Little Sins Do Matter
Introduction
- Context: writing to church that had problems with favoritism
- Favoritism:
- James uses an example of the rich and poor man
- You have made judgments about these people
- Modern example
- Partiality and favoritism is sin before God - it is to do with evil thinking
- The world places value on material things
- The world despises certain people
- These things ought not to be in the Church of Jesus Christ
- Sadly at times churches have shown a spirit of partiality
- Do we love each other equally?
- Rom 2:11 - "There is no partially with God"
- This is evident in Jesus ministry
- James was writing to a society that was very unequal
- There could be '2nd class' Christians
- James addresses the people as beloved brothers - he does not scold them (v4-5)
- Why show deference to the rich when God has chosen the poor of this world?
- Do not the rich oppress the poor and blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ?
- Do not the rich and the religious oppress the church?
- We should love all people the same
- Little Sins Do Matter
- Often we think the big sins are adultery and murder
- James puts the sin of partially/favoritism alongside adultery and murder (v11)
- It is not a little sin - but grievous in the sight of God
- Overview:
- All law breakers
- A law of liberty
- Judged by the law of liberty
All Law Breakers
- The law is all about loving God and loving your neighbour
- If I don't love God in any form I have broken all of His law
- God says you are all law breakers
- If you have broken even the smallest law - you have broken them all!
- Example from Geoff Thomas
- God looks at the heart and sees what is going on within
- Why does James chose murder and adultery?
- Murder - all about the disregard/disdain for the person
- Adultery - a huge lack of love and selfishness
- Partiality - is about selfishness, about disdain
- What we might see as little sins, is in one sense on a similar level to adultery and murder
- Different punishments in the Old Testament
... but ... - All sin is serious in the sight of God
A Law of Liberty
- "The law of liberty" - the word of God (1:25)
- Is it still the word of God? (v12)
- Yes, but also (in context) referring to the Ten Commandments
- How can the Ten Commandments be ever termed the 'Law of Liberty'?
- Romans 7 teaches that the law shows us our sin
- What does it mean then?
- The law drives men and women to Christ
- In and of itself it is the law of liberty - 'do this and live'
- For the Christian the law is written upon our heart and we are given the power to obey Him/the law - there is freedom in following God's law
- The Royal Law - "Love your neighbour as yourself" (v8)
- Lev 19:18
- Repeated x6 in the gospel
- Quoted in Romans, Galatians, James
- How do I go from a law breaker to a law fulfiller?
- There is only one way - trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, believe in Him as Lord and Saviour
- The Spirit comes to dwell in the Christian and we are given a heart to fulfill this law
Judged by the Law of Liberty
- We are all judged by the Law of Liberty (v13)
- For those who show no mercy, no mercy will be shown them
- For those who love God and show mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment
- James is writing to church goers
- Not everyone in church is a Christian
- Quote from JC Ryle
- Not everyone in church will be saved
- We are all going to be judged by God's perfect standard - His Law of Liberty
- We need to ask questions?
- Do we really love our fellow man?
- Other examples
- Some might ask will Christians avoid judgement?
- There will be no final judgement - in the sense we will be condemned to hell
- There will be a form of judgment for the Christian - 1 Cor 3
- We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ
- The judgment of the Christian is according to our works
- Romans 2:3-9b
- We are all judged by the Law of Liberty
- Matt 18:23-35 - the parable of the unforgiving servant
- Judgment is without mercy to the one who shows no mercy
- If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matt 18:35)
- Mercy triumphs over judgment (v13)
Closing Remarks