A MARK OF A TRUE BELIEVER – HOPE REFORMED CHURCH

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
—James 1:22

Obedience to the Word of God is the most basic requirement of Scripture for those who profess faith in Christ. “Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). The English word “abide”, translated from the Greek word “meno”, means to “stay, continue, dwell, endure, or remain.” In other words, obedience to Christ is not a one-time event, but a steady, continual walk in the direction of holiness. No, this is not perfection in living, but striving for godly obedience is certainly the direction of the believer’s life. Those who obey God’s Word with a thankful heart are those who evidence true faith in Christ. Those who do not obey God’s Word evidence a heart that is dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-3).

James is concerned with the practical business of Christian living, so he says if you are only a hearer of the Word and not a doer of the Word then you are deceiving yourself about your salvation. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). And Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Are you abiding in Christ by striving to obey His Word out of a thankful heart? Then you, my friend, give evidence that you are one of the sheep of Christ’s pasture, one of the people of His hand (Psalm 100:3). Keep on trusting in the Lord and abiding in His Word!

Tuesday Encouragement: August 25, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry