Introduction: I went to the internet again this week in search of some strange laws that have been or still are on the books here in the United States.  One site even had such laws broken down by state, so I naturally clicked on the one marked Pennsylvania.  Here are some of the laws they had listed:

Ÿ         It is contrary to Pennsylvania law to discharge a gun, cannon, revolver or other explosive weapon at a wedding.

Ÿ         It is illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.

Ÿ         Any motorist driving along a country road at night must stop every mile and send up a rocket signal, wait 10 minutes for the road to be cleared of livestock, and continue.

Ÿ         A special cleaning ordinance bans housewives from hiding dirt and dust under a rug in a dwelling.

Ÿ         You may not sing in the bathtub.

Ÿ         Fireworks stores may not sell fireworks to Pennsylvania residents.

Ÿ         A person is not eligible to become Governor if he/she has participated in a duel.

Ÿ         Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.

Ÿ         You may not catch a fish with your hands.

 

From our friends to the north of us, the state of New York come these laws:

Ÿ         It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head for fun.

Ÿ         The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

Ÿ         A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in his/her pocket.

Ÿ         While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Ÿ         Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 P.M.

 

I came across another one from another state, maybe old, that said it was against the law to carry livestock on a school bus.  There are some kids that act like animals some days on my bus!

 

Yes, there are or has been some rather strange laws on the books, but the law we are going to look at today is not strange or odd or out-of-date.  It is as current and relevant as the day it was given.

 

Last Sunday the message dealt with the problem of favoritism. James uses the groundwork he laid to make a very significant point about the law and about our status in God's eyes. We are going to look at James' underlying points, and then summarize the big picture of his brilliantly organized argument.

 

I. The Depth Of The Law

 

1. Notice here the excellent use of connecting thoughts James uses in his writing. Look back at verses 5-7. James says the poor of the world will be rich in faith and inherit, what? The KINGDOM he promised to those who love him. Then notice in verse 7, he says it is the rich who are slandering, what? The WORTHY or NOBLE name of him to whom you belong - Jesus. As he makes his transition to the second part of his argument, he mentions the ROYAL law. This is the Greek word basilikos which means "of the king" (same root word as kingdom in verse 5). This then is a law of the King, who is God. What is his law? James then quotes the entire Old Testament. No, he does just like his brother Jesus did, and summarizes the entire law with the statement, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”   Now, immediately you might think to yourself. "Oh yeah, I remember Jesus' said that in Matthew 22:39." He certainly did, and Paul says it in Romans 13:9, and it is found elsewhere in the New Testament. But look at where James is saying he has taken this quote from. This is the royal law, the law of God, which is found in "Scripture." This denotes a reference to an Old Testament passage. "Wow, I didn't think that was in the O.T. I thought it was only in the New." Read Leviticus 19:18 thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: These are the exact words found here, and they come at the end of a lengthy section on how God's people are to treat one another. It sums up God's law about our treatment of others.

 

2. James says if you keep this law, you “do well.” What does he mean by "do well?" The word translated "do" here is a word which signifies the fulfillment of something, bringing something to completion or fulfillment, or to carry out completely. Therefore, if you really fulfill this command you will be doing well in God's eyes. But (James continues by going back to the issue at hand) if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers (verse 9).

 

3. In the message last week we saw how James was afraid his readers were completely unaware there was anything wrong with their practice of favoritism. They just assumed it was okay. But James sternly brings to their attention their actions show their evil thoughts and their unjust discrimination. It also points out their ignorance with regards to what was going on around them in regard to how the rich misused them, and they were misusing the poor.

 

4. Now James tells them, not only are all these things true, but also favoritism is a flat out sin. You see the law isn't just the specifics of a written command, but it is also the complete fulfillment of the intent of that law. The Pharisees completely misunderstood this and were soundly rebuked by Jesus as the worst kind of hypocrites for trying to abide by the letter, but breaking the spirit of the law. James does not want these relatively young Christians to fall into the same trap the Pharisees did. God's word is more than just adherence to rules; it goes much deeper than that. God's royal law gets at the heart and the motives. James didn't want his readers to forget this.

