James 1:19-25, Faith that Demands a Change of Heart

# Faith that Demands a Change of Heart
## James 1:19-25

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## James: **Keep the Faith**
+ Stands the **Test** (1:2-12)
 + *Joy* in Trials
 + *Wisdom* Given Generously
 + *Boasting* in Our Weakness
+ Demands a **Change** of Heart (1:19-25)

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# Am I willing to **change** when God tells me to?

[###](#/outline "secret")

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[19](# "ref")
My dear brothers and sisters, 
**take note** of this:

Everyone should be quick to **listen**, 
slow to **speak** and slow to become **angry**,

[20](# "ref")
because **human anger** does not produce 
the **righteousness** that God desires.

[James 1:19-20 (NIV) (p.1/4)](# "ref")

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[21](# "ref")
Therefore, get rid of all **moral filth** 
and the **evil** that is so prevalent

and **humbly accept** 
the word **planted** in you, 
which can **save** you.

[James 1:21 (NIV) (p.2/4)](# "ref")

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[22](# "ref")
Do not merely **listen** to the word, 
and so **deceive** yourselves. **Do** what it says.

[23](# "ref")
Anyone who **listens** to the word 
but does not **do** what it says

is like someone who looks at his **face** in a mirror 
[24](# "ref")
and, after **looking** at himself, goes away 
and immediately **forgets** what he looks like.

[James 1:22-24 (NIV) (p.3/4)](# "ref")

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[25](# "ref")
But whoever **looks intently** 
into the **perfect law** that gives **freedom**,

and **continues** in it — 
not **forgetting** what they have heard, 
but **doing** it —

they will be **blessed** in what they **do**.

[James 1:25 (NIV) (p.4/4)](# "ref")

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## Change of Heart [Jam 1b](# "ref")
1. Shun **Anger** [(v19-20)](# "ref")
2. **Accept** the Word [(v21)](# "ref")
3. **Act**, Don't Just Listen [(v22-24)](# "ref")
4. **Abide** and Obey [(v25)](# "ref")

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Everyone should be quick to **listen**, 
slow to **speak** and slow to become **angry**

[James 1:19 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *take note*: look, know (impr)
+ *quick to*: swift into
+ *slow*: delay, dull, not prepared
+ e.g. verbal vs non-verbal spouse
+ *angry* (ὀργή, swell): settled opposition
  + vindication, indignation
  + feeling **wronged**
+ e.g. driving seek excuse to honk

---

**Zeal** for Your house will consume Me

[John 2:17 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ But didn't Jesus get angry?
+ did not **sin** in His anger

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the **anger of man** does not achieve 
the **righteousness of God**

[James 1:20 (NASB)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God's ways **higher** than ours

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# Have I been quick to **listen**, slow to **speak**, and slow to **anger**?

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## Change of Heart [Jam 1b](# "ref")
1. Shun Anger [(v19-20)](# "ref")
2. **Accept the Word** [(v21)](# "ref")
3. Act, Don't Just Listen [(v22-24)](# "ref")
4. Abide and Obey [(v25)](# "ref")

---

Get rid of all **moral filth** 
and the **evil** that is so prevalent

[James 1:21 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *moral filth*: defiled, unclean
+ *prevalent*: **abundance** (excess) of evil
+ e.g. **anger** is dirt
  + dirt can be **washed** away
  + not a **part** of you
  + but often **returns**

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**humbly accept** the word **planted** in you, 
which can **save** you.

[James 1:21 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *humbly* (πραΰτητι): gentle, meek
  + not low of mind
+ *accept*: welcome, invite in
+ *save you* (ψυχὰς): your psyche, life, true person

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# How do I **react** to discipline from the **Word** of God?

>>>
+ **cling** to anger / sin?
  + try to **justify** it?
+ or humbly **accept** God's truth?
+ Word of **God**, not human authority

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## Change of Heart [Jam 1b](# "ref")
1. Shun Anger [(v19-20)](# "ref")
2. Accept the Word [(v21)](# "ref")
3. **Act, Don't Just Listen** [(v22-24)](# "ref")
4. Abide and Obey [(v25)](# "ref")

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Do not merely **listen** to the word, 
and so **deceive** yourselves.

**Do** what it says.

[James 1:22 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ magic amulet/talisman
  + to ward off harm
+ What kind of church-goer are you:
  + listener of the Word
  + or **doer** of the Word?

---

after **looking** at himself, goes away 
and immediately **forgets** what he looks like.

[James 1:24 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *looking* (κατανοοῦντι): study carefully
  + the face of his birth
+ Word reveals our true **nature**
+ *forgets*: overlook, disregard
+ *looks like* (ὁποῖος ἦν): what sort he was

---
<div class="imgbox"><div>
![car](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/fig/sentra.jpg)
</div><div>
![manual](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/fig/ownersmanual.jpg)
</div></div>

>>>
+ Bible as **owner's manual**

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# Is the Bible a magic **amulet** or our owner's **manual**?

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## Change of Heart [Jam 1b](# "ref")
1. Shun Anger [(v19-20)](# "ref")
2. Accept the Word [(v21)](# "ref")
3. Act, Don't Just Listen [(v22-24)](# "ref")
4. **Abide and Obey** [(v25)](# "ref")

---

But whoever looks intently 
into the **perfect law** that gives **freedom** ...

[James 1:25a (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **What** is the Bible?
  + *law*: objective **truth**
  + *perfect* (complete): all we need
    + 1 Tim 3 thoroughly equipped
  + *freedom*: **fences** bring freedom
+ the **law** gives **freedom**?
  + Jesus said so, too:

---

If you hold to my **teaching**, 
you are really my **disciples**.

[32](# "ref")
Then you will know the **truth**, 
and the truth will set you **free**.

[John 8:31-32 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *hold to* His *teaching*
+ free from what?

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[34](# "ref")
Very truly I tell you, 
everyone who **sins** is a **slave** to sin.

...
[36](# "ref")
So if the **Son** sets you free, 
you will be **free indeed**.

[John 8:34, 36 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

---

But whoever **looks intently** 
into the perfect law that gives freedom,

[James 1:25a (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **power** of God's Word:
  + complete + **freedom** from sin
+ 4 steps response to Bible:
  + study → persevere →
  + remember → do
+ *look intently*: stoop, bend down
  + **slow** down
  + not **rush** to finish

---

and **continues** in it — 
not **forgetting** what they have heard,

[James 1:25b (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *continue*: remain, persevere
+ *forgetting*: memory, notice, value

---

but **doing** it — 
they will be **blessed** in what they **do**.

[James 1:25c (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ *doing*: perform, accomplish, fulfill
+ *blessed* as we *do* God's Word
+ 26 bridle **tongue**
+ 27 look after **orphans** + **widows**
  + **unstained** by world

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# Do I **persevere** to **study** and **obey** the Word of God?

---

But whoever **looks intently** 
into the **perfect law** that gives **freedom**,

and **continues** in it — 
not **forgetting** what they have heard, 
but **doing** it —

they will be **blessed** in what they **do**.

[James 1:25 (NIV)](# "ref")

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