We are Children of God – and the “we” John 1:12 tells us are those who Receive him, and because we believe in his name… we are given the right to become the children of God. There is then a Dual Condition – lambano = take recceive, and pisteuo = believe, both are action points. Because God has made it possible, we then have the exousia = authority to become children of God with all of it’s rights and privileges. We become children of God because we follow the conditions to receive, to believe. So John 1:13 says we aren’t born of natural descent or the will of the flesh, not of man, but of God.

So – where I started reading this morning was James 1:18, “by his own choice he gave us birth by the Word of Truth, so we would be a kind of firstfruits“. God made a way, offered an opportunity, if we would believe and receive we become something supernatural, children of God. We then have been reborn, new creatures. While sanctification is a process, it is surrender to the new nature, not like working up to something physical, but surrendering spiritually, mentally, emotionally.

Then James 1:19 says, Understand this… oida = know, perceive, appreciate, become learned, conscious of… And here is the supernatural natural expectation – everyone – (two words – pas anthropos – all, every, each, – man, child, everyone). Everyone should be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Well, I’m going “from preaching to meddling” here.

In reverse there, Dr. Gary Chapman teaches that “anger” is a natural response based on us being created in God’s Image. God gets angry when something is not holy (right) and/or not love. We by nature do the same thing. However, we don’t always have correct understanding and so sometimes our anger is “definitive” (justified) and other times it is “distorted” (unjustified) based on our perception. Dr. Chapman also teaches that God’s anger moves TOWARD us In LOVE for CHANGE… we then must do the same.

Because of our human nature, we need to be twice slow and only once quick making sure those are in correct categories.

Listen, Speak, Anger/Action – Two Slows, One Quick

• Slow – bradys = slow – and is in the nominative meaning we must become it… surrender to it
• Quick – tachys = faster, quickly, soon – and is also nominative
• These both require surrender

When one is out of order, they all get out of order. If I am quick to speak, or quick to anger, then it feeds the other, and it stunts the third, I do not listen. But if I am quick to listen, hear, understand before being understood, it slows down the response of speak and action toward anger.

Now just stop right there and spend some time. Maybe reread that. We are talking about surrender to our Spiritual Rebirth – our New Nature

Human anger doesn’t accomplish righteousness

Interestingly, that word translated, Human, in its simplest form is masculine, man, husband… Men – our “macho” anger doesn’t take us to theos – God’s righteousness, justice, perfecting power.

Then v21 therefore, get rid of moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word which is able to save your souls.

WOW – we aren’t talking about receiving salvation here a response to the new birth we have in salvation. “Receive” – dechomai = receive, welcome. We need to welcome the implanted word. When we believe and receive (John 1:12, Ephesians 1:13-14) – then we have been reborn, received the Holy Spirit – become a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); so, welcome the New Life and like Colossians 3:18 says put away anger, malice, slander, language… Flip the Script – Follower of Christ.

• Slow to Anger – Slow to Speak
• Quick to Listen – akouo = hear, listen, heed – did your parent ever say, “did you hear me? Are you listening to me? Then do what I said.
• Then from the proper “quick” and “slow” we become v22 Doers of the Word and not Hearers Only – which is the worst kind of deception.

As I read over this and was writing my thoughts, I could have written so much more – but I’ll stop with v25

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law… and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer who works – THIS PERSON will be blessed in what he does

Whew – Selah (stop and think about that)