Remove What Remains

James utters several imperatives here now that the Word of Truth has caused these scattered Jewish Christians to be born again. They are to know these truths and he says it applies to every single Christian.

They, along with us, must be a people quick to listen as the fool always answers before he hears. Believers must be slow to speak, demonstrating they know the tongue can set a forest ablaze; this is good and wise. And we are not to be quick-tempered people but showing we control our emotions not that our emotions control us.

Followers of Christ are to do these things because ultimately man's anger doesn't exhibit the kind of righteous behavior God desires. Our God is righteously angry and indignant with the wicked every day but He is also slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love towards the contrite sinner. And so we put off the filthy clothes of the old self and put on the new garments of righteousness.

Only the humble and teachable will receive the Word that has taken root in the heart. This Word plant which saves and transform the soul will grow and demolish the weeds of internal filth and external evil in the Christian's life.