Lesson 26 July 25
Intro Review:
Intro: VS:23-24 illustrates the hearer only - the believer w/o
application
VS:25
illustrates the positive, the doer, the one who applies the Word
- If = 1cc James
assumes that this is a true condition among some of those he is writing
to.
Next follows an
analogy to teach us what he is referring to!
he is like a man (avnh,r) who looks intently at his natural face (lit.
face of beginning) in a mirror. (what he is born with)
- (key) katanoe,w - basic - to think according to a norm and std, to
contemplate, to observe carefully.
- Therefore this one knows what God wants or
expects from them and yet does not do it; no bonifide application of what is heard.
VS:24 for once he has
looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of
person he was.
- This is the Old - out of sight out of mind
routine - his focus is no longer the image but on other things around him.
NET
23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does
not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.
24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort
of person he was.
Summary
1. In spite of carefully, thoroughly
scrutinizing his face, he forgets what it was like. This is, of course
ludicrous but no less ludicrous is the believer who listens carefully to God's
truth and does not put in practice the things that he hears.
2. Our purpose for hearing should be to get
God's vpt on a subject, whatever is being covered and then to apply it as it is
pertinent.
3. Listening to the word is not an end in itself
any more than gazing at one's face in the mirror is an end in itself, if we see
something that needs attention, some action must follow.
4. The purpose for looking into the mirror of
the Word is to
see what God's vpt is and to check it versus ours - do they line up.
5. Need to get the true picture of ourselves, of
our SIN NATURE, its strengths, and its weakness, therefore to see ourselves as
the Word of God reveals who we are.
James gives 4 steps
here in the process of realizing this stated blessing.
#1 But one who looks
intently at the perfect law, the law of
liberty
- Spiritually would indicate the believer in
Bible class intent on gaining every principle, every point of BD in the passage
being taught.
- Does not refer to the M/L but to the word of God - word
of truth which we just saw in vs:21 referred to as the implanted word.
at the
perfect law
- Does not refer to the M/L but to the word of God - word
of truth which we just saw in vs:21 referred to as the implanted word.
**** Picture here is
of the Believer diligently searching the scripture, the Word of truth for its
message.
We must put ourselves under the
authority of this perfect law - Word if we are to realize the blessing; blessing follows
obedience.
We must put ourselves under the
authority of this perfect law - Word if we are to realize the blessing;
Qualifying phrase of this perfect law - the law of liberty = th/j evleuqeri,aj = freedom - liberty
- James uses this
phrase to ensure that his readers don't mistake his use of nomos
for the M/L; describes the character/quality of the law in view.
**** Freedom always
demands - responsibility and authority orientation or it will degenerate into
anarchy.
#2 - Step in process of realizing blessing (#1 =
intently looking into the word of truth - the perfect law of freedom)
and abides by it
#3 - Step
= not having become a forgetful hearer - lit
not a hearer marked by forgetfulness
#4 - step in the
process = he puts the truth into practice, but
(avlla.)
an effectual doer - lit a doer
marked by work
The promise is now stated:
this man
(the one described as fulfilling the 4 steps in the process) shall
be blessed (eimi = fut
- Saw in
NET
1:25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and
fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who
lives it out—he will be blessed in what he does. (DGP)