James 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.

The first thing you might ask here is how this verse relates to history in any way. That would be a fair question and the thoughts I bring to this devotional stem from an impression I received from this verse. The quote is from the King James Bible version of the bible. This one thought struck me as I read it. Did they really use a word like superfluity in the 1600’s?

Looking up the word I found its roots in the 5^th century, in Latin. The word was not in common use during the time of the origins of James 1:21. In the Greek the word used was perisseia. But was Greek the original language? Probably not. I seriously doubt that the original documents still exist. We have copies that were distributed widely in the most commonly used languages of the time.

Now I come to my point. We have throughout history tried to make the languages of the bible to fit and make sense to all the tribes and tongues of all the nations. Great care had been taken to render an accurate rendition of the original texts which were but ancient translations. Given that so many people had so much input to so many translations you would think that something would be lost.

The only danger of something being missed is the same today as it was the original first copy ever created. If we focus on the accuracy of words, if we seek words, we might stop seeking God.

Faith only has one version and that is written in the heart.

Leviticus 18:6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord.

So many times I hear my brothers and sisters in the Lord say “We are no longer under the law but under grace.” I agree but let me ask them and you this question; have you learned the lessons of the law in which God departed His desires for His people? These are still words of wisdom and direction that when married up with the truth of the gospel of grace gives a more complete understanding of God’s eternal plan. God was at work in the Old School just as He is in the New.

Do you see any connection between these instructions and the gospel of grace?

Think on this then, that God first speaks about the approach, the coming near, the attitude which He says do not do. The attitude in the approach was to expose weakness, to name a sinner’s sin. There are two New School lessons that immediately come to mind.

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

John 15:10b ye shall abide in my love,

This is what not to do married with what to do. So much of the Old School was about what not to do without clear instruction about how to accomplish that end. The New School teaches us how to accomplish or complete the desires of our God towards His people.

Psalm 101:2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The Old and the New are perfectly married in Christ Jesus.