Doers of the Word
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:21 (ESV)
James sounds a bit legalistic. Has he instructed us to put away all filthiness and wickedness? Is this difficult to understand, or does this fall in the category of carelessly defined Bible terms that we can ignore?
James was speaking of something here, and if our definition does not match his, then we have no way to apply what he said. The word filthiness means dirtiness in superabundance. He is not speaking of actual dirt on our bodies, but all the contributors to our depravity.
The Bible has both negative and positive regarding teaching behavior. James, in this passage, tells us not to do something, which is a good start. In the next verse, he tells us what we should be doing. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)
If we want to follow Jesus and live the way we are intended to live, we need to put away all that leads to depravity and always be obedient to God's Word. It is the way it's meant to be!
James 1:21 (ESV)
James sounds a bit legalistic. Has he instructed us to put away all filthiness and wickedness? Is this difficult to understand, or does this fall in the category of carelessly defined Bible terms that we can ignore?
James was speaking of something here, and if our definition does not match his, then we have no way to apply what he said. The word filthiness means dirtiness in superabundance. He is not speaking of actual dirt on our bodies, but all the contributors to our depravity.
The Bible has both negative and positive regarding teaching behavior. James, in this passage, tells us not to do something, which is a good start. In the next verse, he tells us what we should be doing. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)
If we want to follow Jesus and live the way we are intended to live, we need to put away all that leads to depravity and always be obedient to God's Word. It is the way it's meant to be!
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