James 2:1-13

COMMENTS

James 2:1-13 shares a very good lesson:  treat everyone the same.  “Don’t show favoritism.”  (James 2:1)  I suspect we all need to hear that from time to time because it’s a hard teaching.  As much as we might despise it, don’t we all show favoritism at least once in a while?  Great lesson but not what caught my attention today.

 

NOTES

As I studied James 1:19-27 yesterday, one phrase caught my eye.  When the same phrase appeared in today’s lesson, I had no other choice but to consider it more closely:

“the…law that gives freedom”  (James 1:25; 2:12)

In each circumstance, James uses this phrase in connection with believers walking out their faith.  In Chapter 1, the believer has listened to God’s word, looked at the perfect law that gives freedom, and is pleasing God instead of looking at himself and doing what pleases him. 

In Chapter 2, the believer has just been reminded that he’s a lawbreaker if he has ever broken even one point of the Old Testament law.  Yet, he’s encouraged to “Love [his] neighbor as [himself]” (verse 8), an Old Testament law, by speaking and acting according to this new law, one that gives freedom.

The Old Testament law became a burden.  Although it was meant to draw people closer to God and to reveal their inability to actually keep it, we humans focused on every little point, making more and more rules so we could be sure that we kept the originals.  People were in bondage to the law.  I was in bondage to the law, even though I’m a New Testament saint (God’s definition, not mine.  I’m far from a saint according to my definition!)

I’ve experienced the “law that gives freedom”.  Far from my legalistic background, I’ve found that the Lord looks at my heart.  He purifies it, although His work is not yet finished.  I am no longer bound by “rules”:  do this, don’t do that.  I still do or don’t do many things as I did before, but the bondage is not there.

Why?  What is the “perfect law that gives freedom”?

Obey out of love, not obligation….