Piety, in other words, means the day-by-day life of the Christian as seen in the entirety of life itself. Verse 27 begs that this religion, or piety, is daily until death. It’s not a daily visiting of widows and orphans. The text does stress that affliction according to these two groups is daily. In simple terms, this is what it looks like to be a “doer of the Word.” Christian piety is the work of so proving that Christ has saved you, and the Holy Spirit dwells within you.
Looking at the 7 ways on how to live unstained from the world, verse 25 offers 3 of them. First, the intentional look at the perfect law. What is the law? The context and the Greek demands it to be the Law of God. For James, a doer is a doer of the word (v.22), and it is the Word of God that gives freedom like none other (v.25). A doer of the Word is one who intently (or with close examination) looks upon the Word of God. These two truths are locked in together with no possibility of being separated. James is not promoting the idea that this intentional and close look at the Scripture (law) is for pastor’s and elders alone. The context is the dispersed tribes, in other words, James is writing this to 12 local churches (v.1). Which means all the blessing given later is afforded to every believer. The law is not looked at with an informative mind, but with a spiritually captivated heart that seeks to know and apply the truth. It is the bridging of the hearing and the doing. The Greek for the word “intently” pictures someone “bending over to look” (BSL). In other words, a careful and close gaze is upon that which is being looked upon, in this instance, the written law of God. And the Greek, clearly separates the believer who does this, and the mere hearer who only takes it in at the surface level. Further, the Greek shows the contrast by the one who looks with intention does so in a penetrating fashion. There is a digging in of the Word of God. It would be like a group of workers looking at a pothole talking about how to fix it, and upon figuring the remedy, filling the pothole. For what good is it for a discussion about potholes without fixing them? No good at all!
The importance of the Law as the Word of God
Multiple passages in Scripture promote this connection. Luke 16:29-31 is a clear text that shows the life changing power of the accounts found in the OT. Upon hearing the Word of God, OT or NT, salvation and repentance can occur. There are no need for a variety of miracles to bring forth salvation and repentance. The Scripture holds weight and significance because they “bear witness about Me” (that is Christ) (John 5:39). Again, Jesus connects Moses and Himself to show the complete sufficiency of all of Scripture (John 5:46). The intentional look at the Scripture had been a practice at Berea where “they received the word with great eagerness examining the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). The OT shows, continually with example after example of belief in God. Romans 4:3 recalls Abraham’s belief in God and the righteousness bestowed on him (see also Galatians 3:8, 4:21-22). All Scripture (even the genealogies) are God-breathed, and when intently viewed and taken in are profitable in a multitude of ways (2 Timothy 3:15-17). The Scripture, whether law, or in this case prophecy is from God in order that light may shine as Peter records in 2 Peter 1:19-21.
The Law is Perfect (as attested in Psalm 19:7-10 and Psalm 119:97-105)
The perfection of the law that James alludes to is spoken of in two psalms the same way, but with a greater detailed explanation. These two psalms are the answer to the question, how or why is the Law of God perfect? Psalm 19:7-10 is written by David, who as the greatest king of Israel, acknowledges the significance and perfection of the law of Yahweh. It could be said that upon an intent look on the Law of Yahweh, David comes forth with 19 truths or applications. For David, the Law of Yahweh has the ability and power to convict a man of sin and bring him back to Yahweh (vv.12-13). The Law shapes the words we speak and then cultivates the means of deeper reflection and meditation upon the things of God. For David, James, and we who believe, the law is far more than ‘do this’ or ‘do that.’ The Law is the guidebook, the path that is illuminated by it for our sanctification. This leads to the second psalm, that is 119:97-105. Psalm 119:97 starts with an implicit response. Because, for the Psalmist, it is the “meditation all the day,” so must it be said of every ‘doer’ of the Word. Every Christian must be a meditator of the Law or Word of God. This defines who we are as Christians! Now, this does not mean that ll Christians ever do is read and meditate upon the Word, but meditation must play and be a significant part of our lives! Psalm 119:97-105 gives more effects and benefits, if you will, of meditating or intently looking upon the Law as James writes. These effects and benefits are… wisdom (v.98), abiding (v.98), insight (v.99), perception (v.100), observation (v.100), restraint from sin (v.101), a keeping of God’s command (v.101), faithfulness unto God (v.102), intimacy (v.102b), and divine assurance (v.105), 10 effects and benefits in all. And seeing that the Law is perfect in Psalm 119, the Psalmist shows that this perfect law is also an all-encompassing law. In other words, the law is suitable for life and doctrine. For example, verse 102 speaks of not turning from the judgments or laws of God. The Psalmist does not refer to the judgments as doctrinal alone, but in practice. Not wavering in doctrine shapes your practice of living. Your practice of living bears the weight of what you believe. Therefore, it is “God, God Himself who has taught me” (v.102b). It has always been Yahweh God’s practice to have the practice of belief. That is seen in the command given to Adam to not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Cain and Abel in giving the very best of their labors cheerfully, and so on. Verse 105 implies this doctrine (the Law of God) and practice coming together. The picture is the Law of God illuminating our lives as we live the Christian life. This is true for all time. In fact, this is true in gearing us up for and leading us to heaven.
The Law continues to remain perfect throughout human history. Paul makes note of this in Romans 7:12. Paul experienced the perfect Law of God waging war against the law of sin (Romans 7:22-23). Therefore, the perfect law of God is needed today as much as it was in the Psalmist and Paul’s day.
The Law of God is perfectly liberating
The perfect Law of God is also completely liberating. It removes any means of bondage in this life. It is said that either you are a slave to sin, or you are a slave of Christ as Paul states in Romans 6:16. Although this is true, being a slave of Christ does not mean ball and chain imprisonment. It means being “freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit, and the end eternal life” (Romans 7:22). And we know that eternal life is a place where crying, pain, death, and sin no longer exist as written in Revelation 21:4. But Christians don’t wait until eternity to be free. We are free right at this very moment, in Christ. Jesus speaks of the contrast being a slave to sin and liberating enslavement unto Himself in John 8:34-36. This is because the truth that is Christ’s words found in the Word of God makes and sets a sinner free (John 8:31-32). Paul echoes these words in Romans 8:15. Christ does not lead to slavery, the way din does but leads to being adopted into the family of God via the doctrine of adoption. This is very important in our day. Because in Christ, and Christ alone, is there freedom. Freedom, true freedom, not the way the world goes about it, is found in Christ as the Law sheds its light. Being free in Christ according to the law of freedom sets the tone for our reason for “doing.” We are doers who are free in Christ being “brought forth by the word of truth.” In other words, a doer of the Word does not live this way out of captive enslavement under the thumb of an unrighteous dictator (that is, sin), but he lives this way because of the freedom that is found in Christ. Christ does not ‘force’ us to live this way. However, out of a great love for all that Christ is and what He has done on our behalf, we live as doers for His sake, ever grateful for our freedom in Him (2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:1).
The second way to live unstained from the world is to abide by the perfect law. As James has commented throughout, it is not enough to be a hearer of the word but a doer. One way of being a doer is to abide in the Word of God. Abiding is a perpetual work. To abide is “to remain beside” or to “continue always near” (Thayer). It can also mean to “persevere” (Mounce). This definition is particularly helpful as we see the entire context of chapter 1, especially on what is written about trials (vv.3-4). Perseverance, whether explicitly or implicitly stated, is a central theme throughout the epistle. Here, James is stating that the perseverance already mentioned is founded on a perseverance upon the written Law (or Word) of God. Abiding in the Law of God is particularly helpful in propelling believers to not be “a forgetful hearer.”