 

5. You can't live by the letter of the law, so don't deceive yourselves into thinking you are. Be aware how deep the law is, and that it just doesn't address major outward actions, but also addresses our thoughts and things we think inconsequential. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

 

Application: Are we each obeying the royal law of God to love our neighbor as ourself, or are we showing favoritism toward those around us?  Take note of what God’s Word says about loving others:

Matthew 5:43,44  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

John 13:34,35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 Corinthians 13:1,13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

Next, James sites an example of what he means, and also makes a sweeping statement about the nature of the law and the nature of our sin.

 

II. The Depth Of Our Sin

 

1. "Okay," we might say, "But I am not a big sinner. I mean, I might show favoritism a little bit every once in a while, but that isn't that bad. Certainly God doesn't look at that as being too big of a deal. I just tell little white lies that don't hurt anyone. That isn't the same as stealing or taking the Lord's name in vain." Is that what you think sometimes?

 

2. Look at what James says about that mode of thinking. Verse 10 says “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Illustration: It is that time of year when the High Schools in our area are starting their Track and Field events.  You will probably see young people running along the sidewalks and streets of Coudersport around the time school lets out.  Like any sport, Track and Field has rules that must be followed.  A few years ago there was a track meet in which the U.S. team was by far the fastest of those who had come to the meet. Each individual runner had world class speed. After about two thirds through the race, the U.S. was way out in front and coasted to what seemed like a gigantic victory. Or was it? The judges noticed one of the runners had stepped out of his lane on one of his strides. The whole team was disqualified. The team that thought they had won did not even officially finish. They ran a nearly perfect race. They made all the right passes. They ran smoothly and quickly. They did everything perfectly, except one stride. But that one stride is all it took. With that step out of the lane, the team broke the rule and was disqualified. It didn't seem fair. They were faster than everyone else. They were the best out there. Come on judges, give them a break. They deserve to win. But they don't, because to break just one rule means disqualification.

 

3. To break just one of God's laws, means you are a lawbreaker and guilty of sin. No law is more serious than any other. To finish or fulfill the law, you must obey them all. The athletes on that U.S. team might have said, "Yeah, but we don't take steroids or didn't gain any other unfair advantage. We didn't get an early start." But that doesn't matter you see. A rule is a rule.

 

This law is true in other realms as well.  How many ice-bergs did it take to sink the Titanic?  One.  One ice-berg sunk a whole ocean liner.  What about in the realm of the law itself?  Suppose you robbed the Citizens Trust Company Bank in Coudersport, and you were brought before Judge Leet at the Court House.  Would it do you any good to use the following defense: “Your honor, I admit robbing the Citizens Trust Company, but I didn’t rob the Sovereign Bank or the Northwest Savings Bank.  Nor have I murdered anyone, and I paid my taxes this year!”  Of course not.  Judge Leet would assure you that he had no interest in laws you had not broken, only in the one you had.  You are a law breaker because you broke one law.

 

4. The same holds true for God's laws. One law is as valid as the other. To break one, means to break them all. Don't ever look around at somebody near you and think to yourself, "Well my sins aren't as bad as theirs." Sin is sin. And, the wages of sin is death. James has already affirmed that in 1:15 “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  The law is a unit. It is a perfect unit. God is just and demands the entire law be kept. Not just the convenient laws, or the major laws, but all of them. James says, if you don't understand this, you know nothing about the law.

 

5. James gives an example of this. If you commit adultery but do not murder, it doesn't matter, you are still a law breaker, condemned by that law. The purpose of God's law is to show us His perfect standard, and show us the depth of our rebellion and sin. It points out to us in flashing red lights our need for forgiveness. In fact, the Greek word translated "convinced"(verse 9) means "to be exposed."   and can be literally translated “convicted”  The law exposes our sin, all of our sin. Whether we think it big or small, it is still sin, and it still convicts us as lawbreakers. That word "transgressor" comes from a root word which means "one who steps over, around, or neglects something." Literally, one who crosses the line. Once you cross that line (like the U.S. athletes found out), there is no getting back on track. You are disqualified, and no longer worthy of the Kingdom God has promised.

 

6. Then what? Since we are incapable of keeping that perfect law, and step over the line time after time, and are mired in the depth of our sin, what must happen? The answer is found in the next two verses. Points one and two bring us to the need for point three.

