²¹Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

James brings the lofty principles of righteousness within reach for everyday life. Anger is just the first application. He uses the imagery of a person taking off soiled clothes. The idea is to remove far away from ourselves all defiling outward actions. Of course, we saw in James 1:15 that sin is rooted in the issues of the heart, but James is now thinking of the gritty issues of sin’s outworking in life. Sin is filthy in God’s eyes, both when our hearts are stirred to sin and when we act on our sinful impulses. God sees right through superficial portrayals of righteousness: “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . .” (Isa. 64:6).

James leaves no allowance for being “pretty close” to righteousness. We need to put aside “all that remains of wickedness.” We cannot indulge ourselves with the idea that some things will take time to change from our old ways. Peter expands on this:

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. (1 Pet. 4:3)

When Paul writes to the Romans, he expounds the concept of righteousness— what it is and what it means—in the first eleven chapters of that letter. He lays out the theology of the righteousness of God. However, in chapters 12–15, Paul turns to the application of that theology, and at this point, James joins in. One can easily imagine Paul team-preaching with James to the same congregation, following the latter with:

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Eph. 5:3–4)

Peter, also, would add his “Amen,” echoing both:

Therefore, [put] aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander . . . (1 Peter 2:1)

The antidote to such living is the Word of God. William MacDonald puts in this way: “He uses [the Word] in saving us not only from damnation in eternity but from damage in this life.”

Lord, help me stay clothed with Christ and not the filthiness of the world.