Judgment and Mercy
James 2:1–13
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. James 2:12
James says that the favoritism we practice but think of as unimportant is actually a very serious sin. It is a sin that will bring us into judgment. If you break the law to “love your neighbor as yourself ” (Lev. 19:18)—and you do break it if you show favoritism—then not only have you broken that law and stand condemned by it, but you have also broken the entire law as well.
He reminds us that there is such a thing as judgment and that judgment will fall on those who break God’s law. In the light of the coming judgment, James urges us to reexamine our relationships with other people as well as with God. Of course, James is not teaching salvation by works. He is not saying that if you keep this law and the next law and the law after that, you will be saved by keeping the law. What he is teaching is this: If you are showing favoritism, consider carefully what you are doing, because you are breaking God’s law, and stop doing it. Knowing what you are doing should cause you to reexamine your relationship to God and start to behave differently. And you will behave differently if you are a Christian!
If you are related to God the Father, as you should be in Jesus Christ, something of the spirit of Christ that went out to those who were destitute, needy, poor, and unimportant should be in you, and you should find yourself showing mercy to them, even as Jesus did.
This is how Christians must behave and operate. Therefore, if you are not doing this, you should reexamine yourself to see if you are really saved. If we are believers, each of us must be living a life that matches our profession. This is really the bottom line. We read the Word; we know the teaching; we can give discourses on what the doctrine says. But James asks, “Does your life match the things you teach and, in particular, does it match up in this very important matter of choosing who are to be your friends?”
Who are your friends? They should be those who are friendless, those who do not attract the attention of the world, those who would be neglected if it were not for Christian people. Jesus reached out to such people. You also should reach out to them and include them for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.