James 1:25

Doers Of The Message, Not Just Hearers

²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. ²⁵ But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. ²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).

Forgetful Hearer

Law of Liberty

O God

No

Luke 11:28

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”

John 13:17

If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].

Galatians 5:1

It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

James 2:12

Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin].

1 Peter 2:16

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.

1 Samuel 12:14

If you will fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the Lord your God [and it will be well].

Psalm 19:7-11

The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 106:3

Blessed are those who observe justice [by honoring God’s precepts],
Who practice righteousness at all times.

Psalm 119:2-3

Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies,
And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.

Psalm 119:32

I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose],
For You will give me a heart that is willing.

Psalm 119:45

And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek and deeply long for Your precepts.

Psalm 119:96-105

I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble];
Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

Proverbs 14:15

The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears,
But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.

Isaiah 8:20

[Direct those people] to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.

Luke 6:47-49

Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like:

John 8:31-32

So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.

John 8:36

So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.

John 15:9-10

I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].

Acts 2:42

They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.

Acts 13:43

When the congregation of the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, talking to them were urging them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 26:22

But I have had help from God to this day, and I stand [before people] testifying to small and great alike, stating nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass—

Romans 2:7-8

to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.

Romans 7:12

So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Romans 7:22-23

For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature],

Romans 8:15

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 11:22

Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness—if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].

2 Corinthians 13:5

Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?

Galatians 2:4

My concern was because of the false brothers [those people masquerading as Christians] who had been secretly smuggled in [to the community of believers]. They had slipped in to spy on the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back into bondage [under the Law of Moses].

Colossians 1:23

[and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.

1 Timothy 2:15

But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.

1 Timothy 4:16

Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Hebrews 12:15

See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

James 1:23-24

For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror;

1 John 2:24

As for you, let that remain in you [keeping in your hearts that message of salvation] which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the Father [forever].

Revelation 14:13

Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”

Revelation 22:14

Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.