Tiago 2

Tiago 2

Morris - The Law of Liberty "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty" (James 2:12). On Independence Day, Americans should give thanks to the Author of liberty that we have been privileged to live in this "sweet land of liberty," where we can worship God freely, in accord with His Word. Liberty is not license, however, and the essence of the American system is liberty under law. Fundamentally, that law is "the law of nature and of nature's God," the natural laws of God's world and the revealed laws of God's Word. Within that framework we do have liberty, but not liberty to defy either the physical law of gravity or the spiritual "law of liberty." The latter is formulated in Scripture and has been applied over the centuries, in the English common law and later in our system of constitutional law, both of which are based on Scripture. Some today, seeking license rather than liberty, might recoil at the very idea of "the law of liberty," calling it an "oxymoron," or contradiction in terms. Jesus said that only "the truth shall make you free!" (John 8:32). "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4), and "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:15), not freedom! No one can be saved by the law, but those who are saved—by grace through faith in Christ—will love God's law, for it is "holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12). We should say with the Psalmist: "So shall I keep Thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts" (Ps. 119:44-45). There is, indeed, a law of liberty, and whoever will walk in real liberty will find it only in God's law of life, through His revealed Word. For "whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25). QUESTION - What is the law of liberty? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - We find the law of liberty first mentioned in James 1:25, “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James here refers to the gospel, which, although it is called here a law, is not, strictly speaking, a law comprised of requirements and enforced by sanctions. Rather, it is a declaration of righteousness and salvation by Christ, an offer of peace and pardon by Him, and a free promise of eternal life through Him. The juxtaposition of the two contradictory terms—“law” and “liberty”—made the point, especially to the Jews, that this was an entirely new way of thinking about both. Paul uses this same technique when he refers to the “law of faith” in Romans 3:27. The perfect liberty found in Christ fulfills the “perfect law” of the Old Testament because Christ was the only one who could. Those who come to Him in faith now have freedom from sin’s bondage and are able to obey God. Christ alone can set us free and give us true liberty (John 8:36). The phrase “law of liberty” is found again in James 2:12. In this portion of his epistle, James is discussing the sin of showing partiality within the church. He reminds his hearers that to show favoritism toward others is a violation of the command to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus Himself reminded us that all of the Law that God gave to Moses could be summed up into one concise principle—to love God with all the heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–40). God’s Word teaches plainly that all have sinned and stand condemned before God (Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23). No one but Jesus Christ has ever fully obeyed the law of God. He who knew no sin became sin for us (Isaiah 53:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:21)! Christ’s sacrifice on the cross has redeemed from the curse of the Law all who trust in Him by faith (Galatians 3:10–14). Believers have been justified (declared righteous) by His grace (Romans 3:24–28) and are no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1). All who have trusted Christ have received the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). It is His power in us that gives us the ability to please God (Galatians 5:13–16). Christ’s perfect sacrifice brings release from the eternal death sentence that the Law brings upon all sinners, and it gives believers the ability to please God as we put off the works of the flesh (Colossians 3:1–9), put on love (Colossians 3:12–17), and walk in (or by) the Spirit day by day. It is by the Spirit’s filling and control (Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 5:17–21) that we can walk in love and please our Heavenly Father. What perfect liberty we now enjoy! What a blessed privilege to have received mercy, to be redeemed (liberated) from the bondage of sin, and to be empowered for service by our Creator! Our love for others proves the reality of our faith (1 John 4:7–11). Let us love one another even as He has loved us (1 John 4:19). Free from the law, oh, happy condition! Jesus hath bled, and there is remission! Cursed by the law, and bruised by the fall, Grace hath redeemed us once for all. Now are we free—there's no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation; "Come unto Me,"—oh, hear His sweet call, Come, and He saves us once for all. Children of God! oh, glorious calling! Surely His grace will keep us from falling; Passing from death to life at His call, Blessed salvation, once for all. Once for all, O sinner, receive it; Once for all, O brother, believe it; Cling to the Cross, the burden will fall; Christ hath redeemed us once for all. Bertrand Russell, no friend of Christianity (an avowed atheist) made a fascinating statement - There are certain things that our age needs...The root of the matter (if we want a stable world) is a very simple and old-fashioned thing, a thing so simple that I am almost ashamed to mention it, for fear of the derisive smile with which wise cynics will greet my words. The thing I mean — please forgive me for mentioning it — is love, Christian love, or compassion. If you feel this, you have a motive for existence, a guide in action, a reason for courage, an imperative necessity for intellectual honesty. If you feel this, you have all that anybody should need in the way of religion. Although you may not find happiness, you will never know the despair of those whose life is aimless and void of purpose, for there is always something that you can do to diminish the awful sum of human misery. ILLUSTRATION OF PRE-JUDGING (ROOT WORDS OF PREJUDICE) - A woman was waiting at an airport one night. With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, That the man beside her, as bold as could be, Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene. She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock, As the gutsy “cookie thief!” diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I’d blacken his eye!” With each cookie she took, he took one, too.When only one was left, she wondered what he’d do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, “Oh brother, This guy has some nerve, and he’s also rude, Why, he didn’t even show any gratitude!” She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, Refusing to look back at the “thieving ingrate.” She boarded the plane and sank in her seat, Then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes! “If mine are here, she moaned with despair, Then the others were his and he tried to share! Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!” James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. Amplified For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment. Phillips The man who makes no allowances for others will find none made for him. It is still true that "mercy smiles in the face of judgment." Wuest for the judgment will be without mercy to the person who did not show mercy; mercy exults in triumph over judgment. NET For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment. GNT ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος· κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως. NLT There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. KJV For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. ESV For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. ASV For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment. CSB For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn't shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. NIV because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! NKJ For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. NRS For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. YLT for the judgment without kindness is to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment. NAB For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. NJB Whoever acts without mercy will be judged without mercy but mercy can afford to laugh at judgement. GWN No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment. BBE For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging. judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy Jas 5:4 Ge 42:21 Judges 1:7 Job 22:6-10 Pr 21:13 Isa 27:11 Mt 5:7 Mt 6:15 Mt 7:1,2 Mt 18:28-35 Mt 25:41-46 Lu 16:25 mercy triumphs over judgment.: Ps 85:10 Jer 9:24 Eze 33:11 Mic 7:18 Eph 1:6,7 2:4-7 1Jn 4:8-16,18,19 James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Proverbs 21:13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered. James 5:4+ Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Matthew 5:7+ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." COMMENT - They did not earn mercy for showing others mercy. They showed others mercy which showed they were born again and because they were born again, they received mercy from God at the time of judgment. (MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT) Matthew 6:15+ “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 7:1-2+ “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matthew 25:41-46+ (THIS GROUP SHOWED NO MERCY AND RECEIVE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT) “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” A TERRIFYING PROVERB- LIKE STATEMENT For (because = NIV)(gar) (term of explanation) James explains the reason for the commands just issued in James 2:12.