WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.820 It's actually interesting. 00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:06.299 The sermon I picked, just by chance, I didn't mean to do this, was I actually preached this 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:09.220 ! exactly within a day of a year ago. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:13.939 When I was a curate in Port Perry, we were going through the book of James, and this is the sermon 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:15.200 that I preached a year ago. 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:17.820 So I'm looking forward to doing it again. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:19.420 So we're going to get into it. 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:25.800 And the way we're going to start this is that I'm going to talk about American politics. 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:28.359 And so now I just ask for mercy. 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.219 I'm just going to touch on it very briefly, because it draws a good point. 00:00:34.019 --> 00:00:43.859 Pretty much a year ago, Trump gave, I know that name can cause fear, anger, anxiety for some people. 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.120 Just hearing that name, Trump, but we're just going to go into it. 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:53.679 In his inauguration speech, the day that he was sworn in as president for the second time, 00:00:53.679 --> 00:01:02.100 second term of the United States, in his speech, he called that day Freedom Day, as he went on in his speech. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:03.579 He called it, this is the Freedom Day. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:08.200 This is the day of the new era for American people. 00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:11.420 See, most would roll their eyes at that statement. 00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:13.159 Like, oh, that's just Trump being Trump. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:21.879 But the thing that's interesting, and I remember this, through the campaigns of both Trump and his party with Vance, 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:33.939 and then also Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, is that both parties promoted this narrative and this ideology of freedom. 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:38.640 Then just Trump, so happened to one, so he was able to say it in his speech that this is Freedom Day. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.299 But the other party would have done the same thing. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:48.620 Because a closer look at these freedom narratives that both these parties promised 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:55.719 is always through the censoring and oppressing of certain people groups, depending who's in power it happens. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:02.379 And this is also the same case for our own political climate here in Canada. 00:02:02.379 --> 00:02:07.879 I was a photojournalist, I've probably mentioned it before, in Ottawa for over a decade 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.919 before I transferred into ministry and I felt the call. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:15.019 And I spent a lot of time on Parland Hill, just because it's Ottawa, 00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:19.960 so you spend a lot of time taking photos of political things going on. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:25.479 And I was able to witness the fall of a party and then also the rise of the next party. 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:31.280 And they promised the same narratives of freedom, but at the expense of other people. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:38.379 Western culture, in particular, is full of narratives promising freedom. 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:40.939 Freedom from your old self. 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:43.780 Freedom to become a better you. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:48.800 Freedom from anything that holds you back. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:50.240 It's the air that we breathe. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:51.580 We breathe it in every day. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:52.939 We see it every day. 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:55.900 Live your best life now. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:57.379 Live what you got. 00:02:57.379 --> 00:03:04.199 A quick walk through any shopping mall, you'll see all these different narratives. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:06.340 You get bombarded with it. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:09.519 That promise you the good life if you buy their product. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:12.639 I remember this a while back. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:15.199 I saw this commercial for an ad. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:20.039 And I knew the actor within it, within the commercial, so I ended up watching it. 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:25.959 And what, in this ad, this actor had the perfect family. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:27.859 Everyone was happy. 00:03:27.939 --> 00:03:30.139 Everyone was very smiley, having a good time. 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:32.000 He was tanned. 00:03:32.079 --> 00:03:32.639 He was built. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:34.340 He had the perfect man bun. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:38.840 He was promoted as the manly man, the family man. 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:40.599 Nothing could go wrong. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:43.560 He gave off the appearance of success. 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:51.340 But the thing that was interesting about this commercial, right after all this, about 30 seconds in, 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.420 it zooms in on the logo of his pants. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.099 And he does a voiceover. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:03.020 And he says, without my Carhartt pants, I can never have anything like this without them. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:03.699 I need them. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.319 And right there, I clicked off. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:09.920 See, everything in this life promises freedom. 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:12.539 But it's just freedom in different ways. 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:15.580 So why bring all this up? 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:21.839 James is writing to Jewish Christians amongst the surrounding area. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:25.360 In his letter, he begins it saying, 00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:29.500 James, a servant of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:33.439 to the 12 tribes in the dispersion, greetings. 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:38.480 Now what that means is that he is writing to Christians 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:44.080 who have been scattered around the surrounding area of Jerusalem and beyond. 00:04:45.080 --> 00:04:46.700 He is writing to Christians, 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.939 Jewish Christians, who are facing persecution for their beliefs. 00:04:51.900 --> 00:04:55.740 They are facing suffering and isolation for their beliefs. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:01.639 They are being bombarded with narratives that offer freedom and a better life. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:05.240 They would be living in these places that have temples, 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:07.460 that if you go to these temples, 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:10.920 they promise that if you worship their God, 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:13.439 you will have a good life. 00:05:13.819 --> 00:05:16.280 Whether it is through the God of fertility, 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.000 the God of success, of money, 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:20.300 all that keeps going, depending on the temple. 