Reflect Mercy

Introduction:

We are continuing our study in the book of James this morning, receiving wisdom and instruction from the younger brother of Jesus, the way the early Jewish Christians did - through his letter.

It is a pastoral letter. Written to people who were not actively attending his church, and for that, we can assume that the issues that the Holy Spirit gives him to instruct on are issues that we are going to deal with in our own lives. They aren’t so specific that they don’t apply to us - in fact it is very obvious that this letter was preserved for us to study, for us to learn and for us to grow from.

James is a bit different from other books in the bible, specifically in the new testament, because this is a book of wisdom and instruction. There is not a lot of deep theological information to exposite, it is primarily a book of practical application.

I believe that God has planned to do a work in this church. If we can apply the instructions given here - I believe that our lives will be changed.

If you have a bible, please turn to James chapter 2.

As we read scripture, as we study the Bible we are in pursuit of knowledge and understanding of our God and ourselves.

In this passage we are seeing some things about the nature of God. James writes to bring home his point about favoritism - but it is good for us to understand this in the broader context of who God is, and who we are in that as we look to reflect mercy.

James 2:8–13 CSB

8 Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. 9 If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all. 11 For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We are seeing a lot of things going on here. James has been talking about favoritism, because we have this tendency to clique together and outcast others - we treat people a certain way because of their financial status, or their race, or their background in some sort of way. He says we sin when we take people at face value, or we look at them for what they might be able to offer to me. But he takes it a step further in verse 9 almost to say - don’t make light of this. James gets really deep for a moment.

If you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

God’s standards are higher than our standards.

Think about what James is saying here.

At the most direct point - he says if someone poor comes in here, and you don’t treat them as well as someone who is rich, you have broken the whole law.

As christians, we need to understand that as the nature of God. This is how God feels about sin.

It doesn’t matter how small we might think it is. God said here - in this house, there is to be no division based on face value. There is no favoritism.

And it is his nature - that all sin is sin.

Here’s the gospel, in this passage of scripture - Anything you have ever done that was against the will of God, that went against your creator in any way is in fact a failure. And when we fail - when we sin, there are consequences.

Sin is

But God, rich in mercy.

James doesn’t explain the entire gospel here, because he is writing to people who have already come to know Jesus.. but he does go into the implications as he describes the instruction. We are recipients of great mercy. We are those who will be judged by the law of Freedom. Paul says it this way to the church in Galatia.

Galatians 5:13 CSB

13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

The Instruction:

This passage is written with the argument first and then the instruction, giving understanding and then what to do with it.

James is full of instruction - the instruction here is: “Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.”

And then it is clarified in verse 13 - For Judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy Triumphs over judgement.

The Adam Johnson translation is this: You’ve been given mercy. Act like it.

When our behavior does not line up with the things that we have been given, it does not honor the one who gave it.

When our behavior doesn’t line up with our identity, it does not honor the one we get our identity from.

James gives us this category here “Those who will be judged according to the law of Freedom”

and then he reminds us that we are recipients of Mercy.

Mercy.

Mercy is compassion and forgiveness given by someone who has the ability and reason to punish.

Mercy from God is Jesus.

And James says because you have received mercy you should be giving mercy. And that giving is natural, as an overflow of what is in our hearts - but also intentional.

Either way - James says that for the Christian, Mercy becomes our response.

Some of this will happen naturally as we feel compassionate towards others. But that isn’t enough.

How do we know that? There is an instruction in scripture. Instructions exist when we have to do something. If it was a miraculous event - that you received mercy and just started pouring it out to others, there would be no need for the instruction.

It would be nice to say that once we receive salvation, God does the rest, and we just suddenly live these perfect - God reflecting lives.

But that isn’t the whole story.

Some of it happens spiritually. Some of it we have to think about. We have to be intentional about.

When someone wrongs you - and you have the right to punish.

When someone hurts you and You have the ability to see them hurt.

Give mercy.

You have been given mercy.

Act like it.

Why?

Because we are told to.

Because it reflects Jesus.

Because we were given mercy.

Jesus explains this in Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 CSB

21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven. 23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. 28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ 29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”

The struggle:

We fail at this when we don’t consider the Goodness of God in our own lives.

We fail to see how wonderful the mercy is.

God is so wonderful - he is so majestic - he is so glorious, he is worthy of Praise and honor… because of the wonderful things that he has done.

And some of those wonderful things are that he created the birds to sing, and if you know me you know I talk about the bees working together with the plants so that we can enjoy the beauty of flowers. God made cows and then gave us a cut sheet so we could know how to eat the cows.

And all of that is enough. So think about all of that, but also just about the goodness he has done for you.

the mercy he has shown you.

You didn’t deserve it.

The nature of God is that sin is sin and you are a sinner.

The goodness of God means that he gave you mercy ANYWAY.

You get mercy. And mercy triumphs over judgement.

James expands on the law, he isn’t talking about the law in Leviticus, but the two commandments given by Jesus that sum everything up. Love the Lord your God. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Conclusion:

Reflect mercy into the world that so desperately needs it.

Be compassionate towards those who don’t deserve it.

Because that is what we have received from the Lord.

Consider the greatness of God, before you cast judgments, before you withold mercy.

James ends with a warning.

Judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy.