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CONCERNING FORGETFUL HEARERS,
AND  DOERS  OF  THE  PERFECT LAW.

       "However, become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, and off he goes and immediately forgets what sort of man he is. But he who peers into the perfect Law that belongs to freedom and who persists in it, this man, because he has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, will be happy in his doing it.

       If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshipper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this man's form of worship is futile. The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world."  (James 1:22-27).

Those who look into and meditate upon the "perfect Law" of The Christ, but are forgetful hearers as to their spiritual obligations to God, make no spiritual progress or righteous improvement toward a holy life. They are leading meaningless lives, and are suffering the misery that everyone suffers while living in imperfect flesh, without any hope of inheriting everlasting spirit life in the promised heavenly paradise of God. They continue to live a temporary earthly life without fulfilling in themselves its intended meaning and purpose: To be subjected to God through The Christ by means of His perfect Spirit Law, so that one may receive the reward of everlasting heavenly spirit life without pain, sorrow, or the fear of death.  (Rev 21:1  4).

The apostle James informs us that Christians should look after the most vulnerable     orphans and widows. This is only a Christian requirement if those orphans and widows are themselves leading Christian lives. We must also keeping ourselves "without spot from the world." This means to separate oneself from all unchristian activities and affiliations of a worldly nature     especially after one has made a vow to God to do His Will and symbolized this by water baptism. (1 Peter 3:18-21). The apostle James gave us a helpful warning on this point: "You false, unfaithful creatures! Have you never learned that love of the world is enmity to God? Whoever chooses to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy."   (James 4:4 NEB).

Another requirement is to keep a bridle on one's tongue. This too must be properly understood. With reference to anointed brothers of The Christ, the apostle Peter wrote: "But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies" of the One that called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9).  And Paul the apostle to the nations wrote: "For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation."  (Rom 10:10).

Having a bridle on one's tongue does not mean to avoid speaking, but means to exercise proper control over what one says, including the written word. It is particularly important to have proper control when one prays to God.  (Matt 6:7).

1/2/02.

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