Author Archives: campspringscommunitychurch_mfry1e

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A TIME TO REPENT. James 4:6-10. 10/20/2024. #15.

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1. The grace of God

                a. James spent his letter admonishing his readers to turn away from their own wisdom, cravings, favoritism, double-mindedness, selfishness, insensitivity, corrupt speech, and worldly pleasures

                b. In harsh bold terms James impresses on them that they were at war with God, themselves, and others

                                a1. This caused divisiveness and chaos

                                a2. To bring the world inside the church is to produce a worldly church (no use to God or to others)

                c. Despite their worldliness, God still gives grace

                                a1. God offers to forgive and restore if the wayward believers will just repent

                                a2. Romans 6:8-14 the grace of God put Jesus on the cross to die for our sins

                                                b1. In gratitude and commitment we are to live for Christ and not our own lusts

                                                b2. II Corinthians 5:17 given a new life, we are to live in newness of life

                d. Grace is given to the humble

                                a1. The key battle against sin is the fight against our own pride (my wants, my credit, my things, my desires, my honor…)

                                a2. Can’t both exalt self and submit to God

2. A command performance

                a. James lists 10 commands to his readers

                b. The 1st command is to submit to God

                                a1. Submit = a military term, to line up behind, as in rank and file (used in Ep. 5:22 of wives)

                                a2. Can’t submit to self and God at same time

                c. Resist the devil and he will flee from you

                                a1. Eve did not resist the devil

                                a2. Seeking God’s will only resists the devil

                d. Draw near to God = active seeking God through word, prayer, service (removing distractions)

                e. Cleanse your hands = not using body for sin

                f. Purify your heart (Philippians 4:8) = focus on pure things

                                a1. To think on vile things is unclean and sin

                                a2. Double-minded is used differently here than in 1:8 = in 1:8, the believer is going back and forth between God and world, but here he is trying to do both at the same time

                g. Lament, mourn, weep (lit., wail) = to grieve over sin in life, not for display, but in genuine repentance

                                a1. To grieve because you feel bad about sin and its results never leads to repentance

                                a2. To grieve over broken relationship with God via violating trust and covenant, break your holy vows leads to humility and healing

                                a3. Sin is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly or frivolously (Is. 6 a land of sinners)

                                a4. Sin surrounds us (world, business, TV, radio, cell phone) = desensitization (need saturation of Word and spiritual believers)

3. From contrition to consecration

                a. Humble yourself in the sight of God = to bring oneself under submission to God

                                a1. A purposeful lowering self, not for self-loathing, but to exalt God in life

                                a2. All things come from God and he is to be glorified in and for all things

                b. I Corinthians 4:7 he gives intelligence, abilities, and ends

                c. By humbling ourselves, he will lift us up

                                a1. 1 Peter 5:7 God exalts those who exalt him

                                a2. By our humble service, he rewards us

Key passage: Romans 6:8-14⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

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PROPER PRAYING. James 4:1-5. 10/13/2024. #14.

¹ Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

1. Conflict without from conflict within

                a. James continues his thought from chapter 3 that the wisdom of this world is earthly, sensual, and demonic

                b. There were conflicts among believers

                                a1. Lit., wars and battles, using military terms

                                a2. These battles are like those of the unsaved, which ruins our testimony (like with the Corinthians, Galatians, and the 2 women in Philippians)

                c. The conflicts are enumerated by James as being

                     carried away by own lusts (James 1:15), showing favoritism (James 2), not helping brothers in need (James 2), and corrupt speech (James 3)

                d. James states that these conflicts come from selfish desires in each believer

                                a1. To fulfill own pleasures (hedonon; English word, hedonism) = lusts, longings

                                a2. Proclaiming Christ while seeking own lusts

2. Petty petitions

                a. James illustrates his point by demonstrating that

                     their prayers are selfish and carnal

                                a1. Prayer is to worship God, express gratitude, pray for needs, and intercede for others

                                a2. To ask for selfish and even carnal things is evil

                b. James lists 2 errors in their praying:

                                a1. They do not ask God to meet their needs (often believers try to figure out things on their own 1st and go to God as a last resort)

                                a2. They asked amiss to fulfill their own pleasures (self-centered and carnal)

                c. Covetousness is a violation of the 10th command.

