Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20110102.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
James: A Sermonic Call Unto Practical Godliness
Part III: Effectively Using Scripture In Relation To Life's Trials
(James 1:19-27)
  1. Introduction
    1. Since Psalm 119:105 and Isaiah 8:20 reveal God's Word illumines life's pathway that would otherwise be in total spiritual darkness, using Scripture effectively life's trials is a great necessity.
    2. James 1:19-27 thus teaches the effective use of God's Word in relation to life's trials (as follows):
  2. Effectively Using Scripture In Relation To Life's Trials, James 1:19-27.
    1. Having discussed life's trials in James 1:2-18, James directed his focus on the right use of Scripture that his readers might take advantage of it for edifying insight.
    2. It is essential that we know how to use Scripture in trials, for the spiritual darkness we face in the world is so intense, lacking God's insight leaves us doomed to fail (Isaiah 8:20-22) and be hurt (Matthew 15:14).
    3. As such, the believer must first heed God's Word to be helped by it in trials, James 1:19-21:
      1. In the context of trials (James 1:2-18), James gave his readers a very important command, using the expression "know this" (iste), James 1:19a; Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament , p. 823.
      2. That command directed the believer to (a) be quick to listen to Scripture, (b) slow to speak out his own ideas and (c) slow to become angry in responding to problems or injustices in his trials, James 1:19b.
      3. If one reacts to trials with soon becoming angry at frustrating issues [in the implied context of failing to heed what Scripture says and follow his own ideas], he does not work God's righteousness, Jas. 1:20.
      4. Thus, under trial, we believers must remove all of our moral filth and the abundance of evil in us or that affects us in the godless environment in which we live to receive meekly God's implanted Word, that which is rooted in the soul because one has heard and believed it, James 1:21; Ibid.
    4. Also, the believer must then apply God's Word to his life for help in his trials, James 1:22-25:
      1. It is not enough that we only accept what God's Word says, but we must apply it in our lives in our trials or we only deceive ourselves into thinking all is well because we heard the Word, James 1:22.
      2. To illustrate, one who hears God's Word but doesn't apply it is like a man who sees his faults in a mirror, but goes his way without making any adjustments to those faults, James 1:23-24. In such a case, even looking in the mirror is a vain exercise, meaning hearing but not applying Scripture causes even hearing God's Word to be but an exercise in futility!
      3. Thus, it is essential that we not only remember what we hear God's Word say, but that we also adjust our actions according to its directives that we be blessed in our deeds as we face life's trials, Jas. 1:25.
    5. The believer must finally continue heeding and applying God's Word for victory in trials, Jas. 1:26-27:
      1. James illustrated the importance of continuing to heed God's Word in all aspects of his life by noting that his "religion" (KJV), a better translation being "external observances" of uprightness (threskos, Ibid.), are futile if one does not heed God's will regarding tightly controlling his speech, James 1:26.
      2. Accordingly, James referred to two notable realms of true godliness in living out the righteousness of God the Father as presented in His Word, realms that hypocritical people might overlook because addressing them produced little if any self-centered advantages, James 1:27:
        1. True godliness shows up in one's caring for orphans and for widows in their affliction, Jas. 1:27a. These lowly people in the culture of the day did not have the means to return the favor, so helping them demonstrated a truly caring heart in line with the true righteousness that God desired.
        2. True godliness showed up in one's keeping himself from being polluted by the world and its lusts, James 1:27b NIV; 1 John 2:15-16. Such godliness is spotless (aspilon) versus the moral filth named in James 1:21 (Ibid., p. 823-824), implying a faultlessness in one's motives of living versus the externalistic ritualism of hypocritical folk with false, selfish or lustful motives, Ibid., p. 824.
Lesson: For God's aid and spiritual victory in our trials, it is ESSENTIAL that we HEAR, APPLY and KEEP ON HEARING and APPLYING GOD'S WORD, for we live in a world of great darkness and its destruction that leaves even our OWN ideas and reactions to life's trials a TROUBLESOME threat!

Application: May we cease relying on all other resources of insight to rely on God's Word alone!