1. James 1:19-21

2. Gospel of Christ: Power of God unto Salvation – Romans 1:16
God’s Desire that Every Sinner should Hear it – Mark 16:15,16
Produces Faith Essential to Salvation in the Heart of the Hearer- Romans 10:17; John 20:30,31
Heart Properly Prepared, “noble & good” – Luke 8:15
Also Attitude of Heart Child of God Must Have- James 1:21

3. Christians Are-
Begotten by the word of truth (v.18) Urged to “receive with meekness The Implanted Word.” (v.21)

4. Characteristics needed:
“Swift to hear” the Word – James 1:19
1 Peter 2:1,2 “desire the pure milk of the word”
Matthew 5:6 hungering & thirsting for righteousness
Some grow Dull of Hearing – Hebrews 5:11-14

5. Characteristics needed:
“Slow to speak” with your own Judgments of the Word & even more “slow” in undertaking to be a teacher & dispenser of it - James 1:19
Proverbs 29:20
James 1:26 – not bridle tongue… makes religion useless

6. Characteristics needed:
“Slow to wrath” wrath of man does not produce righteousness of God – James 1:19,20
2 Kings 5:11,12 – Naaman became furious….
James 1:21
1 Peter 2:1

7. Receive the “Implanted Word”
Luke 8:11-15 “seed is the word of God” “having heard the word with a noble & good heart, keep it & bear fruit with patience.”
We are Responsible for the Reception we give to the Word- James 1:21

8. Meekness defined: Three Times in NT: James 1:21; 3:13; 1 Peter 3:15
“The opposite of wrath”
“yielding, receptive manner.”
“refers to that inwrought grace of spirit which accepts God’s word without backtalk, dispute.” [Lenski, Commentary]

9. Meekness defined:
“Expresses that temper or spirit in which we accept His dealing with us without disputing or resisting…. It is only the humble heart which is also the meek, & which does not fight against God, & more or less struggle & contend with Him.” R.C. Trench, Synonyms of the NT
“The teachable spirit is not blinded by its own overmastering prejudices, but is clear-eyed to the truth.” Barclay on James

10. We must have this attitude
Because we are God’s children!
HE has spoken & WE must be READY TO LISTEN!
Must NOT TRY TO:
Avoid what we deem to be an undesirable command
Rationalize disobedience
Explain away the Word

11. One who hears sound doctrine but does not put it into practice will not be profited by it, but will only deceive himself
James 1:22-25

12. The Christian who Conscientiously applies these instructions from James to his life, will be saved through the Word
James 1:21