Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement

Introduction

Good morning Church.

Introduce myself.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” How many of us today have received compassion or forgiveness for something when that we have deserved punishment for? I would expect that all of us would response yes to this question.

My wife and I are not parents currently, we hope to be in the future. But for those who are parents I’m sure you have instances where your child does something; breaks the vase, lies about not doing homework, is somewhere where they shouldn’t be, or gets in trouble at school. Each of these situations are instances where your child deserves the appropriate level of judgment.

Now think of moments where instead of punishing your child you’ve shown them mercy, you’ve shown them forgiveness instead of coming down on them. Don’t get me wrong there is still room in this for you to be disappointed in what has happened, which serves them in allowing them to know that what they’ve done is wrong. But I can imagine that in situations where you have shown mercy that your child was initially stunned by your response. I can also imagine how loved your child felt. In that instead of being lambasted, they were spared the harsh judgment.

Similar to how parents show mercy to their children God shows mercy to us when we don’t deserve it. We will see examples of this in our passage this morning. Please turn with me to . Pray.

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” d you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” i also said, “You shall not murder.” j If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

James 2:1–13 NIV

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. Print.Pray.

Background of James

The author of the book of James does not directly identify themselves. There is a general consensus among scholars that this is James, the brother of Jesus. Matthew provides a family tree for us in , “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?”.

Scripture tell us that James initially did not believe who Jesus was. tells us, “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” Although, and the story gets better, we understand that James accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior. This could have been a result of Jesus appearing to him during Christ’s resurrection, in the passage says, “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,”

At this point James’ life was dramatically changed. His heart and drive for Jesus resulted in him becoming the pastor of the Jerusalem Church.

In the book of James, we see James the brother of Jesus is writing to the believers, the Christians, of the Jerusalem Church. These Jewish Christians were scattered outside of the land of Israel. Which we know from by the way James’ identifies them in Jms. 1:1 as “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion”. Theses Jewish Christians had been scattered throughout the lands due to persecution. The theme throughout this book, that I believe James is communicating is for these Jewish Christians to believe, to have faith and to trust in God’s word, in His love and not in the world.

James addresses the root of temptations in Chapter 1 of James, for which he writes in v.14 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away and by their own evil desire and enticed.”. Then at the beginning of James Chapter 2, we see him is warning his recipients against showing partiality or favoritism in relation to others. He provides an illustration of a host, who provides special treatment and has favored the wealthy man by; paying attention to him and giving him a good place to sit. This host then instructs the poor man in v.3 saying ““You stand there,” or, “Sit on the floor by my feet,””

Sometimes we get into a place were we don’t necessarily think that what we are doing is sinful, or disobedient to what God has called us to. This is where the Jerusalem church has found itself. They have begun to fail to put their faith into action and as a result have become “double minded people”. God provides us with instruction on how to combat this in our passage this morning.

The question for us, then, this morning is “How should we act knowing that we are judged as those who are under the law that gives freedom?”.

1. We should act as one who desires to fulfill the “royal law”. ()

James writes, “If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

James here is telling these Jewish Christians that following the royal law from scripture is their standard, it is what they should be doing. He goes on to say that the act of favoritism is a sin which causes them to break the law.

The tension found in this verse lies in the word “law”. The Greek word used here is νόμου (nomos) which is generally translated law. James could also have used ἐντολή (etole) which could translated as commandment.

But why would James have used the word “law” in these verses? There is a couple of thoughts as to why he would have used the more specific reference to law.

A. First, James could have used this word to reiterate the law that he spoke about in v.8, which could have been the case due to the focus of not showing favoritism that is evident in this section of Scripture.

B. Second, he could be referring to the larger context of Old Testament Mosaic laws.

C. Or, third, he could be referring the idea of the “royal law”, a term which James uses a few times. The “royal law” idea is that he is referring to is the law of the king, which is Jesus, and James is instructing his listeners/readers that they are to follow the teachings or “new laws” which have been given by Jesus.

I believe this last point is the reason why James uses the word “law” here. As James, being the brother of Jesus and a passionate and important member of the Jerusalem church would be directing the members of the Church to follow the commands of Jesus. James would have likely been there when Jesus was tested by the Pharisees when he was asked what the most important commandment was. With Jesus responding in , “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” And thus he is communicating that the sin of favoritism certainly breaks this command of “loving your neighbor as yourself”.

How then do we seek out to be people who do not show favoritism?

A) First, we need to be people who recognize the situations in our lives where we are showing favoritism. We need to seek out these instances. We need to take an honest evaluation on how we treat those we come into contact with.

B) Second, we need to equally serve those around us. This means that with the same hand of fellowship we help and

C) Third, with the same enthusiasm we love, care and serve ourselves we should love, care and serve others. Repeat.

I have a friend in Bermuda, and I truly admire how he interacts with homeless people. These being the people who others generally dismiss, mistreat and ignore. I’ve learned a lot over the years, from this friend, of how a believer should treat homeless people.

Prior to getting to know this person I was taught how to treat homeless people by society. This treatment would result in either ignoring them, telling them I had nothing in a rude tone or scrambling away, amongst other things.

About a year ago I was walking in our main city in Bermuda and one of the homeless people came up and asked me for some money for food. I told him that I didn’t have any cash but I would take him to get something to eat if he wanted. He agreed and we strolled into one of the take out places on the street. I told the man to order what he wanted, so he did and we waited.

While we waited though I got a glimpse of how the world would normally treat this man. The manager started on the man telling him to get a job and stop begging people. ** This is what God is instructing us not to do in this passage.

We get a great glimpse of this in where Elihu is saying of God “Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless’, and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hand?”. We see that God doesn’t show partiality and as his people should be following this example.

