King James Version (KJV)
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 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.
1:23-25 The one who merely hears the word quickly forgets it; only the one who acts on the word and continueth therein is blessed. God’s Word is the perfect law of liberty. It does not enslave us to the bondage of legalism, but rather frees us to keep its precepts by an inward compulsion.
1: 23-25 God’s Word: Purifier unto Holy Living. THE WORD OF GOD. Purity of life is not a quest for perfection as much as it is a quest for liberation from those things that may inhibit effectiveness and reduce power-filled living.
This text shows the Word of God as a means of reflection – a mirror into which we are to look and see ourselves. The call is not only to heed what we see and accept the Bible’s corrective instruction, but there is an unwritten lesson here. We should avoid the temptation to see (and judge) others in the Word, analyzing what they ought to do, instead of what we need to do. 2 Cor. 3:18, also likens God’s Word to a mirror, but describes the image seen as no less than the Lord Jesus Himself.
The sum of the two texts:
1) The Bible shows us Christ’s likeness in order that
2) we may measure our conduct and character against His and allow God to shape us into Christ’s likeness (Rom. 8:29). Other promises for cleansing through God’s Word: Jer. 29:9 speaks of the "fire" in the Word, which can purge as well is ignite; and Ps. 119:9 holds special promise to the one who wants a pure life of holy power. God’s Word is a powerful, cleansing, delivering agent.
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.com
info@biblestoriestheatre.com
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