                                a1. Matthew 6 the Lord instructed us to be content

                                a2. To be carnally focused in prayer is to pray counter to the will of God (you do not have)

                                a3. Psalm 106:15 if God gives you your desires, he will send leanness to your soul (Solomon)

                d. Seeking one’s fleshly desires causes conflict in church, especially when others seek the same

3. Adulterers

                a. To seek anything other than God’s will makes us friends of the world and enemies to God

                                a1. Ephesians 5 as the bride of Christ, we are to be faithful to God alone (image in Hosea)

                                a2. Romans 7:13-20 – we must be aware of our own desires and combat them by yielding to the Spirit and the Word

                b. It is a serious offense to be unfaithful to the Lord

                                a1. I Kings 18 can’t be faithful and God and flesh

                                a2. Need to reject all things that hinder a holy walk with God

                c. Believers do not realize that being carnal makes us God’s enemies and he will oppose us

                d. James mentions a 5 step process:

                                a1. We have uncontrolled carnal desires

                                a2. We beseech God to give us our desires

                                a3. Our desires cause conflict within the body of Christ as we seek to get our own way

                                a4. We become enemies to God

                                a5. God refuses to answer our prayers and he opposes us with discipline and emptiness

                e. Exodus 20:15 God is a jealous God, seeking exclusive\covenant fellowship with us (no idols)

                f. The Spirit in us yearns for control (Ephesians 5:18)

                g. Ephesians 4:30 we grieve the Spirit and suffer when carnal

Key passage: Romans 7:13-20¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. ¹⁷ But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

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THE SIN OF SELF. James 3:12-18. 10/6/2024. #13.

¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1. 2 kinds of wisdom

                a. James brings his discussion wisdom, conduct, and the use of the tongue to a head in this passage

                                a1. James 1:5 true wisdom comes from God

                                a2. James 1:19-20 a man is to be slow to speak

                                a3. James 1:22 we are to be doers of the Word

                                a4. James 2 if a man’s faith is not seen in his action then his faith is dead and useless

                                a5. James 3:1-12 he who does not control his tongue is destructive and ungodly

                b. James contrasts two types of wisdom

                                a1. Worldly wisdom seeks to promote oneself in order to advance over other people

                                a2. Godly wisdom seeks to promote the Lord in order to draw people to Christ

                c. True wisdom is from above and can be seen in our good conduct or behavior (lit., way of life)

                                a1. Godly wisdom is meek (humble/gracious)

2. The subtle self-deception of worldly wisdom

                a. Many believers practice worldly wisdom unaware

                                a1. They want credit and envy others

                                a2. Claim doing all for Lord, while seeking to make known to others what they are doing

                b. Worldly wisdom can be seen in its fruit

                                a1. Self-seeking = self-ambition

                                a2. We deceive ourselves when we seek to advance the kingdom by advancing selves

                                a3. II Corinthians 10:12-18 Paul did not want to boast of what he did, for all glory goes to God

                c. I John 2:16 worldly wisdom comes from three sources

                                a1. EARTHLY – of the world (what the world considers wise = get ahead, gain wealth, seek glory => Solomon’s vanity)

                                a2. SENSUAL (psuches, soulish; Eng. word, psychology) – how we feel about something (emotion-based, self-indulging)

                                a3. DEMONIC (literal, devilish)-straight from the father of lies (John 8:44)

                                                b1. When we exercise worldly wisdom, we are following Satan (i.e., Eve)

                                                b2. All self-glorying, self-promotion, and self-indulgence is of the devil

                d. The results for worldly wisdom is confusion (chaos in the body of Christ; James 4:1-4) and every evil thing

3. Heaven-borne wisdom

                a. Godly wisdom produces godly results

                                a1. Purity = catharsis (cleansing, wholesome)

