(James 1:21-25)…..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.
Notice the words of James “which is able to save your souls” (1:21). The Word of God has the power to SAVE OUR SOULS! It’s power to save is found in its ability to create anew, for example, to cause us to be born again – (1 Peter 1:22-25) (James 1:18). This is because of what the Word of God contains: It contains God’s way of salvation through Jesus Christ! Being (having been) “set apart for a holy purpose.” David sang of the Word’s ability to sanctify God’s people (Psalm 19:7-11). In His prayer, Jesus spoke of the sanctifying influence of God’s Word (John 17:15-17). So the Word of God can serve to set us apart for His purpose! It can also preserve. The young were told to preserve their way by the Word of God (Psalm 119:9-11). The elders were admonished to keep the church pure by the same Word – (Acts 20:28-32). When we take the time to consider the POWER of the Word of God, it becomes evident that the Word is very important to the Christian! But the value of “The Implanted Word” can only be realized when certain conditions are met. There are things we must lay aside. James mentions such things as “all filthiness and overflow of wickedness.” Paul’s description of things to lay aside (Colossians 3:5-9)
For the Word of God to bear its fruit in our lives, the “weeds of sin” must first be uprooted! We cannot hope to benefit from our study of the Word if we continue to dwell on that which is spiritually filthy and to engage in wickedness. I wonder, could this be why so many do not get much out of Bible study? We must have a proper attitude. James says to “receive with meekness” the Word of God.