Purpose: a) to know the goodness of God that brought the Word, b)to accept His Word, c)and to do His Word.

The goodness of God: gift-giver (1:16-18)

In v. 16, James warns the readers to not “make any mistake about what he is about to say about God as the source of all good gifts. James clearly addressed believers to not be led astray into thinking that God himself is tempting them to evil” in the previous verses (13-15); “on the contrary, he is the invariable giver of good gifts to his children” (Moo, Letter of James).

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (Jas 1:16-17)

I.The Quality of Gift: originator of good (17a)

All goodness comes from God. Firstly, his action of giving is good and secondly, that all his gifts are perfect. Thus, nothing evil can possibly come from above.

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless” (Ps. 18:30)

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps. 19:7)

II.The Giver: Unchanging, good father of Creation(17b)

The gifts reflect the perfect and good nature of the Giver, who is “Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow”(Jas. 1:17).

God is good and He does not change in character.

III.The Gift: His goodness extends to our salvation (18)

18In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. (Jas. 1:16-18)

The phrase “brought us forth” in its only other occurrence in the NT, has been used in v. 15 metaphorically with reference to spiritual birth. The redemptive spiritual “birth” theme is strengthened in the phrase “the word of truth.” The “word” is the instrument through which God brings people to life. All four of the other occurrences of the phrase in the NT refer to the gospel as the agent of salvation (2 Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13; Col 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15) (Moo).

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Eph 1:13)

“Firstfruits” is a common term to reflect Christians in the NT (2 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 14:4; Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15). Firstfruits refers to the first portion of the harvest that is given to God. Most notably the firstfruits are: a)the first to come in time, b)a pledge or hope of the greater harvest to follow c)specially dedicated to God. The firstfruits were the sample of what was to come, a pledge of the full harvest.

4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (Rev. 14:4)

The “new birth” of Christian is an example of God’s good and faithful giving. In God’s sovereignty, will, and purpose, He chose to use the gospel to extend grace to people. We are his down payment (first fruits) of a redemptive plan that will eventually encompass all of creation (Moo, Letter of James).

The address, “my dear brother” or “beloved brethren”, usually introduces a new topic in the letter of James. The “therefore” of v. 21 shows that the negative warning of vv. 19-20 act as the basis for the positive exhortation to accept the word (Moo, Letter of James).

Accept His Word (1:19-21)

IV.Instruction on Accepting the Word: negative warning (v. 19)

19This you know (take note of this, NIV), my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (Jas. 1:19-20)

Quick to hear. What are the reasons in which impede our abilities to listen? (Information, busyness, entertainment etc. ). We must work at it, limit media, slow down, listen to His words, and prepare our hearts to hear.

Slow to speak. “Men have two ears but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak. The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth to hedge it in, and keep it within proper bounds” (Hughes, Faith that Works).

 19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Prov. 10:19)

Slow to anger. Angry spirit cannot be able to listen and humbly submit to God’s word.

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. (Prov. 29:11)

Righteousness of God. James’s simple point is that human anger does not produce behavior that is pleasing to God. Anger is the root of sinful acts: a) violence, b)murder (Matt. 5:21-26 and Jas. 4:2-3), and especially, in this context, c)unwise speech.

22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment….anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matt. 5:22)

James is speaking in wisdom saying. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. It can “never be pleasing to God” would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point (Moo, Letter of James). However, very few people can act upon righteous anger appropriately.

V.command to accept the word (v. 21)

21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (Jas. 1:21)

Putting away the negative - all filthiness and …wickedness (21a). We must not forget that James was addressing - deaf ears, wild tongue, and temper tantrums – as evils that we need to repent, in order to receive and benefit from the Word. Is the Word alive? Are you experiencing the waves of revelation from the Word? Is the Word sweet to the soul or has it become bitter, dull, and dry?

