TEXT:  James 1:22-23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      DIFFERENT FIGURES USED TO DESCRIBE THE WORD

                                                SWORD, LIGHT, MIRROR, etc.

B.      MIRRORS USED TO EXAMINE SELF – BIBLE REVEALS SELF TO US.

C.      WHAT IS MAN?  WHAT AM I LIKE?  PROPER USE OF MIRROR REVEALS.

I.      THE WORD REVEALS OUR ORIGIN.

A.      BOTH HUMBLE AND SUBLIME ( Gen. 2:7;  1:26 ).

B.      THIS TELLS US SOMETHING OF OUR NATURE ( Acts 17:28-29 ).

C.      WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CREATOR CARES ( Acts 17:25;  Jas.  1:17-18 ).

D.      IT SAYS SOMETHING OF OUR OBLIGATIONS ( Isa. 44:21;  Rom. 1:20;  2:4 ).

II.     THE WORD TELLS US OUR VALUE.

A.      WHAT ELSE HAVE WE GOT BESIDES OURSELVES ( Matt. 16:26 ).

B.      ONLY ONE SOUL – ONCE CHANCE ( Luke 16:26 ).

C.      OUR SOUL WILL NEVER DIE!

          1.       Not even in HELL ( Mark 9:48 ).

          2.       Man can’t kill it ( Matt. 10:28 ).

          3.       It doesn’t cease with the body ( Ecc. 12:7 ).

D.      IT’S VALUE IS SEEN IN GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD IT.

          1.       Aware of each individual ( Matt. 10:29-31 ).

          2.       He wants all to be saved ( 1 Tim. 2:3-4 ).

          3.       His love provides for us ( John 3:16;  Rom. 5:8 ).

          4.       Man must choose ( Rev. 22:17;  Matt. 7:13-14 ).

III.    THE WORD REVEALS OUR PURPOSE.

A.      MAN IS SPECIAL( Psa. 8:4-6 ).

B.      MAN IS FRAIL ( Psa. 144:3-4;  39:4-5 ).

C.      MAN SHOULD SEEK HIS PURPOSE ( Psa. 90:10-12 ).

D.      GOD REVEALS IT – NOTHING ELSE IS OF CONSEQUENCE ( Ecc.12:13-14 ).

IV.   THE WORD REVEALS OUR CONDITION.

A.      AT FIRST, CLEAN, LIKE GOD ( Gen. 1:26 ).

          1.       Mankind not created sinful or to sin, neither does he inherit guilt ( Ez. 18:20 ).

          2.       What about 1 Cor. 15:22;  Rom. 5;12?

B.      AT PRESENT, SINNERS DISFIGURED ( Rom. 3:9, 23;  5:12 ).

C.      FUTURE:  SAVED, RENEWED ( Col. 3:9-10;  2 Cor. 5:17 ).

                             LOST, HARDENED ( 2 Cor. 6:1;  Phil. 3:18-19 ).

D.      THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS ( Rev. 22:17;  Ez. 33:10-11 ).

E.      THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FAR REACHING ( Matt. 25:46 ).

V.    HOW SHOULD THE MIRROR BE USED?

A.      CONSTANTLY( Psa. 1:1-2 ).

B.      STUDIOUSLY( 1 Pet. 2:1-2;  2 Pet. 3:18;  2 Tim. 2:15 ).

C.      HONESTLY ( Rom. 12:3;  1 Cor. 10:12 ).

D.      INTROSPECTIVELY ( 2 Cor. 13:5;  1 Cor. 11:28;  1 Tim. 4:16 ).

E.      UNSELFISHLY ( 2 Tim. 4:2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU CLEAN?

B.      WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE MIRROR IF WE REACT IMPROPERLY TO

          WHAT WE SEE?  ( James 1:22-25 ).