Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 8
Saturday


GRANVILLE
SHARP

READ:
James 1:19-27
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Be doers of the Word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.
__James 1:22
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When I was a Bible college student, a name occasionally mentioned in Greek class was that of Granville Sharp. He was a renowned Greek scholar (1735-1813) whose studies resulted in principles of biblical interpretation that continue to guide our understanding of the original language of the New Testament.

To study the Scriptures and learn the powerful truths they contain is a noble exercise but, no matter how deeply we study, it is not enough. James challenged us to understand this when he wrote: "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (James 1:22-24).

Granville Sharp understood this and put his faith into practice. In addition to being a biblical scholar, he also fought to eradicate slavery in England. Sharp said, "A toleration of slavery is, in effect, a toleration of inhumanity." His biblical understanding of the worth of a human soul and the justice of a holy God compelled him to act on his beliefs.

We can benefit from Sharp's passion for the Word--and for living out the truth that Word contains. __BILL CROWDER
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``````````````````It is God's will that we should read``````````````
``````````````````````His Word from day to day,`````````````````
```````````````Not just for knowledge, but much more``````````````
````````````````````To love Him and obey. __Hess```````````````
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We don't really know the Bible
unless we obey the Bible.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ James 1:19-27************

19 So then, my beloved
brethren, let every man be
swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath; 20 for the
wrath of man does not
produce the righteousness
of God.

21 Therefore lay aside all
filthiness and overflow of
wickedness, and receive
with meekness the
implanted word, which is
able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the
word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves. 23 For
if anyone is a hearer of the
word and not a doer, he is
like a man observing his
natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself,
goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he
was. 25 But he who looks
into the perfect law of
liberty and continues in it,
and is not a forgetful hearer
but a doer of the work, this
one will be blessed in what
he does.

26 If anyone among you
thinks he is religious, and
does not bridle his tongue
but deceives his own heart,
this one's religion is
useless. 27 Pure and
undefiled religion before
God and the Father is this:
to visit orphans and widows
in their trouble, and to keep
oneself unspotted from the
world.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

As James unfolds his teaching in this passage, there is clear
movement in his idea. James begins by talking about ht power
of words (vv.19-20), then he moves to our need of the power of
God's Word (v.21) and the priority of giving attention to God's work
(vv.22-25). The practical application comes, however, with the need
to bridle our tongues (v.26) and the reminder of what God's work
often entails--the care of those in need (v.27). --BILL CROWDER