Positive exhortation. The “implanted word” has a Jeremiah 31 association, where God promises to put his law within his people, to write it on their hearts. God plants it within his people, making it permanent, inseparable part of the believer, a guiding and commanding presence within (Moo, Letter of James). Believers must allow the word to influence them in all parts of their lives. This can only happen with the right attitude of humility.

Save your souls. The power of God’s word: a)salvation, b)sanctification, c)Jesus coming back.

“Receive” the Word (21) by doing it (22-27). There is a shift of term from “word” (21-23) to “law” (v.25) and by the frequency of the term “doer” (22, 23, 25). We have been given the gracious words that “save”; thus, James gives us the exhortation or command to obey. Every command is given from redemptive context.

Obedience to the word is the mark of genuine Christianity (1:22-27)

22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  (Jas. 1:22)

1. What does it mean to “receive”? Be doers of the word. Hearing the word is okay, but merely hearing is not. If we have new hearts, we should be moved by the Spirit to obey God’s word through His enablement. Mere listeners will delude or deceive themselves.

VI.Bad example (23-24) vs. Good example (25)

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.  25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Formula for Deceived (22): one who a)looks (23-24) at himself in the mirror (23), then b)goes away and c)forgets (24).

Formula for Blessed (25): one who a)looks at the word, b)preseveres, and c)acts upon it.

Perfect law and liberty. How can law, which restricts us into boundaries, be a freeing force in our lives? Law and liberty seems antagonistic.

Law perfectly expresses both God’s nature and our true nature.

“In his commandments, the Lord has taken what is true about himself and has expressed that truth in a rule for us to obey. For example, the seventh commandment (no adultery), is a reflection on God’s totally and eternally faithfulness to us, expressed ultimately through marriage covenant between Christ, the bridegroom, and His Bride, the Church. It is this aspect of his nature which the seventh commandment enshrines: we enter into marriage with its covenanted promises, and in it we are commanded to be like our God who never breaks his pledged word. This example brings into the picture the way in which God’s law matches our human nature, for we were created in the image of God (Gn. 1:26-28)” (Motyer, The Message of James, pg 70-71).

We live the truly human life when we express his likeness in our conduct. Disregard of His ways makes us animals. God restores his image in us through the law. Christ is the perfector of the law. We look to him. “ In this way [God’s commandments]…expresses our true humanity when we obey it. The law which is the perfect expression of the divine nature is also the perfect vehicle of expression for human nature.” This is the blessings of which Jesus speaks (25), the blessing of a full life, a true humanity. Obedience is the key factor in our enjoyment of it (Motyer, The Message of James, pg 70-71).

Law was given in context of relationship. The law, “do not commit adultery”, is there because of a covenantal relationship. The Law brings life and freedom.

The marriage covenant is an example of true freedom within restriction. Marital fidelty extends true intimacy, fun, and life.

VII.True Outworking of receiving the word

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.  27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Religion is thus a comprehensive word for the specific ways in which a heart-relationship to God is expressed in our lives (Motyer, The Message of James, pg 75).

Speech: Controlling the tongue (expanded 3:1-12)

Bridle – a) control and b)direction

Care: Concern for the helpless (expanded 2:1-26)

 22 "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. (Ex. 22:22)

God’s heart to redeem the distressed – ultimately, found in Jesus work on the cross.

Law specified that the people were to go out of their way to provide for aliens, fatherless, widow and the orphan (Deut. 14:29).

Defend the cause of the fatherless and defender of widows (Ps. 68:5)

Holiness: Avoidance of the worldliness (expanded in 3:13-5:6)

“In summary, then James believes that through a gracious act of God one becomes a Christian. One’s response to this act is repentance and faith from one’s entire being. This commitment ought to be expressed through appropriate moral action, the fruit of the renewed life. The authoritative guide to the character of this action is the law, particularly as interpreted by and in accordance with the sayings of Jesus. An intellectual faith which lacks such fruit is not salvific; it is an abomination showing a lack of endurance and a double mind” (Davids, Commentary on James).