True ReligionJames 1:21-27

Knowledge unapplied is useless

Command1:21-22

Receive the Word

“Word” = the commands taught by Jesus Christ

“implanted” = written in you the moment you believed

Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Receive the Word

Receive the Word

“Word” = the commands taught by Jesus Christ

“implanted” = written in you the moment you believed

“receive” = to welcome, accept, submit to

Receive the Word

Involves two things...① Turn away from what it prohibits② Practice what it commands

Motivation1:21-25

① it will “save your souls”“save” = to deliver, rescue“soul” = your life, yourself“save your soul” = “rescue your life”

“keep you from dying”

Why submit to the Word?

Why submit to the Word?

Ezekiel 18:26-27When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life (nephesh = “soul”).

Psalm 6:2,4Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed... Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.

Why submit to the Word?

① it will “save your souls” = deliver you from premature death

② disobedience brings self-deception

③ obedience brings God’s blessing

Why submit to the Word?

Why submit to the Word?

Consequences of sinself-deception uselessnessshame at Christ’s Judgment conflict with othersillness and death

Consequences of Obediencedivine wisdomusefulness to othersreward at Christ’s Judgmentpeace with othershealing and protection

The cost of obedience is nothing compared with

the cost of disobedience

Why submit to the Word?

Application1:26-27

Application

Avoid...evil speech (v26)evil influence of the world (v27)

Practice...charity towards the vulnerable

(v27)

“The world does not need a definition of religion as

much as it needs a demonstration.”

Martin Luther

Application

Youth Impact Faithful to the

Fatherless OWLS

Aggieland Pregnancy

Outreach Hope Pregnancy

Center Brazos Church

Pantry SOS Ministries

Care for the vulnerable

Matthew 7:24–27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock...

Matthew 7:24–27 ...Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

True ReligionJames 1:21-27