                                a2. Peaceable = removal of strife and tension

                                a3. Gentleness = gracious deference (a respect and honoring of others; James 2:3)

                                a4. A cooperative spirit = one who is not stubborn, obstinate, unyielding, combative…

                                a5. Merciful = slow to judge and quick to encourage others with comfort and aid

                                a6. Good fruits = works of kindness and help

                                a7. Without partiality = respecting everyone

                                a8. Without hypocrisy = no phoniness or hidden purposes

                b. Prideful wisdom produces strife, rivalry, and tension

                c. Godly wisdom produces peace, both in the body and with others outside the body

                                a1. Ephesians 5:11 there are times to oppose evil

                                a2. Galatians 2 there are times to stand your ground

                                a3. But, even in opposition, there is a peace

Key passage: II Corinthians 10:12-18¹² For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; ¹⁵ not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, ¹⁶ to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. ¹⁷ But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

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TONGUE AMOK. James 3:5-12. 9/29/2024. #12.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or some grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

1. The destructive tongue

                a. James had used the illustration that the tongue is small, but powerful

                                a1. Like a small bit in the horse’s mouth or a small rudder determining the ship’s course

                                a2. The tongue projects feelings, beliefs, attitudes, desires, worship, blasphemy, lies, truth, comfort, cruelty, and other things

                b. The tongue is only a tool directed by what is inside the person using the tongue (control only own talk)

                c. James speaks of a misused tongue destroying those who are the object of its venom

                d. 1st illustration is fire

                                a1. Controlled fire can provide power to heat meals, homes, or people, while also producing steam to drive mighty engines

                                a2. Uncontrolled fire can destroy forests, homes, businesses, and lives

                                a3. Wildfires started by a campfire or just a discarded cigarette can take thousands of acres

                e. An uncontrolled tongue can destroy lives, start wars, and ruin ministries (great accountability)

                f. 2nd illustration is poison

                                a1. The venom from the taipan can kill within minutes, even though a few drops are injected into a person

                                a2. The hurt caused by careless or hateful words can destroy lives and relationships

2. The uncontrolled tongue

                a. James states that the natural tongue is untamed

                                a1. Due to our fallen nature our speech is contaminated by sin and is naturally evil

                                a2. We learn from others the art of ridicule, anger, lying, manipulation, deceit, and gossip

                b. Like animals, we can learn to tame the tongue

                                a1. As a dog, parrot, or chimp can be trained, so can we control our speech

                                a2. Just as the natural tongue can harm, the controlled tongue can heal

                c. Just as removing a talebearer ends strife (Proverbs 26:20-21), so a restrained tongue can bring understanding and wisdom (Proverbs 17:27)

                d. It is the words of the wise that bring life (Proverbs 18:4; 10:11; 10:21; 12:18; 13:14)

                e. John 6:63-69 Jesus’s words give life and those who follow his words lead others to the Light (our goal)

3. The forked tongue

                a. James then speaks of the greatest deception: those who bless and curse with the same tongue

                b. Jam. 1:8 a double-minded man produces contradictory speech

                                a1. To praise God and curse man who is made in God’s image makes us hypocrites

                                a2. A spring can’t bring forth fresh and brackish water at the same time and a fig tree can’t bear olives or a grapevine bear a fig

                c. What is the source (root) of speech determines what manner of person you are

                d. Only a life completely dedicated to the Lord will be rid of corrupt thoughts that produce vile talk

                e. Matthew 12:34 what is in the heart reaches the tongue

                f. We must learn how to measure our words (testimony)

Key passage:  John 6:63-69 ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

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HELD TO ACCOUNT. James 3:1-4. 9/22/2024. #11.

