Lesson
36 September 8
For judgment will be merciless to one who has
shown no mercy;
Mercy speaks of the outward manifestation of
compassion expressed in kindly action toward the need of another.
- It is the result of action not
just words. Principle stated in 1 Jn 3:17-18
*** PRIN *** The recipient of
mercy should also be merciful.
*** PRIN *** Failure
to show mercy is a failure to apply the royal law of Love;
excerpt here in 2:8 love your neighbor as yourself.
mercy triumphs over judgment.
What IS in view here!!
- Having been shown
mercy by God, having been the object of mercy at the point of Salvation,
therefore as you So speak and So act showing mercy in your life as the opportunity
arises, you
will have nothing to fear at the JSC.
Direct application from context
- The believer will demonstrate
their grace orientation by not being a respecter of persons.
*** PRIN ***
The controlling dynamic for our
lives as believers must be the Word of God and when it is it will be reflected
in our behavior.
If we really believe that Jesus is
the Son of God, and that God is gracious, that His word is true, and that one
day He will judge us, then our conduct will reveal our convictions, the results
of our faith.
One of the tests of the reality of
our faith then is how we treat other people.
2:14-17 Interaction of faith and
works;
Introduction:
There is on the surface, taking a
quick glance, an apparent contradiction between what Paul wrote and what James
has written here.
Ex: Rom
Paul is dealing with Ph-1,
salvation, and is combating Jewish legalism which insisted on the need for
works - to be justified before God.
While James is dealing with the
believer, one who has been justified by faith, living the Christian life, Ph-2,
and his point is that this one with faith, being + BD should demonstrate that
faith in their life through their speech and actions as he just noted in 2:12.
Today this passage is the
centerpiece of the Lordship salvation types who attempt to use it to prove that
righteous behavior is necessary to demonstrate true saving faith.
The main error is that James is
talking about faith resulting in salvation, one's eternal destiny.
What good is it, my
brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
Summary:
1. There is
absolutely no advantage to the believer having doctrine and not using it. ( to know what is right and not do it - to be a hearer not a
doer)
2. James' emphasis in
this whole section is on the interrelationship of faith (BD) and production
(DGP).
3. The deliverance
here is addressed to Believers for their function in life as they deal with the
tests - the common human problems (chp's) or the
temptations he had dealt with in Ch-1.
4. Must recognize
that there are potential major distortions if one does not distinguish between
Ph-1 and Ph-2 (saw
in Gal 3:6-14)
5. James' primary
focus is on DGP after salvation (keep in mind God is not the author of confusion).
6. DGP is
justification in time - vindication of what is in the soul.
- Jas 2:24
7. The believer's
deliverance in time - during that test, that CHP, that temptation is through
implementing the word that is in you.
8. At any point you either opt for the plan and
policy of God - stay empowered by the Holy Spirit and apply known BD; or you
opt for the sin nature's rulership with all its attendant distortions -
distractions w/result your enslaved by it.
9. That word
implanted in you is designed by God to deliver you from enslavement to the sin
nature but also is the grace provision - the mercy needed for you to have a
life of contentment - of impact in your niche regardless of the external
circumstances.
10. Faith (BD) not
applied, to that one, it becomes worthless, and no deliverance will
result. (
11. To store up BD
and not to use it marks a worthless religion.