Ephesians 5:18-33; 6:1-9 and Colossians 3:16-25; 4:1 are two interesting passages to compare. In Ephesians 5:18, we read, “be filled with the Spirit” and in Colossians 3:16, we read, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Each passage then describes how being filled with the Spirit and letting the Word dwell in us richly will positively impact our relationship with God, with our fellow believers, with our spouse, our parents, our children, our employers, and our employees. In other words, each of these commands found in Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16, if obeyed, will make a positive and powerful difference in our lives as followers of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is actively working in the life of every Christian to enable us to be our best for God and do our best for God; and the Spirit uses the Word in our lives to speak to us and to lead us. The Word is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b), the tool the Spirit uses to transform us and make us more like Jesus.
With this as our understanding, we can see that the more I allow the Word of Christ to dwell richly in me, the more I can give the Holy Spirit to work with to transform my life.
To do a job right, it’s best to use the right tools. In an article, 10 Different Hazards of Using the Wrong Tool for the Job, the author gives examples of people using the wrong tools to carry out a task, like: using a knife instead of a screwdriver, using pliers to tighten bolts instead of a wrench, using a flat-head screwdriver on a Phillips head screw, using a hammer instead of a rubber mallet.
Well, when it comes to the work of making us into the likeness of Christ, the Holy Spirit needs access to the tool of the Word of God in our lives, rather than worldly philosophy, personal opinion, popular trends, or man-made traditions. So how do I allow the Word of God to dwell richly in me? James tells us in our passage. (READ TEXT)
At this point, we want to address what James says about God’s word in the latter part of verse 21. To understand what he’s speaking about, we need to recognize the Bible speaks of salvation in three phases:
1. Salvation past (justification). This is the act of God whereby He forgives the sinner of all his sins – past, present, and future – and declares us righteous in His eyes and free from guilt and punishment. It is an immediate and instantaneous act of God upon the our confession and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9). When I am born again through repentance and faith in Christ, I am immediately saved from the penalty of sin (Ephesians 2:8). I am saved in my spirit (Romans 8:9).
2. Salvation present (sanctification). The meaning of sanctification is “to be set apart.” The believer is set apart: 1) by God, 2) for God, 3) from sin, 4) unto a holy life, and 5) to be made to live in the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29). It’s a work done by the Holy Spirit in our life (2 Thessalonians 2:13), where we move from spiritual
infancy to maturity over time as we learns God’s Word (2 Peter 2:2) and choose to live according to God’s will. Sanctification is spiritual growth (2 Peter 3:18). By this process, I am being progressively saved from the power of sin (1 Corinthians 1:18). I am being saved in my soul as I progressively have my mind renewed according to God’s will (Romans 12:2), my emotions renewed according to God’s will, and my choices made new according to God’s will. This process is completed when the believer enters the Lord’s presence (1 John 3:2).
3. Salvation future (glorification). Glorification is the final phase of the saved sinner’s salvation when he is given a perfect glorified body like that of our risen Lord. This will occur when Christ returns to make all things new (Philippians 3:20-21). There will be a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). Jesus will remove Satan, Satan’s influence, and Satan’s people from this world and we will eventually be saved from the presence of sin (1 Peter 1:5). We will be ultimately saved in our body.
So, as James speaks letting God’s Word have its way in our lives, he is speaking of the second phase of our salvation, our growing to live more like Jesus. So, how do I let God’s Word have its way in me?
1. I approach God’s Word with a repentant spirit - v. 21a
When we sin, we take control of our lives. By definition, then, the Holy Spirit is not in control, but we are. The importance of confessing sin whenever we become aware of it is critical to keeping the Holy Spirit in control of our life and allowing God’s Word to have its way in us.
At this point, I think it might be good for us to understand the three types of individuals the Bible describes in 1 Corinthians 2:9-3:3.
The Natural Man - 1 Cor. 2:14
Notice that this person does not have the Holy Spirit, he is lost, without Christ. So he is left to live under the influence of Satan through the world, which appeals to his feelings, which impacts his thinking, which influences his choices and the way he lives.
The Spiritual Man - 1 Cor. 2:9-13; 15
This person has the Holy Spirit, because they have been saved through faith in Christ. So they can live under the influence of the Spirit through the Word, which renews their thinking, which influences their feelings, which impacts the choices and the way they live.
The Carnal Man - 1 Cor. 3:1-3
When we allow sin to break our fellowship with God, then the Spirit cannot influence us the Word as he would like, and we are left to live life under the influence of Satan through the world, just like we did before he were saved and received the Holy Spirit.
The questions for the Christian isn’t, “Do I have the Holy Spirit,” but, “Does the Holy Spirit have me?” If there is unconfessed sin in my life, then the Holy Spirit does not have me, but as Paul puts it in Ephesians 4:27, I have “given the devil a foothold.” So, to maximize the Spirit’s influence in my life through use of the Word of God, I must confess my sin and make sure I am in fellowship with God.
Let’s put sin away, James says. The Greek word is apothemenoi, which means to remove something as one would remove clothing. To take off something is a conscious action so we might put on something else. And that something else is the new Christlike life we have to life.
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” - Romans 13:14 (ESV)
2. I approach God’s Word with a receptive heart - v. 21b
James uses a play on words here, I think. In verse 21b, he refers to the living Word (Jesus) and in verses 22 - 25, he refers to the written Word.
In other words, don’t choose to live according to the flesh, like the natural man, but live like the person you were recreated in Christ to be, the spiritual man. And let the living Word live His life through you as you are influenced by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
Notice James says we are to receive the Word planted in us, not achieve the Word planted in us. The idea is not that God saved us and then left us to our own devices to live a life that pleases Him. All we need to live a life that pleases God is within us through the presence of the Holy Spirit and the person of Christ.
Me living for Jesus is living by the power of self
Jesus living through me is living by the power of the Spirit
Me living for Jesus is living to please others
Jesus living through me is living to please God
Me living for Jesus is living from the outside in
Jesus living through me is living from the inside out (Phil. 2:12)
Me living for Jesus is depending on my resources
Jesus living through me is depending on God’s resources
Me living for Jesus focuses on “got to”
Jesus living through me focuses on “get to”
Me living for Jesus leads to legalism
Jesus living through me leads to liberty
The Holy Spirit wants to use the written Word to teach about the new life we can live by the living Word living His life through us.
3. I approach God’s Word with a responsive attitude - v. 22-25
As I look into the mirror of God’s Word, I recognize what is new about me in Christ. But I also need to remember what is new about me in Christ and allow the Spirit to reveal that newness in me. Paul speaks about this transformation process in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18:
“Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” - 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NKJV)
Through the written Word, the Spirit reveals the newness placed within us. As we live in the reality of that newness, we are transformed into the likeness of Christ, as the living Word lives His life through us.
I have a “new to me” car. My old car didn’t have a back up camera, my new car does. I am learning to back up in a different way. My old car didn’t have Bluetooth technology, my new car does. I am learning to talk on the phone while driving (which I know I probably shouldn’t be doing anyway) in a different way, and I learning how to enjoy music (through the playlist on my phone rather than a CD or the radio) in a different way. My old car didn’t have a safety feature to let me know when I drift out of my lane or slow my car down when I get too close to the car in front of me. I am relating to traffic in a different way. I’m learning to drive in a different way.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
As we approach God’s Word with a repentant spirit, a receptive heart, and a responsive attitude, the Holy Spirit will be free to lead us to live the new life that God has planned for us.
