To get a good sense of that verse, let’s read James 1:18-21, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Whenever we see the word ‘wherefore’, we need to look back to see what is being spoken of that prompted the word to be used.

James 1:18 tells us that the Lord birthed us of His OWN WILL by using the word of truth. We read in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.” Realizing that, we should take notice of verses 19-20 which speaks to us of anger. We need to be quick to hear, slow to respond, and slow to anger because when we are angry, we cannot show God’s righteousness in our actions. Realizing that the Lord has begotten us for His service, we need to “lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Let’s dissect this verse so that we might understand it. Let’s also be aware that James is writing to believers, for he addresses his audience as “my beloved brethren” in verse 19.

LAY APART ALL FILTHINESS AND SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS – We are to lay aside, or rid ourselves, of all this disgusting behavior and overabundance of evil that is so easily found in us.

RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS THE ENGRAFTED WORD – As believers on the Lord Jesus, we can learn truth, we can understand truth, we can even proclaim truth, yet we might not ‘receive’ it as pertaining to ourselves. This engrafted, or implanted word is the Word of God. To truly ‘receive’ God’s Word, we must humble ourselves. The haughty, or proud person, is not able to receive God’s Word. It is as we constantly humble ourselves before the Lord that we are able to take in His Word as food for our souls.

WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS – Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…” Romans 1:16 tells us that the Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation.” 2 Timothy 3:15 tells us that the Word of God is “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” How powerful is the Word of God that it is able to save our souls! Not only can faith in the Word save us from the PENALTY of sin, but it can also save us from the POWER of sin. By feeding upon God’s Word, we grow strong in Him and sin does not have the power over us that it did before we were saved. (283.10)