It is both interesting and instructive to trace what James has to say about the Holy Book of God. Putting all together we get a helpful study.

I. Its Names Of the Book

A. "WORD." Demonstrate The origin of this precious book.

“Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18 KJV)

1. The word “Word” proves authorship.

2. A word is the result of the mental and vocal exercise of a personal being.

3. Therefore in that simple word of four letters, W-O-R-D, we have taught the origin of the Book-God Himself.

4. But look at what the Word of God says about it self.

a) The Phrase “Thus Saith the Lord”— 413 times

b) The Phrase “saith the Lord,”–402 times

c) “The word(s) of the Lord”—274 times

d) “The Lord spake”—190 times

e) “God … said”—142

f) “Lord … said”—416

g) “The Word of God” –48 times

h) Direct references..

“The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.” (2 Samuel 23:2 KJV)

 “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21 KJV)

B. "LAW." Authority of it

“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)

1. What a paradox we have here.

2.  Yet we find here the phrase, "Law of Liberty." Observe a few points:

3. Restraint of the Book-"Law."

4. Law imposes restraint.—But why are there restraints.

a) Restraints protect us—

(1) We put up fences to keep children in the backyard, why to protect them. –

(2) We pass laws that require seat belts, and to stop at stop sign, and lights whey to protect us.

(3) Certainly God loves us more than the government does, will he not endeavor to protect us.

b) Restraints Enable us

(1) To have a testimony of a changed life

(2) To enable us to be a blessing. When we violate the restraints it will injure us.

(3) Ill. Our dog has a long run on a cable over head. Plus 25 more feet of chain. (we are not allowed to have fence.) When she take of chaseing a rabbit she comes to the end of her chain and ouch. But with year of “ouch” she does seem to chase rabbits any more, a blessing to her and the rabbits.

c) Restraints demonstrate God’s love for us.

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:6 KJV)

5. Liberty of the Book-"Law of Liberty."

a) The law of Liberty—it the law that frees us from being subject to sin, and the lust of the flesh.

b) It is the Lust of our flesh that tempt us.

“13 ¶  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:13-16 KJV)

c) When the Lord frees us from the law of sin and death, and allow the law of liberty to reign in our lives we can do right.

6. Perfection of the Book-"Perfect Law."

a) This perfect is both complete and flawless.

b) This is because of its source.

c) Man is continually writing new law, to correct an insuffiency in the old law.

d) But God who is perfect, who knows us perfectly, and know the ultimate pla

7. Authority of the Book-Law implies the Law-giving God.

a) Authority reside in the position of the one giving the instruction.

b) If my little brother told me to take out the trash, I might refuse. But if he said “Mom said take out the trash” Then I would think twice, but if Mom Said “take out the Trash” there were nolonger any question.

c) You might question the unsaved in regard to what he said God said.

d) You might even question what the Preacher said God said.

e) But we have not right to question what God said.

C. "TRUTH"-finality of it 1.18.

“Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18 KJV)

1. It is the Word of Truth-that suggests its finality.

a) Truth is always indisputable. I see a rock, it is a rock no matter what I what to believe about it.

b) I see a beautiful woman in my wife Candy, you may want to argue, but the truth is truth.

2. Both Christ, the Living Word, and the Bible, the Written Word, are Truth.

3. Because it is truth it must be acted upon. Truth always requires action.

a) You may be foolish and say I don’t believe it. But that doesn’t change the truth.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1 KJV)

b) Look what Proverbs says about those who reject the Word of Truth

“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” (Proverbs 10:8 KJV)

 “The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise.” (Proverbs 12:15 KJV)

 “Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.” (Proverbs 13:16 KJV)

 “A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Proverbs 14:16 KJV)

 “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” (Proverbs 15:5 KJV)

 “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10 KJV)

 “Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.” (Proverbs 17:24 KJV)

 “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (Proverbs 18:2 KJV)

 “Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.” (Proverbs 24:7 KJV)

 “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.” (Proverbs 26:12 KJV)

 “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26 KJV)

D. JUDGE. Exercise of it.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” (James 2:12 KJV)

1. The verse declares that the Word of God will be our Judge.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48 KJV)

2. The Word of God will be our judge at that Great Day

“11 ¶  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 KJV)

a) Notice in verse 12 there are several books opened. “and the books were opened:” and “and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life”

(1) They were judge according to there works, Book one

(2) The book of life book 2

(3) But what is book three—it is the standard by with they were judged. The Word of God.

b) Just as in the courts of America you expect to judge by the Law of the Land, So at the court of heaven you will be judged by this law.

