Remember

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:22-25

The section of James we dealt with in my last post concluded with, "the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." We are going to deal with this same "implanted word" in the passages we are dealing with today (V. 22-25).

After pointing out that the "word" can save our souls, James continues, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Yes, the Word of God can and does save peoples souls, but do not deceive yourself into thinking that salvation has come upon you when the evidence shows otherwise. How are we to discern whether we are deceived? What are we to do in order to distinguish between the self-deceived and the genuine Christian? James addresses this question throughout the section we are looking at today. If we hear the Word of God and believe that we have acquired salvation through only hearing the Word of God, we are deceived. We must believe in the Word, and the only person who truly believes in the Word is the person who follows it whole-heartedly. And the only person who follows the Word whole-heartedly is the person who has been given the Holy Spirit. The only person who has been given the Holy Spirit is the person who has been given the salvation of Jesus Christ. We do not follow the Word of God because of how holy he is, but because of how holy he who lives within us is. Do not credit yourself for your righteous works, the moment you do so is the same moment your works become unrighteous.

"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror." Why do we look in a mirror? What purpose does this serve? We look in a mirror to get an accurate view of who we are. When we look in a mirror, we notice imperfections and faults. Just as when we hear the Word of God. When we hear God's Word, we realize who we truly are; we are fallen creatures of God. We are a people who have been saved by our creator. We are a people who need to realize our imperfections so that we can realize God's perfections. Only dwell on your imperfections to see the goodness of God, not to condemn yourself when God has accepted you.

"For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." This is where we run into trouble. We do not run into trouble if we look in the mirror (acknowledge who we are in Christ: a sinner who can be saved by grace). But we run into trouble if we forget what we looked like (forget who we are in relation to Christ and continue thinking we are saved). My friends, remember that you are a sinner. This will drive you to be a doer and not merely a hearer, and remind yourself of this fact every day again and again that you may remember the great grace Christ has offered.

"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." When we look at the perfect law given by God in relation to who we are, we get an accurate view of who we are and of who God is. Brothers and sisters, persevere in remembrance of who you are and of what God did for you. Do not hear and forget, but hear and act.

If the Christian forgets who they are in Christ, all is lost. Do you get that? If we forget we are saved by Christ, why live for Christ? And if we do not live for Christ, salvation has not truly been given. Remember who Christ is, what he has done, and who you are in relation to him, and this will drive you to live a life a sacrifice for him. And truly, he will be with you to the end of the age. Always my friends; remember.