In Christ There is No East or West- James 2:1–13 (Part 3)

John Oxenham (pseudonym for William Arthur Dunkerley) penned the hymn “In Christ There Is No East or West.” The first stanza has these words,

In Christ there is no East or West, In Him no South or North;

But one great fellowship of love Thro’out the whole wide earth.

Oxenham is simply putting to song what the Scriptures teach about the unity people of God. Paul teaches this truth in Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Rationale- 2:1–7 God-centered living sees people with God’s perspective

Biblical Support- 2:8–13

God-centered living lives by the Moral Law of God

Believers live by the Law, not for salvation, but as a Rule of Life. Or to frame the discussion in Jesus’s words (Luke 10:28), We do not “do this and live,” but believers “live [because of what Christ did] and now we live to do.”

Everyone else, those who are not saved by the grace of God, live by the Law (or, more appropriately try to live) attempt to gain salvation but will, as we see in James 2:13 will face the full judgment of the Law without mercy.

I. Disciples Obey the Moral Law of God by Grace- 2:8, 12–13

James 2:8 “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” There are two points that need be to raised before diving into these verses. First, notice that the royal loyal is in Scripture (Lev. 19:18). It is the written moral law from the Creator.

Second, underlining James teaching here is the truth that the only ones can fulfill the Law are those who know Jesus Christ. Two words of Christ and one from Paul will help us understand this vital truth.

Matthew 5:17 ““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

It is only through the person and work of Jesus Christ that disciples can obey the Moral Law.

A. Only Disciples Can Obey the Moral Law- 2:8a

James is primarily writing to believers, to those who are already disciples of the Lord Jesus (cf. 1:1, 19; 2:1, 5).

This is an important aspect of what James is trying to teach us here with regards to how we treat other people (i.e, our neighbors). We do not do to live, we live and therefore do.

We have been born by the Word of His truth but His own choice (1:18). Believers are the only ones who, through the indwelling Spirit, are able to “fulfill the royal law” and love their neighbors.

To fulfill the law, then, is to live out its truth. It is to visibly demonstrate the righteous character of God through our actions.

Christians who are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus will fulfill the Law and love their neighbors as themselves, without regard to their financial status or social standing.

B. Only Disciples will be Judged by the Law of Liberty- 2:12

Notice the contrast James makes. There are those who will be judged by the law of freedom in Christ (2:12), those who are judged by the moral law in Adam (2:13). We will unpack that second judgment in a moment, but for now let us focus on the law of liberty.

What does it mean to be judged by the Law of liberty? If we keep James’s contrast in mind, I think it is easier (not easy) to see.

It might be helpful to turn to another passage of Scripture to interpret this one. Paul, the once-law-bound-Pharisee-but-now-sinner-saved-by-grace, once wrote this in Galatians 3:10–14 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

Commenting on Romans 7:4, Colquhoun describes the relationship believers enjoy with Christ in relation to the Law, writes, “Upon their union with the second Adam [Jesus] and communion with Him in His righteousness, they are delivered, as has been observed above, both from the obligation of the law in its federal form and from a reigning inclination of heart to be under it in that form.” (181)

C. Only Believers can “Do Well” and Enjoy the Mercy of God- 2:8b, 13:b

James assumes the salvation of the individual and the work of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:16, 22–23). That is the only way the individual can do anything “well.” This coincides perfectly with Paul’s teaching, and Paul provides a nice summary of how this works in

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Salvation first (all by God’s grace), the avoidance of works second (or dependence on the moral law by works), and third a life of good works.

This is nothing less than what we have been reading from Psalm 119! Just use the first eight verses and notice two things: first, the dependence upon God Himself, and second, the delight in that God-dependence.

II. Discrimination Violates the Moral Law of God by Works- 2:9–11, 13

If one is not a disciple, if one is not saved by the New Covenant God made (i.e, the Covenant of Grace), then they are approaching God on terms of works.

They are attempting to justify themselves in the eyes of God by their legal obedience. This is why James says,

James 2:9–11 “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Even if you kept the whole law but failed in one point, you are guilty of all of it. Leviticus 19:37 “And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.””

Because the Lord is perfect, His law is perfect, and those who attempt to live by it must be perfect.

These individuals erroneously believe they can fulfill the Royal Law on their own, being willingly ignorant of one of the purposes of the Law, Galatians 3:24 “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

The Law stood accusing us of all our sins and failures and complete incompetence to keep the Law. Like our father Adam, we have abdicated our responsibilities and stand under the judgment of the Law without mercy.

That is, of course, if we do not believe the Gospel. To attempt to live by the law as a covenant will bring the harshest judgment from the Creator.

God-centered living lives by the Moral Law of God

Not as a covenant of works, but as a rule of life.

How are you doing, Christian? Are you playing favorites? Are you showing partiality to others, based on their looks, intelligence, skin color, etc.?