Lesson
35 September 5
2:9 Negative: one that fails to apply the royal law.
But
if you show partiality
-- de - sets up the contrast with vs:8
- If = another 1cc depicting the reality of
the situation and the conclusions drawn.
- show partiality proswpolhmpte,w favoritism based on the externally observed characteristics
- rich/poor - race - social status - job position.
you are committing sin
- pres
- this
is not speaking of some unfortunate action that they accidentally fell
into, but refers to a deliberate
practice, pres tense.
- a`marti,a - sin - to miss the mark - the mark
being the std God has prescribed in the
royal law to which we as believers are responsible.
and are convicted
pres pass ptc
evle,gcw - to convict on the basis of
overwhelming evidence.
by the law as (w`j) transgressors
- not
referring to the M/L since as believers
in C/A we're not under the M/L
- transgressors paraba,thj - one who crosses over a boundary; a lawbreaker;
with their favoritism they have crossed the boundary of inconsequential action to personal sin.
For (ga.r - explanatory) whoever (indef rel pronoun o[stij - anyone in a category - group; here
those who fail in only one point to keep the whole law - if there was such a
one cf. 3:2)
keeps the whole law
(aor act subj of thre,w to keep/guard/protect)
and yet stumbles in one point,
he has become guilty of all
What is James saying here?
The one who
deliberately violates one part of the law, and yet keeps the rest, reveals
within himself the presence of the sin nature, which will manifest itself in
many other ways when there is the opportunity and adequate inducement.
Summary Observations
1. DVPT as revealed
in the WOG - the royal law - is not open to selective application.
2. You can't pick the
parts, the doc's you like, and disregard the rest.
3. The DWOG is not
fragmentary, the entire WOG is the expression of His will for us, it constitutes
a grand unity and reveals to us His righteous std for
us - what is expected of us.
4. To violate any
part of the royal law is an offence against the Lawgiver.
5. Violating a law
manifests in us the spirit of a lawbreaker and shuts down fellowship with the
lawgiver breaking our personal relationship with Him.
For He
who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT
MURDER."
- The real emphasis
that James is making here is that its the same God that gives both cmds and
the royal law of love.
Next have a
conditional clause to establish an illustration.
Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder,
THE RESULT - You have
become a transgressor (stepped
over the boundary) of the law
Even though only one commandment is
broken, the entire law of God has been flouted. When viewed like this an act of
favoritism - partiality or any sin, for that matter, is NOT insignificant.
With vs:12-13 final exhortation in the wrap up of this section dealing with
partiality with an appeal to Consistent living - a strong appeal to conform their lives to the law of liberty - the royal law.
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
So speak = lale,w - general communication with others
so act
= poie,w - to do; act = overt activity in life, what one does
Now we see the motivating reality of
our speech and conduct:
as those who are to be judged
- Since he is
speaking to believers he's referring to the JSC, 2 Cor.
5:10
by the law of liberty.
2nd time used - 1:25
- in
WHAT'S HE SAYING??
Part of our motivation for obedience
to the royal law is the evaluation we will receive at the JSC. Did you take His word serious or were you
just playing games with Him and fooling yourself.
*** Prin: We are to live
our lives in the "light" of JSC - therefore eternity.
Summary:
1. SO SPEAK: Our words, the communication out of our
mouths, will be evaluated, including the careless words (things not thought
through or the emotional reaction to a situation).
Mt 12:34-37; Eph 4:29; Eph 5:4
2. SO ACT: this looks
at the production of the life as believers.
3. Being judged by
the law of liberty reminds us that as we obey God's Word, His teaching and
instruction it frees us from sin (sin nature & it's power - conseq)
and enables us to walk in true freedom. Ps 119:45
4.
5. God judges us as
sons in time and at the JSC based on our conformity to the law of liberty - the
Word of truth.
Note: The Word is to
be central to our life as believers.
1.
We are born of the Word - 1 Pet 1:23
2.
We are to grow by it - 1 Pet 2:2
3.
We are cleansed by it - Jn 15:3
4.
We are illumined by it - Ps 119:105
5.
We are to be satisfied by it - Ps 119:103