John Piper sums this idea up quite well when he said, “Make your self-seeking the measure of your self-giving.” In other word’s just as we love, care and serve ourselves we should love, care and serve others.

So, not only should we act as people who desire to fulfill the “royal law” but:

2. We should not act as one who is perfect. ()

James writes, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”

Here James is providing a contradiction. How can someone think they’ve kept the law by not breaking one law/command, despite the fact that they’ve broken a different law? That should sound a little silly to us right?

But coincidentally many of us do this same thing regularly.

How often do you justify one sin you’ve committed because you’ve not done something, which you deem would be worse? How often do you say to yourself, “well at least I’ve not done that. Atleast I’m not like that person”?

How then can we be people who do not act like they are perfect?

(1) We need to realize and remind ourselves that it is ok to show others that we struggle. Especially within the fellowship of believers. We need to make sure that we are honest with one another, this is in an air of being able to hold one another accountable. , “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

(2) Exhibiting perfection makes the Christian life seem unattainable to others. When we act as though we’ve got everything together we appear to others as people they could never be. We are continual works in progress and must communicate this to others, especially those we are wanting to minister to.

(3) We need to make sure we do fall into the trap of thinking we are infallible. When we think we’ve arrived, when we act like we have everything under control we deceive ourselves and we get blinded by our sins.

We seem to be taught at a young age that we should exhibit, externally, a polished and almost perfect exterior. We need to look sharp, dress well, say the right things, do whatever is appropriate to ensure that you fit within the confines of your surroundings. We are taught we need to appear as though we’ve got everything under control.

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He already sent us a perfect spotless lamb, in Jesus Christ, to be our perfection. What God wants from us is for us to recognize our need for him. An important aspect of this is to see the need for him in our lives. To see where we need God to move, to help, to guide us in the ways we should go.

So how should we act as those who are judged under the law that gives us freedom? First, we should act as one who desires to fulfill the “royal law”. Second, we should not act as people who are perfect. Third:

3. We should show mercy to others as we’ve been shown mercy. ()

James writes in vs. 12-13, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who have not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

So from this passage what is the “law that gives freedom”? This freedom giving law is the law of Christ which provides us freedom from sin, all this through the gospel that Jesus brings. All this requires from us is belief. For us to believe in Christ, in who He is, what is represented. Jesus says in , “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Has anyone here every been shown mercy by someone else? I would imagine that every hand would shoot in the air. As people who are broken and sinful we tend to do or say things which would get us in trouble, and require others to show us mercy.

John gives us an illustration of this in , “At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him, But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? “No one, sir,” she said, “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

What a wonderful example of mercy from our Lord and savior. The Pharisees are correct in that the punishment for committing the sin of adultery was stoning based on the Law Moses brought, though this was for both parties. But the words and laws of Christ frees this woman.

How then can we be people who show mercy to others?

(A) Forgiveness is the key. We are to forgive others as we’ve been forgiven. There are many verses which highlight this. says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” And says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

(B) In this process of forgiveness we need to ensure to release any prior hurts that others have done to us. This harboring of prior hurts clouds our ability to show mercy to others. If we are dwelling on the past actions we don’t fully appreciate or allow our current situation to propel us forward to what it is that Christ has for us. : “Love keeps no records of wrongs.”

(C) We must ask God to assist us in seeking out people for whom we can show His mercy. Now this isn’t a call to simply find people to show mercy for the sake of showing mercy. Our purpose in all of this is to show the glory of God to a world that desperately needs it.

There was an instance a few years ago, I had stopped to get some money out of the bank machine at Paget Pharmacy. I parked my bike just in front of Ice Queen. On my way out I noticed that my bike was on its side. There was a young lady on a bike with a child who was trying to maneuver out of her spot and she had hit a bike, which in turn toppled over a couple of bikes parked next to one another. Seeing that the rider and her child were ok, and then realizing that I knew the rider, my thoughts shifted to what sort of damage had resulted with the bikes. Taking a survey of my bike I did notice that there were a few scratches and the plastics were pushed a little. At this the world would tell me to call the police and to try to get my bike repaired to what it was prior to being knocked over. But seeing that this young lady was getting more grief from another owner of a toppled bike I said to her not to worry about my bike and I rode off. I had to think of showing mercy. And yes this girl was guilty and I would be justly right to give her a bill but this is an opportunity to show mercy. Need to emphasize that she was guilt and she knew what was coming. Put yourself in her shoes.

Jesus speaks on this in his Sermon on the Mount, in . He tells the crowds who came to see him, and I believe for us this morning, that “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Isn’t this awesome? Christ tells us that if we show mercy to others that we will receive mercy. This isn’t a maybe or a might be or any other wishful variation. This is a definite, you shall receive mercy, that Christ spoke about on the mountain to those that gathered.

Conclusion

Christopher Columbus once said, “I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous Presence.”

I believe that this morning God is calling for us, through our passage, to be men and women who act as those who are judged according to the law that gives us freedom. That sweet, wonderful freedom that only Jesus Christ gives. And I believe shows us through instructing us to:

1. Act as people who desire to fulfil the “royal law” of “loving our neighbor as ourselves”.

2. By recognizing and being who are not perfect. By identifying with our brothers and sisters that we are God’s work in progress.

3. By showing mercy to others. By showing mercy to a world that terribly needs it.

I believe that if we take heed of these things then we are point ourselves in the direction of people who are to be judged under the sweet law that gives us freedom. If you are a believer I encourage you to press on toward this.

Jesus’ death and resurrection provided for us this freedom. In that if we believe on him that we would be free from the trap of sin. says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” If you haven’t made the decision to follow Christ, I encourage you to do what says. Jesus is merciful, he loves and desires you. It is my prayer that if you do not know him as your Lord and Savior then you would this morning.

Let’s pray.