As James shared
with the people who belonged to “the twelve tribes scattered
abroad”, he addressed “respect of persons” within
their “assemblies”. There was a tendency to promote and
advance those who were “rich” and put down those who were
“poor”. This was not to be, and in chapter two and verse
ten of his letter, James shared how they were “guilty” if
they “offended” God's law in “one point” where
we read:
The
verse begins, “For whosoever shall keep the whole
law,...” James began with the
word, “For” which
means “because, even, as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore
and verily” “whosoever”
which refers to “any person whether male or female” “shall
keep” or “attend to
carefully, take care of, guard and observe” “the whole
law” which means “all
together, throughout and to the extent of the law demanding faith and
moral instruction given by Christ especially concerning the precept
of love and the more important part (the Pentateuch) or entire
collection of the sacred books of the Old Testament”. James began
this doctrine by referencing the person who is able to “obey” and
“carefully attend to” every law God has given.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.” James
continued, “and yet offend”
or “moreover and also cause one to stumble or fall, err, make a
mistake and sin” “in one point”
which means “a single and only happening, appearing and making”,
“he is guilty”
or “that person is bound, under obligation, subject to and liable”
“of all” which
refers to “each, every, any and the whole” law. James concluded
that if a person is “guilty” of any “sin” against the law of
God, he or she is “guilty” of all God's law.
When
we think through these words of James, we see how sensitive the law
of God is. If we break His law in any way, no matter where it takes
its form, we have broken all His law. It is like having a whole egg
and cracking it anywhere upon it's shell. No matter where we damage
it, the whole shell has been compromised. Jesus Christ came to save
sinners from their sin, and regardless of where we have done wrong,
we break His “whole”
law. Perhaps we feel that we are “better than” others because we
do not “violate” God's law in a place someone else does. We must
remember, everyone has broken God's law in some “point”,
and this is why Jesus came. Everyone who puts their trust and faith
in His finished work of dying on the cross for their “offense” of
His law, they may be saved. Everyone who denies their “guilt”
against God's law refuses His provision for their transgression
against Him.
Next
time James uses
whether a person “kills”
or “commits
adultery”
as his examples,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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