¹ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

1. Not many teachers

                a. James enters a discussion on the tongue

                                a1. Apparently, his readers were loose in their speech and needed restraint

                                a2. The tongue is a main topic in the letter

                b. James repeats warnings about the tongue often

                                a1. James 1:19 be slow to speak; slow to anger

                                a2. James 2 you sit here…be warmed and full…

                                a3. James 3 the tongue is a burning fire…

                                a4. James 4 you have not because you ask not or you ask amiss so to fulfill your own lusts

                c. James uses 6 illustrations to compare the use of the tongue: a bit, a rudder, fire, an asp, fountains, and the fig tree

                d. James begins by warning his readers to not be many teachers (KJV = masters; i.e., schoolmasters)

                                a1. Many want to be teachers to instruct others

                                a2. Romans 12:4-6 only some are called to teach

                e. Teachers have a stricter judgment than others

                                a1. Required to teach correctly = right information with right intent and right motivation

                                                b1. 2 Tm. 2:15 students of Word of God

                                                b2. Discerning and wise

                                a2. Required to live out what they teach

                                                b1. I Corinthians 11:1 a life worthy to follow

                                                b2. A reputation of moral integrity

                                a3. Required to be circumspect (prudent)

                                                b1. Careful on what is taught, both as a teacher and in life in general

                                                b2. Weighs words for clarity, accuracy, appropriateness, and beneficial impact

                f. Who are the teachers?

                                a. Ephesians 4:11-12 those who are called by God

                                b. I Timothy 3:2 a necessary trait of elders

                                c. Hebrews 5 a mature believer who is able to pass on to others what God has taught them

                g. Three-fold aspects of teaching:

                                a. A calling by which God leads to teach other people (family, church, unsaved)

                                b. Responsibility to teach correctly

                                c. Accountable for what one teaches and how one lives up to own teaching (Matthew 12:33-37)

2. The rudder of the soul

                a. James compares the tongue to a bit in the horse’s mouth or a rudder on a ship

                                a1. By use of the bit a horse can be turned

                                a2. By use of a small rudder a ship is turned

                b. He who is able to control his tongue, can control his entire body

                                a1. He is a mature man

                                a2. He does not stumble by lies, deception, gossip, flattery, anger, accusation, or profane speech

                c. Much hurt comes from an untamed tongue

3. From the heart to the lips

                a. Philippians 4:8 what a man meditates on is what will reach his lips (a pure heart will control the tongue)

                b. If a person can’t control the tongue, he is unable to control anything else

                c. The practice of restraint is spiritual discipline

                                a1. To refrain from cruelty, judgment, corrupt utterances, anger, lies, and inappropriate flirtations is to be able to depart wisdom

                                a2. Only arrogance presumes to speak when silence and reflection is required

                d. Psalm 141:3-4 we must control own tongue (not God)

Key passage: Matthew 12:33-37

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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FAITH WITHOUT WORKS. James 2:14-26. 09/15/2024. #10.

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? ²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1. Can workless faith save?

                a. James is not contradicting Paul (Romans 4)

                                a1. Eph. 2:8-9 we are saved by grace through faith and not of works

                                a2. Romans 10:13 calling on name of Lord brings salvation

                b. James’s argument is that with salvation comes evidence that a person is saved

                                a1. II Corinthians 5:17 if there is no change in one’s life, there is no actually saving faith

                                a2. Intellectual faith (believing a doctrine of the existence of God and atonement of Christ does not save a person)

                                a3. The demons believe in God and even tremble, but they do not possess salvation

                c. Just as a body is dead without the spirit, so faith is dead without the manifestation of faith in works

                d. A workless faith is useless (empty)

                                a1. It cannot save, nor benefit others

                                a2. To claim faith without showing faith is mere idle talk

                e. Many illustrations of this truth

                                a1. Matthew 7:21 faith is doing the will of My Father

                                a2. Matthew 25 the sheep fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the imprisoned; the goats did not

                                a3. Romans 14:23 whatever is not of faith is sin

                                a4. I John 3:16-23 faith is shown in love which in turn is shown in good deeds to others

2. Of paupers, patriarchs and prostitutes

                a. Reformers tended to reject any connection of works with salvation, while social gospel focused on all works without faith

                                a1. Faith is shown in works, as clouds produce rain or the sun produces heat

                                a2. We are not saved by works, but faith works

                b. The lack of works concerned the biblical writers

                                a1. Were the Corinthians truly saved if their lives had not changed?

