You cannot receive the words of eternal life simply by reading them or hearing them spoken. Those who think they are improving their situation simply by reading or hearing God’s word are practicing a particularly harmful form of dishonesty.1
Receiving the words of eternal life is about what you become,2 not what you hear. There is an immense difference between knowing what someone is like and only knowing what they look like. Those who live the words of eternal life know how Jesus is because they are like him, not because they have heard how he is from someone else. Receiving the words of eternal life begins by perceiving them,3 but the benefits do not begin until and unless you actually make the improvements they suggest.4 Familiarity with God’s word does not make you righteous;5 Living it does.6 Those who “hear” the word of God with their ears without improving their actions are not his children,7 but hypocritical liars.8
Footnotes
- 1. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:21-22) ↩
- 2. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) ↩
- 3. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) ↩
- 4. ...Only one who actually carries out the works of Christ will obtain the blessings attending the works of Christ. (James 1:25, Author’s Reflection) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) ↩
- 5. There are so many scriptures whose value is severely restricted by poor English translation. Here’s one: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:11) This does not mean that memorizing scripture prevents you from sin. The Spanish translation is closer to the intent: “En mi corazón he guardado tus dichos, para no pecar contra ti.” Literally: “In my heart I keep your word, so as not to sin against you.” The word “keep” here is the same one used in the phrase, “keep my commandments.” The English translation leaves a lot of room for committing all the same mistakes of the Pharisees, who managed to focus on outward acts while neglecting the more important inward motive, all the while doing all sorts of terrible things “in between” the rules of the law. These same failings are repeated all over common Christianity. ↩
- 6. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matthew 21:28-31) ↩
- 7. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18) ↩
- 8. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2:4-5) ↩