Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
10 “And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of GOD’s laws. 11 For the same GOD who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law, even if you do not commit adultery.” ~ James 1:10-11
Christians must not use this verse to justify sinning. We dare not say, ‘Because I can not keep every demand of GOD, why even try?” James reminds us that if we have broken just one law, we are sinners. We can not decide to keep part of GOD’s law and ignore the rest. You can not break the law a little bit; if you have broken it at all, you need Christ to pay for your sin. Measure yourself, not someone else, against GOD’s standards. Ask for forgiveness where you need it, and then renew your effort to put your faith into practice.
12 “So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. 13 For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then GOD’s mercy toward you will win out over HIS judgment against you.” – James 1:12-13 – As Christians we are saved by GOD’s free gift – grace – through faith, not by keeping the law. But as Christians, we are also required to obey Christ. The apostle Paul taught that “we must all stand before Christ to be judged” for our conduct – “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.” – 2 Corinthians 5:10 – While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of GOD’s grace, each of us will still be judged by Christ. He will reward us for how we have lived. GOD’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience. All Christians must give account on the day of judgment of how they have lived.
GOD’s grace does not cancel our duty to obey HIM; it gives our obedience a new basis. The law is no longer an external set of rules, but it is a “law that sets you free” – one we joyfully and willingly carry out, because we love GOD and have the power of HIS Holy Spirit. Only GOD in HIS mercy can forgive our sins. We can not earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we withhold forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, we show that we do not understand or appreciate GOD’s mercy toward us. – Jesus said: 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15 – In this passage, Jesus was giving a warning about forgiveness: If we refuse to forgive others, GOD will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we do not forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of GOD’s forgiveness. GOD’s forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means. It is easy to ask GOD for forgiveness but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask GOD to forgive us for sin, we should ask, Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?
31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as GOD through Christ has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 – This is Christ’s law of forgiveness as taught in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. We also see it in the Lord’s Prayer – “Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.” GOD forgives us, not because we forgive others, but solely because of HIS great mercy. As we come to understand HIS mercy, however, we will want to be like HIM. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified Him.
Father GOD cleansed our hearts and forgive us of our sins. Help us to rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all types of malicious behavior. We want to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as YOU through YOUR Son – Jesus Christ – have forgiven us. LORD we ask that YOU will help us measure ourselves, not someone else, by YOUR standards, and we ask for forgiveness where we need it. We want to renew our efforts to put our faith into practice. Father, please forgive us, we are sinners.
Photo: Kalispell (Montana)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
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