come fully aware of his condition and need, and yet goes away and immediately forgets all of his prob lems. He loses his concern and grasp on reality. The contrast is seen in the man who, according to verse 25, looks into the perfect law of liberty and stays steadfastly there. For the child of God obedience to the Scriptures is really not optional. It is some thing which the Lord demands of you and me. Note the crucial word "continueth" (vrs. 25). Oh, that we would see more constancy for the Saviour in all our experiences of life. We must literally live out the teachings of the Word of God. James rebukes all mere religion in outward form. Such can never bring forth true Christ-like love and purity of life. Without attempting to define religion, James simply presents a showcase of two examples of truly dedicated performances (vrs. 27). This involves concern and com passion for the suffering and be reaved, as well as keeping oneself unspotted from the world. The spiritual man will portray the love of Christ as he ministers for the Saviour in th eworld. At the same time he does not identify himself with the world nor even conform to it. James emphasizes the sovereign work of God in salvation apart from any human effort or contri bution. Genuine Christians will al ways prove the reality of their faith. There will be deeds of kindness for the needy and a steadfastness from the world's allurements. God has established three great institutions: the home, human gov ernment, and the church. A Chris tian home is more than a house
Nothing can affect a Christian so greatly in this life as the applica tion of the Word of God to the believer's heart. We are exhorted to receive the truth the Lord has for us (vrs. 18). We should be very swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow also to anger (vrs. 19). The Bible teaches us that we are to put aside all filthiness and the gross display of wickedness which permeates so ciety today. We are to allow the engrafted Word of God to find lodgement in our hearts, and thus to bring us eternal salvation (vrs. 21 ). In verses 22 to 27 of the first chapter, we get a glimpse of how we should look at ourselves. Mir rors reveal things as they are, but they cannot change what they see. The Scriptures reveal facts to us, both about God as well as about ourselves. But unlike a mirror the Bible does have an inherent pow er to bring about the necessary changes as we allow the Holy Spir it to work in us. As believers our responsibility does not end with the reading of the Scriptures on Sunday. We must practice those precepts which will show forth the Saviour to the world. Faith, gener ated by the Holy Spirit, will move forward from hearing the Word to doing what it teaches in every area of life. It is easy to deceive ourselves. How good we become at rational izing things we do and say. If this is a part of our practice then we are only fooling ourselves. Faith calls for immediate action (vrs. 26). To behold one's natural face is to see what he is like now. It re flects his present state of existence. It is sad to see a man who has be
Page 56
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker