Don't Just Listen!

James 1:18–25 18He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession. 19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

I. Salvation—An act of God declaring a sinner is Justified. v. 18–20

A. Salvation is by the Will of God. vs 18

John 1:12–13 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of [the will of] God.

B. Salvation is by the Word of God. vs 18

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

C. Salvation is for the Worship of God. vs 18

Psalm 102:8 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

Isaiah 43:7b everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.

II. Sanctification—The Continued work of God in a believer’s life where He moves us into being more like Christ.

A. We are to put off all sin. v. 21

B. We are to put on all righteousness. v. 22–24

Eph 4:17–32 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. 20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus. 22 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

When is a liar not a liar? When he tells the TRUTH. Eph 4:25

When is a thief not a thief? When he stops STEALING and starts GIVING. Eph 4:28

III. Security—Knowing that you have been saved and are being sanctified.

A. Security is not based on how you feel.

9/11—many people felt safe

B. Security is based in action. v 25

1. Continue reading the Word. (Law of Liberty)

2. Continue doing the Word.

Application

1. God saved us for growth.

2. Growth comes from repentance of sin, and replacing with righteousness. Put off, Put on.

3. Put it into practice!