JAMES 2:8-13 THE FREEDOM OF OBDEDIENCE

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, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do 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!

A royal law is one that reveals the nature and will of a king. It is a law that is formulated in order to achieve the purpose of the monarch. So tightly is it tied to the nature of the king that it is as irrevocable as the nature of the king is constant. Since God is eternal and unchanging, his royal law is likewise eternal and unchanging. As God is absolutely and perfectly just, his law also bears that quality. If we were to leave our understanding of the law here we would be left without hope. But, thanks be to God, he has also revealed himself to be all merciful; and therefore, his mercy is also reflected in his law. God has judged our sin and satisfied the curse against our sin (the just punishment) through Jesus. This is the ultimate expression of his love for his creatures (John 3:16). And he did this while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8-11).

St. Paul explained this mercy, this royal law as follows:

Ro 2:11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Romans 2:11-13)

Our obedience to the law (God’s nature and will) is the key to receiving the gift of reconciliation. We do not obey God in order to obtain mercy from God. Rather, we obey God out of gratitude for the mercy that he has made available to us through Jesus Christ. God shows no favoritism in pouring out his mercy. If we are to live into our purpose as the image of God, then we too must be indiscriminant in offering mercy to others.

Father, make me into a more perfect image of you in this world. Transform me from my self-centered attitude toward others, my self-righteousness and my unforgiving mind-set when it comes to those I dislike or injure me. Fill me with an overwhelming gratitude for your mercy so that I might also be merciful. Amen.