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:22.800 They're being bombarded. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.460 The majority of them are poor economically. 00:05:26.460 --> 00:05:30.139 Everyone around them seems to be enjoying life more than them. 00:05:32.220 --> 00:05:35.600 And some of you may be feeling you can relate to some of this, 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:39.300 that you look around and you see people having a good life, 00:05:39.580 --> 00:05:41.560 but when you profess your faith to people, 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:43.819 it almost appears that your life is not going well. 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:47.980 I know I can relate to this when I talk about it with my family and my friends. 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:49.280 They look at you differently. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:52.379 So that doesn't sound like good freedom. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:54.000 The Christian life. 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.819 So how are we, as followers of Jesus, 00:05:58.300 --> 00:05:59.319 as our Lord and Savior, 00:05:59.780 --> 00:06:00.939 to make sense of this? 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:04.259 I'm sure the scattered Jewish Christians 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.360 would have been thinking the same thing. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:08.340 What is going on? 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:11.000 What is this happening to me? 00:06:11.580 --> 00:06:13.080 I thought, being a Christian, 00:06:13.300 --> 00:06:14.439 I was supposed to be free. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:15.740 I was supposed to have freedom. 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:18.000 Isn't that what was spoken to me, told? 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:21.000 See, we're going to look at this, 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:24.399 and James shows that there's another way to experience true freedom, 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.319 or we can call it liberation, 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:27.959 as it says later, liberty. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.579 Well, let's look at God's Word. 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.339 If you haven't already, we're looking at James, 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:34.879 the letter of James that comes after the book of Hebrews. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.220 If you have your Bible, it would be very helpful, 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:40.100 because then you can see what happens before and what happens after. 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:45.000 And we're going to look at James 1, verses 18 to 27. 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:47.900 And we need to start in verse 18, 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:50.220 to understand the flow of the letter, 00:06:50.320 --> 00:06:52.320 because it's hard to understand the flow 00:06:52.320 --> 00:06:55.180 when you just pop in to certain books as we go. 00:06:56.760 --> 00:06:58.320 See, the reformer Martin Luther, 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:00.620 a very famous man, 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:02.900 was not a fan of the book of James. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:05.240 He said it resembled too closely, 00:07:05.960 --> 00:07:09.960 too close to the works of a works-based religion. 00:07:10.340 --> 00:07:11.120 He was not a fan of it. 00:07:11.140 --> 00:07:12.100 He didn't want it in the Bible. 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.140 And then other people in this debate 00:07:15.140 --> 00:07:17.520 would say it contradicts Paul's writings 00:07:17.520 --> 00:07:20.840 and his main thrust of justification by faith. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:24.100 Many would say that it contradicts the book of Romans. 00:07:25.220 --> 00:07:28.020 And you'll see that as Daniel preaches through the book of Romans, 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.100 that it points directly to justification by faith, 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:33.980 but also by works, as James talks about. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.660 A closer reading shows us this, 00:07:36.700 --> 00:07:37.680 and we're going to flesh it out. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.379 A better way to understand this 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:42.060 is that Paul, when he speaks, 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:43.699 is more cerebral. 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.000 He's more philosophical in his teaching 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:46.900 and how he writes. 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.560 And then James is more like a how-to guide, 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:52.879 how to live out the Christian life. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:54.639 James has been compared to 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.740 the New Testament Proverbs. 00:07:58.139 --> 00:07:59.819 We have the Old Testament Proverbs, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:01.500 and then you have the New Testament Proverbs. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:03.379 James is compared to that. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:06.680 But we see, as we look, 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:08.779 three things from this passage, 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:09.959 and we're going to look at it. 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:11.660 And it's this. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.680 True freedom leads to willing obedience. 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:17.160 Three points, practical points. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.160 How to listen, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.699 how to be a doer, 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:21.100 what does it look like? 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:24.500 Because true freedom leads to willing obedience. 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:25.259 Let's look. 00:08:25.420 --> 00:08:26.839 Verses 18 to 21. 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:32.939 Of his own will, God, 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:35.779 he brought us forth by the word of truth, 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:38.860 that we should be a kind of firstfruits 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:39.740 of his creatures. 00:08:40.939 --> 00:08:42.959 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:45.799 Let every person be quick to hear, 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:47.379 slow to speak, 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:48.759 slow to anger. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.899 For the anger of man 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:53.000 does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:56.019 Therefore, put away all filthiness 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:57.340 and rampant wickedness, 00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:59.179 and receive with meekness 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:00.220 the implanted word, 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.840 which is able to save your souls. 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.539 See, the first thing we see here 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:07.460 in verse 18 00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:11.120 is that God is working. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:15.059 God has brought us forth 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:16.399 by the word of truth. