Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from James chapter 2 but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.
Have you ever looked down on other people before? Have you ever felt better than somebody else, because your sins seemed far more trivial than the ones others have committed? Many religious leaders felt better than others and found fault with Jesus for eating with sinners.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
If you sinned just one time in your entire life, then you are guilty in the eyes of God. Without the forgiveness that is found in Christ you will be eternally punished at judgement day Obtaining eternal life has nothing to do with how good you think you are, but rather how good God is. Without His forgiveness, we would all suffer the same punishment for our iniquities. Many many people think that God grades on a curve, but the facts are without his assistance, we would all flunk.
The Bible teaches that there are none righteous no not one. Because God’s word is true, no one can ever attain salvation without forgiveness in Christ. Don’t get me wrong, as a Christian everybody is required to depart from iniquity and bring forth fruits that are meet for repentance, but the first steps toward salvation is to admit you are a sinner. Once you do that, you are equal to everybody else in the world. There’s no big sins, no little sins because all of them will reap the same reward, eternal punishment.
Imagine the same penalty for the many different kinds of violations in the world. Imagine you get five years in prison for a parking violation, a speeding ticket or for robbing a bank. In the eyes of God we are all guilty. Without christ we will all receive the exact same punishment. It doesn’t matter what sin is committed, we are all equal. Each of us are desperate need of God’s grace.
James 2:11-13 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
There are two different laws. The law of the Old Testament of Judaism, which is referred to as the ministration of condemnation,(2 Cor 3:9) and the law of Liberty which is the ministration of forgiveness and grace found in the New Testament. (Eph 2:8 ) We are in the age of Grace right now. As I’ve said before, it’s very easy to stand in judgment over other people or make yourself appear in a better light but the truth is that we are all the same, and outside of repentance and sincere faith in Christ Jesus, there is no salvation. People talk about equality in society but I want to let you know the true equality. All of us are sinners who are worthy of death and Hell. Without Christ none of us would be saved. The law of Liberty is about the forgiveness that Christ extends to us at the cross. If you ever asked God at any time for forgiveness in your life and you won’t forgive others when they apologize to you, God is going to show you no mercy at all.
Matt 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As a christian, works are part of our salvation, but it won’t be by your works alone that you obtain eternal life. You have to wash away your sins through baptism, and mortify the sinful deeds of the flesh. But when we become a Christian we need to be merciful unto others, because it is through our mercy that we shall obtain Mercy from God.
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Each of us are in bondage to our sinful condition and we cannot free ourselves. This is why we must come to Christ Jesus and have our sins washed away through the blood that He shed on the cross.
John 8:31-36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In society, the tendency is to look down on other people rather than accept the truth that they are a sinner just the same as they are. Forgiveness is a gift that comes from God when we trust in His only begotten son Jesus Christ. Because each of us have been forgiven in the Christian faith, God wants us to extend that same forgiveness to others in the church when they apologize. God does not make it difficult for us to obtain forgiveness. Even in the Lord’s Prayer you are required to say, forgive us of our debts as we forgive our debtors. Jesus taught that the publican was justified when he said, God be merciful to me a sinner. God wants us to confess and admit our faults so He can forgive us. God does not make it difficult for us to obtain forgiveness, just an apology and admission of fault. It is a free gift that he wants to give us. The stipulation is that you have to extend that forgiveness to others as needed, otherwise he will not forgive you. I cannot imagine walking around this world without forgiveness. I apologize as quickly as possible when needed. If somebody is upset with what I’ve done I quickly say I’m sorry. When you do, the ball is in the other person’s court to forgive you. If they choose not to forgive you, God will not forgive them, otherwise the scriptures would not be true. Being judged by the law of Liberty is about having your judgment taken away because you have been forgiven through Christ.
Micah 7:18 – Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Our passage is about how God extends to each of us a portion of grace, and He expects you to do the same to others, otherwise you will enter into judgement with Him.
2 Corinthians 3:17 – Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Have you been baptized into the faith yet? Have you received the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Are you being forgiving with others as Christ has been with you? Be merciful, as good stewards of the grace of God and extend to others,…..
……The Law of Liberty
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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