Our text for December 28 is James 1:21-25. We also briefly considered Romans 2:13. We started with a brief overview of the early Protestant doctrine of salvation (Reformed Soteriology) because many folks try to make James into an advocate of legalism. We maintain that James is no such advocate. Then we looked at how James uses repetition of a few key words to support the flow of the letter in verses 15-25. We made sure to remind ourselves that James is not advocating ignorance of the Word; we are to hear the Word and to do the Word. We considered the perfect mirror which is the Word of God. We generalized doing the Word into a broad spectrum of activities which includes how we think and our attitudes toward others. Then we briefly considered changing the promise in verse 25 into an admonition. God will bless the doer of the Word. So perhaps we should admonish ourselves to be blessed by doing the Word.

Today’s sermon audio can be found on Castbox at 146 “But Be Doers of the Word”, James 1:21-25.

  1. Introduction: Reformed Soteriology
  2. Word Links in James 1
  3. Hear and Do (1:22)
  4. A Perfect Mirror (1:23-25)
  5. Conclusion: Be Blessed (1:25)

Scripture References: Romans 2:12-16; James 1:21-25; Galatians 5:13-15;

Some characteristics of Reformed Soteriology:

  • the 5 solas
  • the 5 counterpoints of Dordt
  • the 3 G’s
  • the law/gospel distinction
  • the justification/sanctification distinction
  • the Creator/creature distinction
  • consistent monergism