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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
James wrote to believers in order to wake them up to the spiritual realities that formalism and legalism totally miss. He stressed the fact that the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be held with respect of persons (James 2.1). Respect of persons is a disease of the heart and not just one of actions. Under the Old Covenant one might could argue (though I believe incorrectly) that sin was committed only by overt acts of disobedience. This was the fundamental error of the Pharisees during Jesus' earthly ministry. We will notice how James meets this error head on in reprimanding his erring brethren.
The Royal Law (James 2.8) is a law that begins in the heart and manifests itself on the outside. This Royal Law regulates overt actions (e.g., he said, “...if you show partiality, you commit sin”). But, it also mandates the condition of heart which produces the acceptable fruits that a believer so wants to yield. We must get this one point if we never get another! In fact, if we fail to get this point, all our efforts toward righteousness are vain. Here is that fact: Sin is not measured in degrees of wrong! Every sin of humanity is of equal magnitude so far as God is concerned and man's relationship to Him. This is not to say that the physical effects of sin are equal; they certainly are not. However, James' entire premise from which he draws the conclusion that Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment is based upon the fact that there are no big sins and little sins in God's eye!
Wrapped up in the singular fact that God does not see sin in varying degrees of sinfulness is the mystery of His essence. Man cannot think the way God does without strict discipline. In fact it can be said that it is contrary to our nature NOT to view sin with varying degree of sinfulness! If we are to see sin with any other perspective, we have to be taught to do it! And, wouldn't you know that God the Father and Jesus the Son are the absolute perfect examples from which we can learn this Divine trait! If the Father viewed sin as we view it (in gradations of sin) where do you think that the sin of murdering His Son would fall on a scale of 1 to 10? The Father sent the Son so that the world might believe and be saved. And, what was the world's reaction? They crucified Him! Had God viewed sin as we view it, He could not have offered pardon to these vilest of sinners. Yet, that is precisely what He did via the first recorded Gospel sermon (see Acts 2 in its entirety)!
God is not man and His emotions are not man's emotions. He is a jealous God, but He is also a forgiving God. Mercy is a trait that goes to the core of who He is! Likewise, mercy is a trait that He demands of His people. The Royal law is a law that implies mercy! When a man loves his neighbor from the heart, he wants nothing but the best for him. When a man loves his neighbor as himself, he sees the neighbor's sins in a whole different light! The judgmental spirit that frequently permeates the “Christian Community” is not of God! In fact, to characterize the “Christian Community” as being judgmental is a contradiction of terms. By definition, the follower of Christ (a Christian) cannot have such a spirit within him!
So how does the Royal Law imply mercy? We will address this all important question in coming messages, but it is first necessary to see what Jesus had to say about mercy and His disciples. Of course we know that He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5.7). He also said to a group of self-righteous folk, “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” (Matthew 12.7). Mercy begets mercy, and mercy trumps sacrifice! Such is the view of Jesus regarding mercy. (Continued)
Questions:
1. What is the royal law? State it.
2. How did God bring Himself to forgive the very men who crucified His Son? What did mercy have to do with it?
3. What does mercy have to do with my obtaining of mercy?
4. Is it true that mercy begets mercy? If yes, explain how it happens.
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