II. What Does the Word of God Do.

A. IT CONVINCES The Law convinces of transgression.

“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (Jas 2:9 KJV)

1. Jesus was speaking to the crowd at the event with the adulterous woman and his word convicted them.

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it (the words of Jesus), being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” (Joh 8:7-10 KJV)

2. The knowledge of sin comes by the Law (The Word of God)

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” (Ro 7:7 KJV)

B. IT BEGETS --We are born of God's Holy Spirit, through the Word. The Word is the great regenerating medium.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (Jas 1:18 KJV)

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1Co 4:15 KJV)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Ro 10:17 KJV)

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1Th 2:13 KJV)

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1Pe 1:23 KJV)

C. IT ENERGISES

“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.” (Jas 1:25 KJV)

1. The phrase "Law of Liberty" is suggestive of power, of energy.

2. Law stands for force, power, energy.

3. His word is the place where you can draw power from. Note just a cursory reading, but studing and mediating upon his word.

a) Pick some verse to memorize each week

b) Put them on card or pieces of paper that you can carry with you.

c) When you have a minute of free time. Read them over, quote them to yourself as you walk in the way.

D. It Sanctifies Engrafted word.

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (Jas 1:21 KJV)

1. The idea is that the word of God is implanted as twig from one tree is implanted in the stem of another. That twig get its strength and ability to live from the tree.

2. We are engrafted into Christ at salvation, but it is the word of God that is in us and working that will deliver us for sin and is able to save our soul for the destructive power of sin. (this is sancitification not salvation, salvation is instantaneous, Sanctification is progressive

3. We are to lay a side all filthiness and abounding wickedness.

a) There must be a willingness to give us sin—filthiness and wickedness

b) The word of God will give you the power to overcome the sins of the flesh.

4. But you must put the word of God in your heart daily.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Ps 119:11 KJV)

O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Ps 119:97 KJV)

 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Ps 1:2 KJV)

 “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (Ps 37:31 KJV)

 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps 40:8 KJV)

 “Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.” (Job 22:22 KJV)

 “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” (Pr 2:10-11 KJV)

 “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” (Isa 51:7 KJV)

 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jer 15:16 KJV)

 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col 3:16 KJV)

 “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Ps 19:13 KJV)

III. Our Attitude.

A. EXAMINE 

“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.” (Jas 1:25 KJV)

“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:” (Jas 1:23 KJV)

1. The Word is like a Mirror, into which we look

2. the contents of which we are to examine.

3. The image we what to see in the mirror is our, but the image we should compare that to is our Lord Jesus Christ.

B. HEAR

“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:” (Jas 1:23 KJV)

1. "Hearer of the Word."

2. What a privilege it is to hear His Word

3. We are to hear with our ears and the ears of our heart—listen to it speak, from the quit of our devotions, and the preaching and teaching from a speaker.

4. We are to “hearken” listen intently.

C. RECEIVE

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (Jas 1:21 KJV)

1. But hearing the Word is not sufficient. We are to "receive" it "with meekness."

2. To “receive” it is to “to take it”, “to accept it” But to accept truth as  truth requires actions.

3. We are to receive it with meekness. With a gentleness of spirit and manner.

4. Meekness recognizes a need on your part.

D. Do

“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:” (Jas 1:23 KJV)

1. How practical is James. – Remember when you read James it is a very practical book, it is instructions for revealing you faith to a lost world.

2. We must not be satisfied with only "hearing,"

3. We must go on doing.

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