James 1:23

James 1:23 says, For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  James then compared a person who was a hearer but not a doer of the word to a person looking at their face in a mirror.  He could only see a reflection, but not what he looked like to others. When we look at ourselves in a mirror, we can only see a reflection of our outward appearance and not what we look like spiritually to ourselves or to others.  The same is true of those who profess to be Christians but never do anything to show the world that they are.  

Verse twenty-four adds, For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  After a person looks at himself or herself in a mirror, once they are no longer looking in the mirror, they leave not remembering what they looked like in the mirror.  We then have a mental image of what we look like, but it often is not what other people see.  When we hear God’s word, but it has no impact on how we live our lives, then we may see ourselves as being a Christian, but what we do or don’t do may show the world something entirely different. 

Verse twenty-five continues, But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  James then said if someone looked into the perfect law of liberty that we receive by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and continue to live by faith in Him, then that person will not be just a forgetful hearer but a faithful doer of God’s work.  When a person is a faithful doer of the word, he or she will be blessed by God, not for the work itself, but by faithfully doing the work God calls them to.  We cannot just be professed Christians who do nothing for God and be blessed by God.  Our actions should be consistent with our words.  

Verse twenty-six states, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.  James then says that if we profess to be a Christian but cannot control what we say then we deceive our hearts and our religion is vain.  There are many religious people today who do not seem to be able to control what they say about others or the world in general.  What they say becomes their religion instead of faith in Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit directing their speech.  

Verse twenty-seven adds, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  James gives us the characteristics of pure religion.  He said that it is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, or to put those in need above us.  If we have no concern for the less fortunate, then we are not doing what God calls us to do, and our words of faith are empty.

James 1:19

James 1:19 says, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  James asked that Christians be swift to hear and slow to speak and slow to be angry.  We need to hear what people, and God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have to say before we speak against them.  Even then, if we disagree with them, we are not to speak to them out of anger but with the love of God. 

Verse twenty adds, For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  James said that the wrath of people does not show the righteousness of God to others, and as Christians this should be our goal.  Some might say that we have to speak out against those who proclaim something contrary to God’s word, and this is true, but we shouldn’t do so out of anger for the person, but only out of concern for their salvation.  Of course, James was writing to his fellow Christians, so this should especially apply to our relationship with them. 

Verse twenty-one continues, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  James said Christians are to lay aside all filthiness and inclination to do evil and receive with meekness the engrafted word of God instead.  As followers of Christ, we should have God’s word engrafted in us.  We shouldn’t rely on what we believe based on worldly standards, which is our normal state, but should have God’s word engrafted in us instead to guide us by His righteousness.  

Verse twenty-two concludes, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  James said that we are not to just hear God’s word but are to do what it tells us as well. We can quote the Bible all we want to, but if our actions are not consistent with what we profess to believe, then we are not obeying God.  What we do as followers of Christ must be consistent with what we proclaim to believe about God. 

 

James 1:12

 James 1:12 says, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.  James said those who endured temptation were blessed, since when they had their faith tried and didn’t give in to temptation, they would receive a crown of life from the Lord, which He has promised to those who love Him.  We aren’t to look for things that tempt us, but there will be many things that do.  Then, when we are tempted, we need to just remain faithful to God by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.  

Verse thirteen adds, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  James then tells us that we should never say that temptation comes from God, which would put the blame for our failure on Him.  He further plainly states that God does not tempt anyone.  God may allow our faith to be tested by temptation, but He will never be the source of the temptation.  

Verse fourteen continues, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  James added that when we are tempted, it is by our own lusts, and I would add by Satan who knows how to tempt us.  

Verse fifteen concludes, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  James said that lust begins in our thoughts and when it takes over, we give in to sin.  If we do something sinful without knowing that it is sinful, it is not the same as just knowingly giving in to sin.  

Verse sixteen states, Do not err, my beloved brethren.  James then challenged his brothers to not err in their faith and by insinuation give in to sin.  We cannot be faithful to God if we err in our faith.  

Verse seventeen adds, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  James said that all good and perfect gifts come from God above.  He also said that these gifts were from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness.  God will never change His standards to allow people to live with unrepentant sin. 

Verse eighteen continues, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.  James said that God brings us salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.  We are to be the first fruits of God’s gift of salvation when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We will never be a second or third generation Christian in God’s view, but when we accept His gift of salvation, we are always a part of the first fruit.