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Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the MODERN ENGLISH VERSION ( MEV ). James 1:19-27 read as follows:
"19 Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and remaining wickedness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man viewing his natural face in a mirror. 24 He views himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in his deeds. 26 If anyone among you seems to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
In verse twenty-three, James ( see verse one ) teaches that anyone who hears the word, but does not do it, is "like a man viewing his natural face in a mirror."
It is this concept of viewing one's natural face in a a mirror that is associated with the perfect law of liberty ( "whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty" - see verse twenty-five, above ). Thus, the phrase "perfect law of liberty" is a reference to the word of God. See also Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, Matthew 7:21-29 ( especially verses 24-27, for example ); 28:18-20 ( especially verse 18, for example ), John 1:1, 14; 3:16, 17; 5:26, 27; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:1, 3, 17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Titus 1:1, 2, verse 22 ( above ), and 1 John 5:6-8, for example.
Finally, Psalm 19:7 reads as follows: "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." God's law is perfect: it is able to convert the soul. James described this perfect law of liberty as "the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" ( see verse 21, above ). Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
