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. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:21-25
In this chapter we read that James is talking about receiving the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls. Now you may ask, I thought I was already saved? We see that the James was writing to saved people, the twelve tribes of scattered abroad. Why was he telling them to receive the engrafted word which is able to save their souls?
When we look at salvation we learn that we have been saved-that is in the past at some point when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. We will forever be saved one day when we go to Heaven from the possibility of sin. But we are continually been saved from the power of sin now. That is what James is talking about when he says, “receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.” The Greek word for soul is “psyche” your mind, your will, your emotion. James is saying that the Word of God is be able to give you deliverance-the saving of your mind, your emotion, your will—your deliverance from the power of sin, right now.
We are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers only. Work the Word and the Word will began to work in your life. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]…
How do we work the engrafted Word to the saving of our souls? By hearing the Word, by receiving the Word, by begin doers of the Word and continue in the Word.
If we abide in these four things we will begin to live a victorious life in this earth now. Our soul, our mind will continually be renewed.