Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good evening, dear ones.
The day definitely got away from me. Now it’s night. At least I got the load off to Nevada this morning. I’m exhausted. Ready for bed.
So, good night. Sleep tight. Love, Dad/Ray
There are some striking similarities between the themes of James and the themes of Peter. Let me cite one example. James says, “He (God) chose to give us birth through the word of truth.” Peter says, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet 1:23). Normally we think in terms of a scripture like Ephesians 2:8-9 as a description of that which generates salvation: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” While all these scriptures are a true description of our new life, James and Peter help us to perceive the main wellspring of it all. It all flows out of the revelation and our right response to the Word of Go—which, for all practical purposes, is the Bible.
If the Word of God is this vital, it’s not surprising that James would carry on with the theme in these terms: “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:21-25).
And it is little wonder that Peter would give this encouragement: “Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Pet 2:2).
Let’s make sure we don’t miss this point. God’s Word is of utmost importance in God’s plan for Salvation. Is God’s Word of utmost importance in your lifestyle?