“BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD”
The
gospel is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for
the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16.) Salvation is
available to all that learn, believe and obey God's will. Before salvation can ever become a reality
one must be willing to learn what God says and to do it. "If anyone wills to do His will, he
shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak
on My own authority." (John 7:17) Only those that
want to know what God says and are willing to do His will can please Him.
Purpose
of God’s word: "Of His own
will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1:18) The
purpose of God's word is to bring about the salvation of our souls. It was by "God's will" that
salvation was made possible. "Having been born again,
not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives
and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) By following God's will Christians
are "a kind of firstfruits of His creatures."
Power of God’s word: "So then, my beloved brethren, let every
man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does
not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and
overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which
is able to save your souls." (James 1:19-21) Let all know that conversion
is brought about by the power of God's word. In dealing with God's word let us
be "swift to hear" because it is God's word. Until God's word is
properly understood be "slow to speak" concerning it and always be
"slow to wrath" in religious matters. Christians must always be “slow
to wrath” when admonitions and reproofs are given
concerning evil, or when sin is exposed. Any
sinful thing must be removed from human hearts so there can be a reception of
the word of God "which is able to save your souls.”
Practice
of God’s word: "But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away,
and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of
liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the
work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his
tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in
their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James
1:22-27)
The
key expression is, "But be doers of the word, and not hears only".
One is a "foolish man" who hears God's word and fails to practice it.
(Matthew 7:24-27) Nothing is accomplished if one only reads God’s word but
does nothing about what is read. God’s people must "continue" to hear
and do the "perfect law of
It is not enough just to hear the truth.
One must also practice what he has learned.
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,
Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but who does the will of My Father in
heaven." (Matthew 7:21.) Are you a doer or a hearer only? Have you heard the gospel (Romans
By Charles Box,