James 1:22-25

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

 

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Matthew 7:21  "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter." (see all chapter 7)

Matthew 12:50  "Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!" (see verses 46-50)

Romans 2:13  For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. (see all chapter 2)

1 John 3:18  Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (see all chapter 3)

James 2:14  What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? (see verses 14-26)

 

For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, 

Psalm 19:7  The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (see verses 7-14)

John 8:32  "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (see verses 31-47)

Galatians 2:4  Even that question came up (see verse 3) only because of some so-called Christians there--false ones, really--who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. (see verses 1-10)

 

and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 

John 13:17  "Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them." (see verses 1-17)

Matthew 7:24  "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock." (see verses 24-29)

Luke 11:28  Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

 

James 1:19-21 Part 2 of 2

Understanding this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

 

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives,

Romans 6:6  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. (see all chapter 6)

Galatians 5:24  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. (see verses 16-26)

Ephesians 4:21-22  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. (see verses 17-32)

Ephesians 4:31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Colossians 3:5  So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (see verses 1-17)

Colossians 3:8-9  But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviors, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

 

and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 

John 14:16-17  "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you." (see all chapter 14)

Ephesians 1:13-14  And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. (see verses 3-14)

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

 

James 1:19-21 Part 1 of 2

Understanding this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

 

Understanding this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Proverbs 10:18-19  Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Proverbs 17:27-28  A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

Proverbs 21:23  Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.

James 1:26  If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

James 3:5  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. (see verses 1-12)

 

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 

Matthew 5:22  "But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." (see verses 21-26)

Ecclesiastes 7:9  Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.

Ephesians 4:26-27  And "don't sin by letting anger control you." (Psalm 4:4) Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

    

James 1:16-18 Part 2 of 2

So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

 

He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

Numbers 23:19  "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" (see chapters 23-24)

Psalm 102:27  "But you are always the same; you will live forever." (see all Psalm 102)

Malachi 3:6  "I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed." (see verses 6-15)

 

He chose to give birth to us 

John 1:13  They are reborn--not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (see verses 10-13)

John 3:6  "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." (see verses 1-17)

Titus 3:4-5  But--"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth through the Holy Spirit." (see verses 1-11)

1 Peter 1:23  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. (see verses 17-25)

 

by giving us his true word. 

2 Timothy 2:15  Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (see verses 14-26)

Ephesians 1:13  And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. (see verses 3-14, also Colossians 1:3-6)

 

And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. 

Jeremiah 2:3  "In those days Israel was holy to the LORD, the first of his children. All who harmed his people were declared guilty, and disaster fell on them. I the LORD, have spoken!" (see all chapter 2)

Revelation 14:4  They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. (see verses 1-5, also Revelation 7:1-8)

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

    

James 1:16-18 Part 1 of 2

So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

 

So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (see verses 9-20)

Job 13:9  "What will happen when he (God) finds out what you are doing? Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?" (see verses 1-19)

1 Corinthians 15:33  Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." (see verses 12-34)

Galatians 6:7  Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. (see verses 7-10)

 

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, 

Psalm 85:12  Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. (see all Psalm 85)

John 3:27  John replied, "No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven." (see verses 22-36)

James 3:15  For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

James 3:17  But wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. (see verses 13-18)

 

who created all the lights in the heavens. 

Genesis 1:16  God made two great lights--the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. (see verses 14-19, also Psalm 136:5-9)

1 John 1:5  This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. (see verses 5-7, also Daniel 2:20-23)

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

   

James 1:13-15 Part 2 of 2

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

 

These desires give birth to sinful actions.

Genesis 3:6  The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. (see all chapter 3)

2 Samuel 11:2  Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. (see all chapter 11)

Job 15:24-25  "For the godless are barren. Their homes enriched through bribery, will burn. They conceive trouble and give birth to evil. Their womb produces deceit." (see all chapter 15)

Psalm 7:14  The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. (see verses 14-16)

Isaiah 59:4  No one cares about being fair and honest. The people's lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin. (see all chapter 59)

Galatians 5:17  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (see verses 16-26)

 

And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 

Romans 5:12  When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (see verses 12-21)

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (see all chapter 6)

Romans 8:6  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (see all chapter 8)

Galatians 6:7-8  Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (see verses 1-10)

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

   

James 1:13-15 Part 1 of 2

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

 

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

Genesis 3:4-5  "You won't die!" (see Genesis 2:15-17) the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." (see all chapter 3)

Job 36:18  "But watch out, or you may be seduced by wealth. Don't let yourself be bribed into sin." (see verses 16-21)

Proverbs 1:10  My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! (see verses 8-19)

Proverbs 19:3  People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.

Romans 1:32  They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (see verses 19-32)

Romans 6:12  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. (see verses 12-18)

Romans 7:5  When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. (see verses 4-25)

Colossians 3:5  So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (see verses 1-17)

1 Timothy 6:9  But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. (see verses 3-10)

1 Peter 1:14  So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. (see verses 13-25)

2 Peter 2:18  They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. (see all chapter 2)

 

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.