G. The Fruit of Gracious Deeds (1:22-27)

Attentive hearing is not an end in itself. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (v.22).

The Gospel is like a mirror. It creates awareness and reveals need. As the mirror prompts the viewer to action (to remove blemishes or enhance beauty), so the Gospel prompts a persistent application of self in pursuit of gracious acts.

The hearing of the Gospel introduces a new perspective in a person’s religious experience. It is the perfect law that gives freedom (v.25). Compared with the OT law as it was practiced, the Gospel offers a feeling of fulfillment by way of release from an enslaving law. It takes the spotlight off oneself alone and draws others into the circle of interest. The older law was reduced to ceremony (the facet of religion in v.27), but the newer one is not realized unless it issues in deeds of service, especially to the most needy.