James 1:21
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Heads up, I may lose a few people today, but before you send the hate mail read this all the way through. Morality does not bring you or keep your salvation. Being a good person is not what gets you into Heaven. If that were so, we never needed Jesus to die on a cross for our salvation. We never need grace. God’s plan was unnecessary.
Morality is a legalistic term. Every culture has its own ideas of what morality looks like. Yes, we all can agree on the basics of kindness, goodness, doing no harm, and (insert the fruits of the spirit and ten commandments here.) Beyond that, we get into some pretty heavy arguments. How a person walks, talks, looks, dresses, or eats, any of these sound familiar?
James is not referring to salvation in today’s verse. Getting rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent in you is not your salvation, Jesus is the only thing that can do that. However, ‘cleaning up your act’, whatever that may mean to you, will bring your soul healing, peace, and security.
I am not going to lie to you. This was not always me. Paul and I have a lot in common. I use to persecute Christians and non-Christians with my legalistic views. God had to give me a Damascus road moment. I needed to humbly accept the word planted in me. I learned it is not my job to bring someone to my moral standard. It is my job to bring someone to Christ.
Lord, I want to lead people to You, not to what I think they should be in You. ~amen
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