Hearers Only
by Terry Wane Benton
The Holy Spirit inspired James to write: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves“ (James 1:22 NKJV).
There are only two choices:
- self-deception because of only hearing the word and
- truth because you are a doer of the word.
Hearers-only are deceived mainly because of the self-deception of “faith only.”
Some preachers advocate that the doctrine of faith-only is very full of comfort. Yet, the Bible says it ought to give us much discomfort. James also said that faith only is “dead.” You are not alive to God when all you do is hear His word but don’t do what is required.
Those preachers and teachers today who advocate a salvation by “faith only” are among the ones that James said are “deceived”. One should never advocate a position plainly denied by the word of God. The doer of the word is the one that will be blessed “in what he does”(James 1:25). Hearers-only are not blessed, though they have faith only enough to hear only. The Spirit revealed the truth; we must hear it, teach it, and do it.
