James 1:19-21

Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (NIV)

James begins the last sentence in this little paragraph with the word "therefore." Whenever we see "therefore," we need to ask ourselves what it's "there for." Here it seems to do double duty, pointing back to James' statement in verse 18 that it is the word of God which gives us rebirth. It also points ahead to what will follow in verse 22 and beyond. James reminds us of the Word's ability to save in verse 21 when once again he mentions "the word planted in you, which can save you."  The Greek for this last phrase is a beautiful description of the "word." It says, "receive (or "welcome") in humility the implanted, able-to-save-(all) your-soul(s) Word."

It isn't anything that we do which saves us. Not even becoming angry--even over our own sins--can do anything to help. James says, is your mouth shut, and are your ears open? Listen to God's word. Because this is the able-to-save-your-soul word of God.