This verse tells us to do two very important things. First, to "lay apart" or "aside" all "filthiness" (sensual sin), and then to let the Word of God fill its place. This Word, so implanted in the heart, will do wonders for either the saved or the unsaved.

"... able to save your souls." Is this verse speaking to the unsaved? Some might conclude that it is, from the last expression, “which is able to save your souls.” There seems to be some confusion concerning the soul and spirit. Sometimes, we speak of the soul, when we really mean the spirit. Man is composed of three parts: body, soul, and spirit. The body we know. The soul is really the life in the body. The spirit is that which is God-conscious, lifting us above the animals. In Hebrews 4:12 we read, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit.” So the soul is the natural life." So, we conclude that when our verse speaks of the saving of the soul, it is referring to the power of God’s Word to save us from the pitfalls of this life.

The sinner and salvation: When the Word speaks to the unsaved, it does not require them to cleanse themselves, or to lay aside sin in order to be saved. They are to obediently come to Christ and He then forgives them their sins, giving them the power to overcome sin.

The salvation of the saved: Our verse speaks to the saved, telling them if they would have their life saved from the pitfalls of the world, living a worthwhile life for God they must do these two things: lay aside their filthiness, and believe and obey the Word of God. Perhaps, if we used the word "preserve" rather than "save," the verse would be easier to understand. "Which is able to preserve your life."

"... lay apart ..." Here, we are told to "lay apart ('aside' in NKJV) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness." Many other portions tell the child of God to "lay aside," "put off," or "cast away" certain sins in order to be blessed of the Lord. A notable portion is 1 Peter 2:1, 2: "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, hypocrisies and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Here, as in our verse in James, we have both the laying aside of vile things and receiving the Word of God. Other portions that tell the Lord's people to lay aside certain sins in order to be blessed are Ezekiel 18:31; Romans 13:12, 13; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:5-8 and Hebrews 12:1. Any Christian will be greatly profited by carefully considering these verses.

"... lay apart all filthiness ..." The human heart, by nature, is a filthy place. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). The Lord says, "Out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness, all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). The Holy Spirit within a Christian, and the new nature received when born again, make it possible, in some measure, to cleanse out this cesspool of wickedness; at least, to hold it in subjection. We can prevent our whole life from having a bad odor by keeping this filthiness from rising to the surface.

Sow seed in a clean heart: Moffat translates the first part of our present verse this way: "Clear away all foul, rank growth, and make a soil of modesty." To get a good crop, the farmer clears the field of all harmful and noxious weeds. If we are to live a fruitful life for the Lord, we need to have good clean ground into which the Word is planted.

Take away the filthy garments: A good example of this verse is found in Zechariah 3:3-5. Joshua, the High Priest, was clothed with filthy garments. In verse 4, the angel of the Lord says, "Take away the filthy garments from him." The NKJV says that he is to be clothed “with rich robes.” In verse 5 (continuing with the NKJV), we see him with a “clean turban on his head,” and “they put the clothes [garments] on him.” We all need our filthy garments removed, if we are to be of any service to the Lord.

Filthy speech: During a tent meeting in Florida, a great black evangelist was speaking on Ephesians 5:3, 4: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” After reading these verses, the preacher then said, “Probably we would be surprised if we knew how some Christians talked in private; in their homes. Probably no one here is guilty of this.” It is said that after the meeting a kind sister said she was glad for his statement, because “some of the Christians in that congregation were guilty of such talk." Let us not be guilty of filthiness of speech or action. God can use only a clean vessel.

"... superfluity of naughtiness ..." "Superfluity of naughtiness" in the Revised Version is "overflowing of wickedness." Young's Literal Translation gives it "superabundance of evil." The same Greek word for "naughtiness" is translated "malice" in Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8. Any form of evil, if not laid aside, will cloud our spiritual vision. At times, a compass on board a ship has been deflected from its normal direction by a piece of metal that counteracted its magnetism. Anything vile or evil permitted in our life will have a tendency to deflect us from a true course for God. The Word cannot work freely in a soul that indulges in sin.

"... receive with meekness ..." To receive the Word of God is more than just hearing it. Many hear it, but never let it take hold of them. God's Word is a message to man's heart, and we must let it get into us, and become part of us. We must receive it "as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thess. 2:13). As we receive the Word into our innermost being, it becomes an active working force in our lives.

"... with meekness ..." As we noticed, in connection with verse 19, some of the early Christians were hearing the Word with everything but a meek spirit. They were: wrangling, accusing, slandering, showing temper; perhaps even in the meetings. In such cases, the Word will not have the desired effect. If any wickedness is harbored in our life, it will tend to hinder the Word from growing in our hearts. It will be like hard ground in which seed cannot gain an entrance. The meaning of this word for “meekness” is “no self.” So we are to receive the Word without thought of self, but with deep humility and docile submissiveness." We must let it: teach us, mold us, correct us, and lead us. Only then will it have a saving influence over our lives.

"... engrafted Word ..." The word "engrafted" is better translated "implanted" as in the Revised Version. Perhaps "inborn" is even better. In the parable of the sower (Matt. 13), the Lord likens the Word to a seed, that gets into the human heart, takes root, grows up, bringing forth fruit "some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold" (Matt. 13:8). The more widely we open our heart to receive the Word – to act upon its precepts – the more fruit we will bear to the glory of God.

A graft in a tree: While "implanted" is perhaps a more accurate translation than "engrafted," yet, the graft is a good illustration of what our verse means. A peach tree grown from a pit has bitter and unpalatable fruit, but a graft from a good tree into it will bear luscious fruit. In the same way, without the engrafted Word, our works will be sinful and bitter. As the Word gets in and gets hold of us, we are made: sweeter, more Christ-like, and more Spirit filled. The fruit of the Spirit will be manifest, and the works of the flesh will be less and less evident. The tongue will lose its knavery, and our tempers will seldom rise to plague us. As the Word of God gains a greater hold, the new divine life develops, and our old worldly nature dwindles. By studying the Word, we feed the dove and starve the raven.

Neglect the Word: Some Christians neglect the Word, and so, suffer a great deal spiritually. They never grow up into spiritual manhood, but remain babes all their lives. Such often get strange and false notions, and are sometimes swept away into false cults by the cunning craftiness of men. Let us buy up every moment to read and study the Word, that we be not ashamed at His coming.

Not from damnation, but from damage: As we noticed earlier, when our verse speaks of saving the soul, it refers to saving our lives from sinful actions, and not saving us as to our eternal life. It does not refer to saving us from damnation, but from damage. A man may know little of the Word, yet be saved by trusting and obeying the Lord Jesus. After salvation, as he studies the Word, his life is saved from many a pitfall and evil tendency. Salvation is very important, but it is only the beginning of the Christian life. Marriage is very important, too, but it is only the beginning of the wedded life. If we study the word a great deal, we will not lose our testimony or our fruitfulness for God.

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