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:17.539 And then in 21, 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:19.620 it says the implanted word, 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.700 which is able to save your souls. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:25.940 Before James moves into the practical part 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:27.400 of this passage, 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:29.660 he wants to make clear 00:09:29.660 --> 00:09:31.680 that the Christian life 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:34.080 is one of true grace, 00:09:34.280 --> 00:09:35.900 that it is truly given. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.020 It's not something that you earn. 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:40.000 It doesn't say bluntly, 00:09:40.140 --> 00:09:41.440 justification by faith, 00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:43.140 but it makes it quite obvious. 00:09:44.140 --> 00:09:45.500 It is given by grace. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:46.900 Faith is given by grace. 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.780 Justified by the word of truth. 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:52.779 If you recall John's gospel, 00:09:52.939 --> 00:09:54.159 he begins his gospel 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:56.579 by saying the word made flesh, 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.600 the word of truth. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.500 Justified by faith through grace, 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.220 freely given. 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:04.000 This is how we are to view ourselves 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.679 as we move into this part 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:06.819 of what it looks like 00:10:06.819 --> 00:10:08.120 to be a doer of the word. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.659 Saved through faith. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:14.419 In James chapter 2, verse 17, 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:15.939 he says this, 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:17.279 Faith by itself, 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.860 if it does not have works, 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:19.580 is dead. 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:21.700 This is where the debates come from, 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:22.840 that they think that 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:24.180 they contradict each other, 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.480 but they go hand in hand. 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:28.240 Imagine someone who says, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:30.340 I believe I'm a doctor, 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.779 but doesn't do the schooling, 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:33.440 the work, 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:35.320 to learn how to become a doctor, 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.240 to learn the anatomy 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.720 or the anatomy of a human body, 00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:40.899 how to do it, 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.340 what medicines to give. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:43.779 Would you go to them? 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:47.459 Would you believe that they are true doctors? 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.819 Or think of a lifeguard 00:10:49.819 --> 00:10:51.339 who doesn't know how to swim, 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.720 doesn't know how to do CPR. 00:10:54.699 --> 00:10:56.439 Would you want them guarding the beach 00:10:56.439 --> 00:10:57.240 your kids are at? 00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:00.379 Would you believe that they are a true lifeguard? 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.059 No. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.459 The second thing we see in these verses 00:11:04.459 --> 00:11:06.220 is listening to God's word. 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.459 Remember, James is writing to Christians 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.060 Christians 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:12.580 who are being put through intense trials. 00:11:12.940 --> 00:11:13.740 They're being squeezed. 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:14.700 They're being oppressed. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:17.420 Look again at verse 19. 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:20.240 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:23.519 Let every person be quick to hear, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.580 slow to speak, 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.240 slow to anger, 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.920 for the anger of man 00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:31.019 does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:36.059 Now this is easier said than done. 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.220 Quick to hear, 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:38.100 slow to speak, 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:39.039 slow to anger. 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:40.299 This is easier said than done. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:42.059 But why do this? 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:45.000 Why not jump on things 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.439 if we're accused of things? 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.419 It's because it produces 00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.779 the righteousness of God. 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.539 See, these Christians, 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.399 the Jewish Christians 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.279 that are scattered, 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:55.399 as we talked about at the beginning, 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.159 is that they are facing 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.019 immense persecution, 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:00.899 immense suffering. 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:03.259 But James here tells them 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:05.639 that amidst the suffering, 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.399 amidst this, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.840 be quick to hear, 00:12:09.939 --> 00:12:10.679 but slow to speak, 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.519 and slow to anger. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.639 So I'm going to use 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.759 a cliche illustration. 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.460 Diamonds, 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.860 they're produced 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.720 through intense, 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:20.879 slow pressure 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.039 of the pressure 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:24.340 of the earth plates 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.019 coming together, 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:26.279 and it takes many years. 00:12:26.819 --> 00:12:27.759 See, the Christian life 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.939 is one of this as well. 00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:30.740 It is one of slow listening 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.680 to God's word, 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.519 but the mark of a Christian 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.620 is one who shows 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:36.180 these traits in public life. 