                                a2. If the Hebrews followed the Law, were they truly in Christ?

                c. James used 3 illustrations:

                                a1. If a poor brother needs clothes and food which you can provide, are you saved if you ignore his needs, sending him away empty?

                                a2. Did not Abraham demonstrate his faith when he obeyed God by offering up Isaac?

                                a3. Did not Rahab the Harlot show her faith by protecting God’s spies?

                d. True salvation produces a relationship with God which motivates us to please God by obeying him and through serving others in his name          

                e. True belief is seen in obedience (no ∆ = no faith!)

3. From fallen nature to spiritual nature

                a. We are saved by grace through faith, but once saved the evidence of faith is seen (Eph. 4:22-24)

                b. Matthew 7:16-23 by the fruit the tree is known

                                a1. John 15 good branches on the vine produce fruit, but false branches produce no fruit

                                a2. James shows his faith by his works

                c. Not all who call Jesus Lord are saved (Philippians 2:12)

                d. Life is the spirit in the body-not one without the other

Key passage:  1 John 3:16-23¹⁶ By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. ²⁰ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ²² And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

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THE ROYAL LAW. James 2:8-13. 09/08/2024. #9.

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; ⁹ but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. ¹¹ For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1. The Royal Law

                a. The Law of God contains many laws (Exodus 20)

                b. The Royal Law superintends all other laws

                                a1. Leviticus 19:18 given as the guiding principle of God: love your neighbor as yourself

                                a2. Luke 10:25-37 Jesus defined anyone who is in need as our neighbor

                                a3. Matthew 22:34-40 loving God and man are the greatest commandments

                c. By loving God with all our hearts, we will not injure our neighbors, covet their things, steal from them, lie about them, commit adultery against them, or harm them in anyway

                                a1. This includes showing favoritism, condescension, or patronization

                                a2. Love does not slight, keep track of wrongs, or expect repayment for love (I Corinthians 13)

                d. I John 4:7-11 love demonstrates that we are children of God and His disciples (John 13:34)

2. The fatal flaw

                a. Most people tend to dismiss their faults as minor flaws of little consequence

                                a1. To show partiality did not seem to be as grave as murder, thievery, or adultery

                                a2. James corrects this error

                b. If we sin against any part of God’s law, we have sinned against all the law

                                a1. The law is a unit (a whole system)

                                a2. One who gossips cannot brag that he has not committed murder or adultery

                                a3. Isaiah felt righteous until he saw the Lord on his throne (Isaiah 6:1-6)

                c. James states that all sins will be judged

                                a1. I Corinthians 3:12-15 every sin and idle word will engender loss of reward

                                a2. Guilt is applied where sin in committed

                d. None of our excuses for sin will be accepted

                                a1. This is my personality

                                a2. This is the way I was brought up

                                a3. This is how I feel

                                a4. I’m just like my dad (or mom)

                e. Amazing the number of believers who know what the Bible says, but ignore it

                f. Judgment of works are going to be based on the law of liberty = freedom to do what is loving and right

                                a1. Jesus sets us free from sin and its power

                                a2. John 8:31-36 freedom to show moral character is to be released as a slave to sin

3. Reciprocal judgment

                a. Matthew 18 those who do not forgive will not be forgiven; those who don’t show mercy won’t be shown  mercy

                                a1. Matthew 7 our judgment is based upon how we judge others

                                a2. There is room to properly judge sin, but love also covers a multitude of sin (I Peter 4:18)

                b. Mercy triumphs over judgment

                                a1. Jesus offered forgiveness to the woman at the well, the man stricken with palsy, and the man lowered through the roof

                                a2. Matthew 18:15-18 even in church discipline, the chief goal is mercy and restoration; not judgment

                c. We represent Christ and what men see is how they will view our Lord (mercy or judgment; love or disdain)

Key passage: Matthew 22:34-40³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”