Sermon Outline:

Act upon the word, don't merely listen to it! James 1:22-25

1. Sermon intro, Ezekiel 33:30-32

1. Mere listeners to the word cheat themselves! James 1:22

1. James 1:22, "but be doers of the word,"[ESV]

21. "but" This word in our text, moves us backward and forward. It reaches back to v21. James had just strongly exhorted us to rid ourselves of sinful behavior and receive the word which is rooted with in  us with teachable spirits! For only his word, not self effort can bring about the sanctification that God desires in our lives! The word but also moves us forward, preparing us for more teaching regarding the purpose  of this paragraph.

2. "Be" this is the ESV translation of the Greek word, "ginesthe" "to become". This speaks of growth and change! We will see that these are expected and commanded throughout this paragraph! The NASB translates, "prove yourselves"-[That is show yourselves to be!]. Also see, 1 peter 2:2.

1. "Doers of the word" doers are individuals who put into practice God's divine teachings, (namely, the word the Bible) in their daily Christian experience! They live life from God's perspective! Indeed, this is normal Christian living! See, psalm 119:60

1. "and not hears only," these are Ezekiel 33:30-32 persons! They enjoy hearing God's teachings, but they are listeners who are uncaring! The word does not move beyond their audio Bibles! It is never put on to the stages of their lives! They are not lived out, not acted upon in daily life!

1. "deceiving yourselves." "deceiving." is the translation of the Greek word, "planao" "To cause someone to Move away from truth[Namely, God's divine teachings without direction] and right behavior. leading them astray from the right path".[Away from God's holy Way of life]. The NASB renders, "who delude themselves" that is, they're trying to convince themselves of something that is not true? Namely, that living wrong is better than living, right! if we are just mere listeners to the word, we will end up reasoning contrary to the Bible, and we will draw wrong conclusions about life as well, ultimately cheating our own selves of the blessedness that James 1:25 mentions! we open ourselves up to ungodly influences! Anything that the father doesn't want us to have we don't need it! see, psalm 1:1

III. Mere hears of the word clean forget what they have listened to! James 1:23&24

1. James 1:23: "for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer," that is if a person only listens to the Bible and not one who applies it to daily life!

2. v23. "he is like a man who looks intensely at his natural face in a mirror." So the one who hears but will not apply God's teachings to daily experience, is like a"aner"[Greek]"that is an adult male" not a woman here. Who is focusing very hard upon the face of his birth in a mirror! Robertson points out that the mirrors of the ancients were not glass, but very polished metal 

and silver or usually of copper or tin".

3. James. 1:24: for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like". So this one peaks at himself and off he goes: had not planned on spending to much  time in the mirror! And so, immediately he forgets what he was like". "forgets" greek, "LETHE" the word speaks of complete memory loss, a clean forgetting of what was heard in God's word! This is a spiritual condition in which the individual ignores God's word: they disregard it! Small wonder they forget how they looked in the mirror! Of course, for our purposes, the mirror is the scriptures! It shows us how we look spiritually! If a person can't remember their spiritual condition, they will stay secular and worldly! They cheat themselves because they settle for the devil's best, and they will live lies that will not bring glory to God! And they will miss the blessedness spoken of in James 1:25!

1. Acting upon the word results in God's favor James 1:25

1. James 1:25

a."but the one who looks into the perfect law" in contrast to the individual of verses 23 and 24 this person " looks into the perfect law" the NASB ads that this one, "looks intently at the perfect law" so this one is not in a hurry to get away from the perfect law, as was the individual in verse 24 who could not wait to get away from the mirror[Namely, the word of God],  but instead looked it over ever so closely  having a strong passion and a eagerness for the word! see, Psalm 119:131. He does so because it is "the perfect law", "this refers to   his divine teachings that gives spiritual freedom":

1. "the law of liberty," God's word as the divine standard[2 Timothy, 3:16]: While calling them to a transformed life of obedience[1 peter 1:14]: Grounded in grace[James 4:6]. It's about faith in Christ[Ephesians 1:15], and applying his teachings, which brings true freedom from sins bondage[Matthew 7:24-27]". Trying harder to do right will not help us! "self effort apart from trust in Christ, results in defeat in the Christian life!"

1. And perseveres," or nasb(2020), "and has continued in it" mainly the steadfast looking into and the following of God's word! See, Acts 17:11

1. "being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts," so this is not a person who doesn't keep or remember what he has heard, but rather one who lives out the word in daily experience!

1. He will be blessed in his doing". Such an individual will experience, "makarios"(Greek). "Profound well-being through God's favor". This parallels, the favor of God found in psalm 1:1, translated blessed[The Hebrew word is"asre". If we live by the word rather than merely listening to it, we will experience in our lives "stability[a firmness in our lives], peace and well-being. Also, the ability to cope with life".(from Dr. Sims class notes on Psalm 1). mirror listeners to the word do not have such spiritual blessings operating in their lives! It is not two one's benefit to remain a listener of the word rather than living it out in one's life! You will cheat yourself of God's favor: forget his instruction about how to be free from sins power, and you will not experience the blessings of "makarios in your life!!

Helps for those who want to keep on becoming those who live by the word and not merely listen to it!

1. Abide in Christ, John 15:5
2. Meditate on his word, psalm 1:2
3. Pray for God to do his work of sanctification in your life, Ephesians 6:18
4. Watch the company you keep, psalm 119:63-1 corinthians 15:33&34
5. Listen to edifying Christian music, Colossians 3:16