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:38.240 No matter the circumstances, 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:39.980 God's word 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.680 slowly shapes us 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:43.019 through the pressures of life. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.120 This is what James 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.060 is getting at here, 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:47.980 is that when we experience 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.820 these things in life, 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:52.100 we need to be slow to react, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.360 slow to speak, 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.200 slow to anger. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.940 And he continues 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:00.080 in verse 21, 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.960 when he talks about, 00:13:02.640 --> 00:13:03.860 put away all filthiness 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.440 and rampant wickedness, 00:13:05.520 --> 00:13:06.900 and receive with meekness 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:07.940 the implanted word, 00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:09.340 which is able to save 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:09.900 your souls. 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.660 James is talking about 00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:14.540 this idea of an old identity 00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.640 and a new identity, 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.379 that when you live 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.240 a Christian life, 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.520 is that you have to 00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:21.440 put off the old identity 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.820 and put on the new identity, 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:24.460 but it's done 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:26.320 through looking at God's word, 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:27.900 not through our own means. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.760 New citizens, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.940 the implanted word, 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.140 it's put within you. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.520 It's not something 00:13:33.520 --> 00:13:34.480 that you do yourself. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.580 See, true freedom 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:39.379 leads to willing obedience. 00:13:41.760 --> 00:13:42.980 But how are we 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.420 to be a doer of the word? 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.580 How does this play out? 00:13:46.140 --> 00:13:47.300 See, James now moves 00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:48.040 into the thrust 00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:48.780 of his argument. 00:13:50.040 --> 00:13:51.500 If you only listen 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.940 and never change, 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:55.419 you're not truly saved. 00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.960 Think about in marriage. 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:58.940 For those of you 00:13:58.940 --> 00:13:59.840 who are married here, 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.860 or if you're in a relationship, 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.580 or even just with a friend, 00:14:04.779 --> 00:14:06.799 if you only listen to them, 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.879 but never act, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.059 it's a bad thing. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.259 If you only act, 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.340 but never listen, 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.879 that is also a bad thing. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.519 You need to have both. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.799 If you don't have both, 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.740 the relationship falls apart. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.059 See, it's the same thing 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:23.860 with God's word. 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:26.360 You can be a good listener 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.059 of the word, 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:28.720 know all the answers, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:29.740 but never a doer, 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.200 and not be saved, 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.480 as James points out. 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.960 You can also be a doer 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:34.480 of the word, 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.120 but never listen to it, 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.159 and never be saved. 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.200 You must have both. 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.580 This is what James 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.379 is getting at here, 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.559 of how to be a doer, 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:44.200 as he talks about. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.559 Look at verse 22. 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:49.579 But be doers of the word, 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.419 and not hearers only, 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:52.939 deceiving yourselves. 00:14:53.599 --> 00:14:54.939 For if anyone is a hearer 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.500 of the word, 00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:56.359 and not a doer, 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:57.739 he is like a man 00:14:57.739 --> 00:14:58.559 who looks intently 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.919 at his natural face 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.479 in a mirror. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.659 For he looks at himself, 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.519 and goes away, 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.859 and at once forgets 00:15:04.859 --> 00:15:06.239 what he is like. 00:15:06.859 --> 00:15:08.119 But the one who looks 00:15:08.119 --> 00:15:09.239 into the perfect law, 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:11.159 the law of liberty, 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.299 and perseveres, 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.779 being no hearer 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.479 who forgets, 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.779 but a doer who acts, 00:15:16.359 --> 00:15:17.339 he will be blessed 00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:18.299 in his doing. 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:21.179 Something that's so nice 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.759 about James 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.799 when you read through it 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.879 is that it's practical, 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:27.439 and he gives many illustrations, 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.679 which is very helpful. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.639 I find it very helpful. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:31.659 He uses illustrations 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:33.019 of waves being tossed 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:33.839 back and forth 00:15:33.839 --> 00:15:37.099 for those who are being tossed 00:15:37.099 --> 00:15:38.399 through different ideologies. 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:39.839 He talks about flowers 00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:42.079 and fields being scorched away, 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:42.860 passing away 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.840 when the sun rises. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.460 And here we have someone 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.700 looking intently in a mirror. 00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:49.000 If you think about it, 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.139 most will have a mirror 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.000 at their front door, 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:51.840 or in their bedroom 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.700 when they're getting dressed. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.700 And you check yourself 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.280 to make sure 00:15:55.280 --> 00:15:56.120 if you have any food 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.200 or anything on your face, 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.120 or if your outfit is proper. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.820 James is using this 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.740 to illustrate 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:03.320 where do you find 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.200 your moral teaching. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:04.840 Because remember, 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.960 he's talking to Christians 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.640 who are bombarded 00:16:07.640 --> 00:16:09.379 by ideologies and narratives 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.379 promising freedom. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.300 Where do we find it? 00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:14.780 Where do we find 00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:17.560 our moral teaching? 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.580 Do we find it in ourselves, 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.759 our self-determination, 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.800 or do we find it 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:23.240 within the culture around us? 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.660 Or do we find it 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:25.500 in God's word, 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.480 and are we doers 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.020 of his word? 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.540 See, if we look again 00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:29.520 at verse 25, 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.340 he says, 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.340 but the one who looks 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:33.420 into the perfect law, 00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:35.120 the law of liberty 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.220 and perseveres, 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:38.019 being no hearer who forgets, 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.340 but a doer who acts, 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.200 he will be blessed. 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:43.660 See, there's three things 00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:44.480 that go on here. 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.800 It's the looks, 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.540 read and listen, 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:49.420 persevere through trials 00:16:49.420 --> 00:16:50.060 and life, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.220 and doer who acts. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.720 He lists it out. 00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:57.700 See, when we read God's word, 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.000 when we look at it, 00:16:59.040 --> 00:16:59.800 when we listen to it 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.740 and meditate on it, 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.959 it is a mirror 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:03.459 that points back at us 00:17:03.459 --> 00:17:05.220 and shows us things 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.559 that we need to put off, 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.740 the daily self 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.859 of putting things off. 00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:10.799 It shows us, 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:12.519 it encourages us as well. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.180 See, the perfect law, 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.180 the law of liberty, 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.839 what is that? 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:20.819 Jesus, in Sermon on the Mount, 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.779 he talks about 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:23.639 how he is the law. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.619 He is the fulfillment 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.539 of the law. 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.919 See, we find 00:17:26.919 --> 00:17:29.220 the example of Christ, 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:29.779 of Jesus, 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.579 to reflect on, 00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:32.559 to meditate on, 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.139 who points at us 00:17:34.139 --> 00:17:34.859 and shows us 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.119 what we need to put off. 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.720 See, moral law 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.619 is impossible 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.740 to do perfect. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:40.919 It shows us our need. 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.059 In the Old Testament, 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.319 there's the law of Moses 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.279 that James refers to. 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.599 And this law 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.059 is impossible to keep. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:52.059 But God gave the law 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:52.639 through Moses 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.980 to show the need 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.539 for the people 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.619 to cling to him 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.559 and not to people. 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.159 But they fail at it. 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:02.180 See, we are liberated 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.800 through Jesus dying 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:04.640 on the cross. 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.580 We're given freedom 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:06.540 through that act. 00:18:07.320 --> 00:18:09.160 His spirit enters into us. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.060 Jesus is the perfect law. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.320 Because true freedom 00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:15.860 leads to willing obedience. 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.620 But point three, 00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:19.019 what does it look like? 00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:20.140 What does it look like? 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.840 Look with me 00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:23.640 at verses 26 and 27. 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:26.400 If anyone thinks 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.100 he is religious 00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:29.160 and does not bridle 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:29.759 his tongue 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.200 but deceives his heart, 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.620 this person's religion 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.240 is worthless. 