right and do it Failure is sin James 4:17
Be Doers of the Word Caring for others without doing James 5:19-20 Care without action is useless James 2:15-16 1st John 3:18 Jesus was moved to help Mark 6:34; Luke 5:29-31 Paul cared therefore he preached Rom. 10:1, 14 Care enough to address problems Matt. 18:15; Prov. 27:5-6 Care enough to help sinners be free 2nd Tim. 2:24-26 Love is shown in serving, God will not overlook it Heb. 6:10 Do you care enough to act? James 5:16, 19-20
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” Are you a doer of the word? Is there something you haven’t done? Repented and been baptized Acts 2:38 Is there something you aren’t doing? Worship, prayer, repentance, helping others… “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” James 1:22