 

III. The Depth Of God's Mercy

 

1. We are lawbreakers. We have broken the law - even ones we think small - and even ones we claim not to have known about. Our actions and our thoughts have betrayed us time and time again, and there is no way we can make ourselves right. There is nothing we can do to correct the situation.

 

2. But when we see our completely lost state, that is when God does something amazing.  He shows mercy. 

Illustration: When the Confederate Army was finally defeated, Abraham Lincoln was asked how he would treat the rebellious Southerners. The question hinted at the desire to see the South severely punished. Unexpectedly, though, the merciful President said, "I will treat them as if they had never been away."

 

3. The final phrase of verse 13 states, "Mercy rejoiceth against judgment!" Our sin deserves judgment, no matter how small it is. Even the sin of favoritism. And God's judgment on sin is death. But for those he has chosen, His mercy triumphs over his judgment, because of Jesus Christ, who has already paid the penalty.

 

4. What if a criminal is convicted of their crime, and there is absolutely no doubt that they are the guilty party.  But just before the convicted man is taken away, the judge of the trial steps down and says, “I’ll take the punishment of that man!” Everyone there would be in a state of shock and amazement.  If we were the family of the person who had been harmed by this criminal, we might even be outraged that the judge would be willing to take the punishment for the one who truly deserved it. 

 

5. This is exactly the same picture of our life. We have sinned. It doesn't matter if it was murder or adultery or favoritism, the punishment is the same. We are guilty as charged. The punishment is death - no exceptions. The punishment must be paid. But then God sends His own son, and Jesus says, "I will pay the price. I will die for you."

You see we deserve death. We all are guilty. But God is merciful. He accepts Jesus' death as payment. We don't deserve it. We couldn't have done or couldn't ever do anything to earn it, but God shows His mercy nonetheless. Could any criminal ever say anything to convince the judge to step down and serve his punishment? No way. Neither can we ever do anything to bring about the mercy of God. It is His choice. It is his prerogative. God and only God, chooses when and where and on whom to be merciful. In fact God's Holy name, Yahweh, as revealed to Moses at the burning bush means, "I am who I am." But God  further revealed to Moses in Exodus 33:19 as "I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." Paul quotes this passage in Romans 9:15 and then follows it up with the statement in verse 16, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”

 

6. That is the depth of God's mercy, even though we don't deserve it or could ever earn it, he still chooses to bestow it upon us. What a marvelous thing! In helping us to understand all of this, James is making one solid argument. Let's see if you can pick up on it as I READ verses 12 and 13.

 

7. Did you see it? What is this whole section, verses 1-13, about? Favoritism, right? What is James point then? He says we are showing favoritism. And when we show favoritism, aren't we being unjust judges? And, in fact, isn't favoritism a violation of God's whole law, "Love thy neighbor as thyself?" And isn't breaking one law like breaking all the others? Favoritism is the same as murder in God's book. And when we break God's law we are therefore law-breakers - sinners. The punishment is the same. And isn't the punishment of sin death. But don't we receive mercy from God, in spite of our condition of sin and depravity? Therefore, should we not live by those standards and show mercy on those around us, even those who we don't think "deserve" it? God is a God of mercy, and He wants His people to be merciful in return. He wants us to fulfill His law by showing mercy, by loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is exactly what God says at the beginning of verse 12 which says, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”  If we aren't doing this, and if we aren't showing mercy, what does that say about our understanding of God? What does that say about our understanding of our own position? What does that say about whether or not we are true Christians? We will examine the truth behind that last question some more next week.  God's people will show mercy, because they have been shown mercy. It is a wonderful argument. Is it clear to you? Do you understand how to use it to measure your faith and the reality of your Christianity?  As it says at the end of verse 12, we will be judged by the law of liberty.

 

8. You know my friends, James is not trying to be hard on us as Christians. He is not trying to lay a guilt trip on us. What James is trying to do, is really encourage us. He is encouraging us to live out our faith, so we will have the confidence of that faith, and so we will understand how merciful and wonderful our God is. From now on, be aware of God's mercy, and be liked-minded. Do not show favoritism, but instead be merciful to those around you. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Show others the respect you want to have shown for you. Love others with the depth and sincerity you would like from others. Say and do those things you would like to have said and done for you