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.480 Religion that is pure 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.200 and undefiled 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.480 before God the Father 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.120 is this, 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.360 to visit orphans 00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.320 and widows 00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:43.080 in their affliction 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.580 and to keep oneself 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.340 unstained 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:46.240 from the world. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:50.440 something that is 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.180 so important 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.779 within the Christian walk 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.019 as James points out 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.940 is controlled speech. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.279 Later on, 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.019 there's a section 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.339 in chapter three 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:00.660 called, 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.460 it's titled 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.440 Taming the Tongue. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.420 And this has got to be 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.319 one of the hardest things 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:06.579 to do for all of us 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.559 is to tame the tongue. 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:11.079 He compares it 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.759 to the tongue 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.559 as something 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.299 that sets off 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.039 a forest fire, 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.700 a blaze. 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.900 He compares it 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.640 to a flame 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.660 that makes 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.880 a massive forest fire. 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.160 There's this time 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.279 I was on a canoe trip 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.200 when I was a canoe guide 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.080 in Algonquin Park 00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:27.039 and a spark 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:27.539 went up 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.620 from the fire. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.600 It's a little spark. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:31.400 And because it was so dry, 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.500 it lit the forest part 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.059 on fire 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.980 and we had to scramble 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:36.200 to get this forest fire 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.400 put out. 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.500 And it started to go 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.539 through the root system 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.240 but we managed 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.200 to get it taken out. 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.340 But it happened so quick. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.640 And that can happen 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.340 with speech. 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.220 See, 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.600 James talks about this. 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.140 Our tongues are small 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:51.200 but they can cause 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.220 great fires 00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.279 within our lives 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.319 and other people's lives. 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:56.019 James is telling us 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.440 not to tear people down, 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.700 not to do 00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:00.259 crude joking, 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.860 not to live 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:03.120 a life unstained 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:03.960 from this world. 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:05.819 And we're to care 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.600 for the oppressed 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.220 and the poor. 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:09.120 It's interesting 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:10.380 because James is talking 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.220 to those who are 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.100 oppressed and poor. 00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:14.339 Those who are marginalized. 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:16.180 To care for the marginalized. 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.000 And we are called 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.980 to do this ourselves. 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.100 We are called 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.039 to seek them out. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:22.079 And then it says 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.759 to be unstained 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.400 from the world. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.299 Now this can mean 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.100 many things 00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:26.319 to many people. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.839 And it's our job 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.019 to listen to God's word 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.620 to find out 00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:30.420 what that means. 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.539 But here, 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.340 in this part, 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.960 James is talking 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.860 about economic indifference 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:37.340 between the rich 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:38.000 and the poor. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.140 See, 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.460 the thing, 00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:40.420 I think I've mentioned 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:40.940 it before, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.800 the thing that is 00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.800 so interesting 00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:45.779 about church, 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.920 about coming to church, 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.420 is that we all come 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.240 from different walks 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.759 of life. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.420 Some people have money, 00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.740 some people don't have money 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.779 or are in between. 