James 2:8-13 ~ at Runboard.com

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James 2:8-13

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GaleB
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James 2:8-13

"8 If you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.

9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment."

7/29/2008, 5:46 am

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GaleB
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Re: James 2:8-13

Discussion anyone.......

7/29/2008, 5:53 am

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ket85rn
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Re: James 2:8-13

The Message puts verses 12-13 like this:

Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

I thinks this is basically a "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" passage.

And, again, it is a question of integrity.
It calls upon us to act in a manner consistent with our belief in every aspect of our life. We are not to pick and choose what parts of the law to obey, not to be selective about who we will treat well, but to obey all aspects of the law and to treat everyone equally.

WWJD may have become trite, but when you think about it, it really is the way to live life, to try to approach everything the way that Jesus would have.

Karen

7/29/2008, 10:15 am

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dtyree
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Re: James 2:8-13

This is a little tricky. Verse 10 alludes to us being perfect in all that we do. If you break one law, then you break all of them. And the only way I see not to break any law is to remain perfect in all that you do. But this conflicts with our humanity. We were born into sin. We are sinners. Yet we are sure of our salvation, we are sinners and I believe we will sin. Therefor, we are going to break a law. Here I do not know what law(s) are being referred to. Jewish laws, the 10 commandments?

There will be judgement (from the almighty I assume) and with that judgement comes mercy. Yes we are sinners, we will sin, we will break laws, yea God in His mercy will judge us with mercy which is more important than judgement.

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7/29/2008, 9:43 pm

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horseshadowrider
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Re: James 2:8-13

Well, I believe that when it says Mercy overcomes judgment, it is also talking about the mercy of our God and our salvation.

David, we will not receive any judgment for our sins. As believers, we have been delivered from judgment by God's tremendous mercy.

As in the story of Passover where the blood of the sacrificed lamb was painted on the door lentils and when the angel of God came to pour out the judgment upon the Egyptians, when they saw the blood on the doorposts, they "passed over" and did not pour out judgment. That was God's perfect plan and an allegory of the work done by The Lamb of God, proclaimed by John the Baptist when he saw Jesus and shouted, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."

Jesus' Blood is covering us so when God looks down upon us, He does not see sin, but He sees the Blood. Which we received when we, by faith, accepted Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer.

So, from all that I understand of the Gospel, there is no judgment for sin for the believer, our sins are cast as far as the east is from the west.

And therefore, knowing what a great thing Jesus has done for us, the tremendous sins He has forgiven us for, we should treat others this same way. That knowledge and understanding of what we have done and in some cases, continue to do, and yet we are forgiven, comes to our minds and should ring into our hearts that we are NO ONE to judge another.

People in glass houses should not throw stones.

God's Mercy to us in forgiving our sins overcomes the judgment not only that He would have toward us, but also, it "should" overcome our judgment of others.

I love the quote from Jesus who said, "Oh foolish man who judges. Know ye not that that which ye judge, you are guilty of doing the very same thing?"

Anyway, that's the way I see it. I'm so glad you brought this up, David!

V.

---
Virginia
4 plc fracture of the C1, Tethered Cord, (acquired chiari and elongated brainstem resolved by Tethered Cord surgery); atlanto occipital dislocation and cranial settling all due to equestrian accident,
2004. CC Fusion upcoming.

7/29/2008, 11:53 pm

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GaleB
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Re: James 2:8-13

I just love the dialog you guys share. Thank you so much! I will add this to the discussion from the Bible study itself... David brings up a point about what law James may be referring...

"James begins by summarizing what he was saying in the previous section with this statement:
"If you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well."
James calls this the "royal law." It is not clear why he calls it that. Possibly he is referring to it as the "kingly law," the law belonging to the king, Jesus, or to the kingdom of God.
This is the second half of what Jesus quotes when asked what is the greatest commandment. The first half is
"'Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"(Mk 12:29-30)

But James does not end there. In the end, he says, it is not judgment that will triumph, but "mercy triumphs over judgment." It is God's mercy that will be triumphant. Even our false judgments cannot stop the fact that in God's judgment the greater end is mercy. God's judgment serves his mercy.

We can hand over to Him all of our petty judgments and condemnations of others or ourselves because we have counted on and been ultimately betrayed by them rather than trusted in God alone. He is and will continue to be the God who gives to all generously, without reproaching. When we find ourselves treating others with partiality we can turn back to the only one who can give each and every one of us true liberty! A liberty to receive every good thing (especially His mercy) from God and to pass it on to each and every one who crosses our path.

Yes, we are humans, born into sin, sin, again and again, but, God is a merciful God. He expects us, to be merciful to all we meet. So they too, will know mercy and give mercy. He will return that mercy to us .

7/30/2008, 8:27 am

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dtyree
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Re: James 2:8-13

In reading Exodus 12:12 On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn both men and animals and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 goes on to say The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

So, I do not see a judgment of the Egyptians, just a judgment of the gods of Egypt.

Yes in the Old Testament, the lamb was a sacrifice. In the New Testament, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice.

Just because we have accepted Christ, I do not believe we are exempt from the judgement of Christ. I am still looking for that scripture.

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7/30/2008, 11:00 am

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Joleen711
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Re: James 2:8-13

We know that God is not a partial judge, however, Christ died for our sins. God knows our hearts and he sees all. In Romans 1: 16-17 Paul explains that basically,"the righteous will live by faith because of the power of God.

Then in Romans 2:2-16 Paul talks about Gods Wrath against Mankind. When you get in Romans 3:21 -26 says:
But now a righeousness from God, apart from law, has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who beleive. There is no difference, for all who have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God represented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. he did this to demonstrtate his justice,because in his forbearence he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

i think that is the verse that you were looking for David. Hope that helped.
joleen

7/30/2008, 1:56 pm

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horseshadowrider
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Re: James 2:8-13

there are many Scriptures which show us there is no judgment of sin when someone is "in Christ Jesus" and, Joleen, this one you've given is a perfect example!

Wherever you see the words "justify" in Joleen's text, put in: To declare free of blame; absolve. This comes from the free online dictionary at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/justified

I think if there is ONE most important facet to the Gospel, this very topic is it. Our sins are forgiven and we are not judged for them when we are in Christ Jesus.

many denominations and religions try to keep the "penalty for sin" theory or doctrine going, but truly the most understandable tenet of Jesus' and the disciples' teachings is that we are free from judgment, we are "justified." Hallelujah!

Love this back and forth study, everyone! The questions raised are awesome and the replies even awesomer!

love you guys too
V.

V.

7/30/2008, 2:14 pm

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horseshadowrider
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Re: James 2:8-13

Also, David, thank you for quoting the Exodus passages about the Passover. I love the allegory of the passover, the history of it and how it is that foretelling of Jesus.

I believe the penalty DID fall upon the people of Egypt because they were the ones who lost their firstborn, suffered from the various plagues and the locusts, the rivers turning to blood etc. IN fact, we know there are NO other gods at all, they simply do not exist, so they cannot be judged or punished, it was the people who thought them up and believed on them who were punished.

Just as the children of Israel who created the golden calf to worship when Moses was too long up in the mts were punished for their straying from the one, true God.

Thanks for this lively discussion!!
love
V.

7/30/2008, 2:18 pm

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