Posted by
TAB on Saturday, November 08, 2008 8:04:27 AM
The Continuing Believer
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25 (KJV).
The Word of God is the bread and meat of the believer, the child of God. We recently looked at the casual observer of the mirror of God’s Word. It does him/her absolutely no good.
James now brings the reader to realize that the "perfect law of liberty" is that book which we can hold in our hands and hide in our hearts that we might not sin against God. The natural man looking into the mirror and goes away without fixing the smudgy face, his misplaced hair, the sleep in his eyes, has taken no action on what he has seen. When the believer opens the Scriptures we look into a mirror with greater reflection than any mirror ever made by man. It is clear and without imperfections.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "For the word of God is quick [living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing assunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (KJV). The child of God cannot read it without having the Spirit of God move in and work the work of God.
The MacArthur Study Bible says of this verse, "perfect law. In both the OT an NT, God’s revealed, inerrant, sufficient, and comprehensive Word is called ‘law’ (cf. Ps. 19:7). The presence of His grace does not mean there is no moral law or code of conduct for believers to obey. Believers are enabled by the Spirit to keep it. liberty. Genuine freedom from sin. As the Holy Spirit applies the principes of Scripture to believers’ hearts, they are freed from sin’s bondage and enabled to obey God (John 8:34-36)." NKJV p.1928. The child of God will be one who continues in the word of God. "Continueth" means "to stay near, to abide in" and is similar to Jesus’s words, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." John 8:31 (NKJV). The KJV reads, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed…". The thing which we see here is a word and an act of perseverance. When we abide, continue, and stay near the Word of God we will live it, and it will work its way out in our lives where it is visible for the world to see. Jesus Himself will receive the glory, because it is He who has made it all possible.
The Psalmist wrote, "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1:1-2 (KJV). The child of God has heart for the Word of God, and the Word of God; the reading, the study of it, and a conscious effort to live for God’s glory will work its way out in our lives.
This will not be done by the casual look, but by the abiding, continuing, staying near always look which informs us, instructs in righteousness, reproves, rebukes, corrects, and teaches us the things of God (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The blood of Jesus Christ and His Word changes lives.
-Tim A. Blankenship