Able to save our souls.

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

We have to LAY APART - all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.

(Filthiness-foul with, characterized by, or having the nature of filth; disgustingly or completely dirty)

(Superfluity-Superfluous definition, being more than is sufficient or required; excessive)

(Naughtiness- 1. Behaving disobediently or mischievously 2. Indecent; improper.

Lay apart (STOP all filthy, disgusting and excessive disobedience and mischief.

Do we do this? Do we allow ourselves to keep bits and pieces of our naughtiness? How often do people believe naughtiness is cute and acceptable? How often do we joke about things that are truly filthy? We have to lay apart- give up the part of us that gives into the world's acceptable account of what is proper and what isn't. The world is NOT our standard! The world doing something and behaving a certain way is NOT our example! We are NOT to blend into the world!  We are NOT to let ourselves be drawn away by the world and yet it is so hard to keep ourselves from the world and it's ways. God help us!

Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

Eph 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 

We truly have to receive with meekness the established word of our God if we wish to be saved!

We need to humble ourselves before God and receive His truth! All by HIS grace!  We can't truly expect to be filthy, to be disobedient and willfully give ourselves to the world and its ways and then be saved, can we?

Paul lamented His connection to the flesh, to the world- he called himself a wretched man for doing the things he didn't want to do, things he knew were not of the Spirit. When we pat ourselves on the back and long to be of the world and its ways, we cannot truly be God's. Jesus was not of this world, and we are not of this world! Please, by the grace of our Lord may we NOT be of the world! May we put aside all that is of this world! May we RECEIVED the WORD of our LORD which is able to save our souls!

All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!