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.740 But we get to come together 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.779 and worship the Lord. 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.240 We get to be brothers 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.599 and sisters in Christ 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.960 through the risen Lord 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.240 and the spirit within us. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.880 And James is pointing 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.519 at this. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.599 People with money 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.579 are not to look down 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.700 at people without money. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.839 And people without money 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.759 are not to scoff 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.980 at those who have money. 00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.680 The church setting 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.859 is a beautiful example 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:15.440 of this. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.339 And James points it out. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.299 See, 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:21.380 to reiterate the points, 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.279 true freedom 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:25.099 leads to willing obedience 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.059 of God's word. 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:28.000 Freedom by faith 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.079 in the cross. 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.799 Freedom by listening 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:31.799 to God's word. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.519 Freedom by doing 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.299 God's word 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.660 through loving obedience. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.220 A critique of Christianity 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.400 often is that, 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.359 is that, 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:42.680 oh, 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.299 you have to follow 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.200 all these rules. 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.460 All these things 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.500 are heaped upon you 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.279 and you can be okay 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.799 with God. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.140 But it's not that. 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.380 See, 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.039 it's through 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:53.039 the gift of faith 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.660 when we reflect 00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:55.980 on this free gift 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:57.099 that's been given 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.720 to us 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.819 by a loving father 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.420 that we cannot help 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.759 but act out 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:04.700 what God's word says. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.920 By resting 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.839 in the finished work 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.599 of the cross 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.860 and listening 00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:09.759 and living out 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.519 God's word, 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.860 we can experience 00:22:11.860 --> 00:22:12.519 true freedom. 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:14.839 all other narratives 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.940 and ideologies 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.379 rise and fall 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:19.619 but the risen Lord 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:21.139 will never fall, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.619 will never fail you, 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:24.379 will never leave you 00:22:24.379 --> 00:22:25.359 as anything, 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.440 everything else will. 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.379 Whether it's, 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.259 you're following 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.180 a narrative 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:31.859 of self-determination 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.180 or a narrative 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:35.859 of following 00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.740 the right rules, 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:38.559 both will leave you 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:38.960 empty. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.400 But the gospel 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.700 pushes through that, 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.740 both sides. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.460 The gospel 00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:46.200 is the true 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.980 freedom 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.680 and it's a free gift. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.640 Sam Alberry, 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.380 a very famous author 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.440 and apologist, 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.900 has a really good quote 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.680 on this passage 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.519 in his commentary 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:58.240 and he says this 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.900 and this is where 00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.380 I'll end. 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.039 Obedience 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.000 in God's word 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.120 is never 00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:04.340 simply mandated 00:23:04.340 --> 00:23:06.140 nor vaguely 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:06.740 beneficial. 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:09.079 It is transformational 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.460 for following 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.339 God's word 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.440 changes us 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.720 and this is what 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.220 this is what 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.440 James is getting at here 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.859 is that when we 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.920 follow God's word 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.059 and submit to it 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.440 our lives 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.640 become transformed 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.440 through the working 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.259 of the gospel 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.960 of the spirit 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.700 within us.