Terry came to our church and asked to meet with me for counseling. Terry’s presenting issue was anger at his work, but his more significant issue was not understanding that progressive sanctification is linked to obeying the word. Terry was new to our church and had come from a denomination that did not teach progressive sanctification nor provide biblical counseling.
To help Terry with his unrighteous anger problems, I first had to help him understand that progressive sanctification meant becoming more like Jesus and obeying him (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3).
After a few sessions of putting down some basic principles on heart change, we moved to the Book of James. A breakthrough occurred when we got to James 1:18:22.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant 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. (James 1:18-22, ESV)
The word is referenced in verse 18 and again in verses 21-22.
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:18, ESV
The word of truth is the gospel, the new birth (Jn.3:3), the power of God that brings salvation (Rom. 1:16). Terry was a Christian with a credible testimony. Terry was a new creature in Christ equipped to become more like his Savior.
The word of truth is the reason we are to be quick to hear (the word), slow to speak (the word as a teacher (James 3:2), and slow to anger, meaning a rejection of God’s word.
Terry did not realize that his disobedience rejected God’s word. As a result, he did not receive the implanted word with humility and made little to no progress in sanctification. He also realized that his unrighteous anger regarding his work did not glorify God (James 1:20). He began to understand that his unrighteous anger was a type of filthiness and wickedness that hindered his growth in Christ.
James connects verse 21 back to verse 18 to make his point that the gospel changes a person as they receive the implanted word that changed them in the first place. The changed person is commanded (an imperative) to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21, ESV
From there, Terry was encouraged to be a doer of the word.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22, ESV
A person content with listening to the word but not putting the word into practice is guilty of self-deception. They believe everything is okay because they listen in church, which is enough. Yet, their lives are a mess because they have not practiced the word.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:19-25, ESV
In other words, the person who is not a doer of the word has made a serious spiritual miscalculation. The person is compared to someone who looks in the mirror and forgets the gospel changes made possible by the implanted word. The proper response to hearing the word preached is promptly doing it, meaning applying it to life.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15, ESV
In Terry’s case, we began to study what Proverbs had to say about unrighteous anger. Proverbs 29:11 was a good place to start.
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Pro. 29:11, NIV)
Terry is doing well following Jesus and seeking to become more like him daily.
Pastor Bruce Roeder
RGCC Board of Directors, RGCC Training Program, Men’s Blog Contributor
Bruce is an Elder/Pastor at the Vine Community Church in South Milwaukee, WI. He has an M.A. in Biblical Counseling and is certified with the ACBC (Level 2). He is married to his wife, Elizabeth of 50 years. They have one son, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and three wonderful grandkids.
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