19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the WORD PLANTED IN YOU, which IS ABLE TO SAVE you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26Those who understand themselves to be religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James1:19-27).

Completing our comments on the first chapter of James, I have headed the post “The Implanted Word”, for the adjective ἔμφυτον is significant. I remember from my Evangelical days this passage from James primarily being used evangelistically. The mirror illustration (v23-24) was utilized to be referring to someone hearing the gospel regarding their own sinfulness, reflecting upon it but instantly forgetting what they have perceived about themselves and their need of a Saviour. That could be a suitable illustration but it is not what James is referring to here.

The word (or Word) in question cannot be referring to the bible or the gospel, which are external entities. The word James is referring to is implanted (Greek: ἔμφυτον). That may indeed be the result of hearing the gospel or reading the bible but James’ “word” is something that has already been received by the individual, having been divinely implanted in his heart. It relates to the spiritual gift referred to in the previous post where James wrote “He chose to give us (Christians) birth through the word of truth” (v18). And as suggested at the start of this paragraph “word” might well be capitalized for it is divine in nature, being the light of Christ, who described Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and who John actually depicted as the Word of God (Jn1:1). As James also wrote (v25), it can also be regarded as a law or governing principle by which we order our lives. It is something that has been implanted within the Christian under the New Covenant:  “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Heb10:16).

As all will agree, hearing a sermon or reading the bible does not of itself make a person a Christian – unless and until they receive into themselves what has been heard or read. That becomes the implanted word that James is referring to here. That will be a problem for some Christians because James writes that this word is able (δυνάμενον) to save you (v21). Not that it has saved you or is bound to do so, but that It has the power and potential to attain to it. But as the remainder of the chapter indicates, the rest, albeit aided by grace, is rather up to us. That is the context of the mirror illustration – not an unbeliever hearing the gospel or reading the bible and then rejecting what it says about them, but a Christian accepting or rejecting something that has already been divinely implanted by the Spirit.

Regardless of what Luther might have intimated, James is in line with Jesus, Paul and every other New Testament writer concerning what is required of those who by the grace of God and as a result of His sovereign choice have received the implanted word of truth. It pertains to what we say and do as much as our religious activity and beliefs. As the chapter concludes: “Those who understand themselves to be religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to have concern for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (vv26-27).

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