Receive the Word

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21.

James is not addressing this exhortation to unconverted people, but to the Christians of the twelve tribes who were born again by the word of truth. James 1:18. He was writing to them about the salvation of the soul, a salvation from everything that is human. Philippians 2:12. This is a difficult and prolonged work of the Spirit.

We need to proceed radically if this work of the salvation of the soul—which is the end of our faith—shall succeed. 1 Peter 1:9. We must not even hang on to a speck of impurity. We must “dig deep,” as Jesus says in Luke 6:48, right down to the rock that is pure and firm, and stand there with a pure conscience, having put all things right. With this as a foundation, we are able to receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save.

The “salvation of the soul” is the death of our desires. Someone who is sick can desire to be well again, and someone who is poor can desire to be rich, thinking that then he will be satisfied. However, if his desires are granted, he will experience that new demands arise, and he will still not be satisfied. However, he will enter into true rest if he receives God’s word which is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. We have not received God’s word if we are anxious, depressed, and feel like drawing back. Peter exhorts us to cleanse our souls in obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22), which means that we exercise ourselves in doing the Word that pierces and divides, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.

Our goal and calling is to be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James 1:18. For this reason we are born again by the word of truth and have it implanted in us. The evidence of having received the Word is that we have become a new creation and are in need of nourishment. We see ourselves as a “wretched man” (Romans 7:24), which keeps us in the lowly place. We pay heed to ourselves, so that the evil one does not touch us. Prayer and working with the Word have become a daily labor. The Word has been received; it pierces and divides between soul and spirit. In the parable of the sower (Luke 8), many received the Word with joy, but only very few brought forth fruit to maturity. It is not difficult to receive the word of salvation when you are tired of sin, but it takes meekness and perseverance to receive the word about denying yourself.

In Psalm 73:25 we read, “. . . there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” The salvation that could be obtained in the old covenant was unspeakably great and glorious. David was able to quiet his soul. What a blessed result! In view of this, what should we not be able to attain in the new covenant? Jesus poured out His soul and be­came a life-giving spirit; and we are called to walk in His steps.