Faithful on Fridays Blog

2:8-26

If you turn to these passages you’ll find this pastor using the word ‘law’ five times in six verses; he’s making a point. Laws are principles for living a good life, whether in the world or in the spirit, and God expects you to keep them. Pastor James alone uses the phrase ‘royal law’ meaning God as King has shown you the way to experience this good life. Believers in Jesus are considered royalty, kings and queens in the kingdom of God, a high bar for sure, however, when we love God first and foremost, then love others as ourselves, we are fulfilling this royal law. When you show favoritism to people it’s like breaking the law and God considers it sin, not unforgivable, but sin nonetheless. 

The solution is found in verse twelve: freely choose to speak and act toward others as Jesus would since you represent Him. Keeping two laws, royal and freedom (‘law of liberty’ again), determines your witness of Jesus to the world around you. We’re encouraged by James to judge ourselves and make the necessary changes; there’s that mirror again. Judging means you determine an opinion or make a decision and in this context it’s regarding your freedom to show mercy to needy people thereby fulfilling your royal position in Christ. Mercy must always triumph over your decisions.

But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 

Repetition is the key to learning so James addresses being a ‘doer of the word’ once again (vs. 14-18) for emphasis. If you say you have faith in Christ then let there be evidence, not simply empty words or promises, but actually doing what you say: that’s integrity. We follow the pattern of our Savior who went about doing good, showing compassion and kindness, and healing people spiritually and physically. We have some work to do.

The example of Abraham is used by Paul (Romans 4) and now by James to his congregation; Abraham’s faith drove him to obey God with action giving evidence of his faith. For that reason God justified or declared Abraham in right standing due to his active, not passive, faith (vs. 22). His second example is Rahab (Joshua 2) who was also justified in God’s eyes due to her active faith. Not only that, she became the great-grandmother to King David whose bloodline gave us Jesus, the Messiah. Her scarlet cord that protected the Hebrew spies is a picture of Jesus’ shed blood that protects the believer from the punishment of death and entrance into eternal life. 

That’s the power of faith and works together bringing life to our spirits and showing the world that God is our friend and we trust Him above all. Let’s live as royalty glorifying Christ by our faith and actions.