The Royal Law
Introduction:
1. A royal law
is designed to be rules of action having supreme position in the hearts and
lives us all.
2. In the Greek
manuscripts there is a word which does not appear in the King James Version.
a. "Howbeit" - It indicates a
connection between what is preceding and that which follows.
b. This word notes some difference,
contrariety, or opposition between the preceding and following thoughts.
3. The though
here is not designed to confirm what was previously stated about partiality and
favoritism.
a. But states that such action
violently perverts the law of God.
b. Previously we have been assured
that such action is wrong because of its foundation in the evil hearts of man
(v. 4).
c. Also taught us that such
favoritism toward the rich is foolishness.
4. Therefore,
James teaches us in v.8-13 that such favoritism violates the royal law because
of its excellence and because it is sin and man's judgment is based in it.
I)
Excellence
of the Royal Law
A)
Excellence
because of its supremacy in nobility
1.
The
royal law is a kingly law
a.
The
law that governs the kingdom of Christ.
b.
It
originates with the King of the Universe.
c.
It
stands above all other laws concerning man's obligation to God and man.
d.
It
surpasses in nobility all other obligations.
(i)
It
requires the king to obey it as well.
(ii)
Otherwise
the king becomes a tyrant dictating according to whims and how he feels that
day.
2.
Supremacy
in nobility
a.
Nobility
- elevation of the soul which comprehends bravery, magnanimity, intrepidity,
and contempt of everything that dishonors character.
b.
Supreme
because it alters the character of man.
(i) Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew
a right spirit within me.
(ii)
Makes
man better than he was before.
B)
Excellence
because obeying it is one's duty
1.
Because
of its greatness it must be obeyed.
a.
Greatness
of the Law
(i)
Depends
upon the character of the King.
(a)
We
are lucky to have a perfect King
(b)
We
have full assurance that every command elevates us to perfection.
(c)
Man
can be only as complete as the king is complete.
(ii)
Greatness
in that it makes man perfect.
(a)
Developing
perfection in man is the purpose of the law.
(b)
The
laws of the USA are written to elevate man to be an American citizen.
(c)
The
laws of Christ are given to elevate one to be a Christian.
(d)
The
point is that man becomes what he obeys to the point where his obedience to the
royal law makes him noble as the king.
b.
Defining
must
(i)
Def
- To be obliged; to be necessitated. It expresses both physical and moral
necessity.
(a)
Just
as a man must eat for nourishment, and he must sleep for refreshment.
(b)
Then,
we must submit to the laws or be exposed to punishment.
(ii)
Fulfillment
of the law means one does right
(a)
Christians
might feel secure in any course which involved fulfilling the law.
(b) Most importantly, it is our responsibility to permit
it to accomplish in us its full purpose, and to see to it that its requirements
are met as fully as it is possible for us so to do.
2.
Requires
all of man
a.
In
Heart
(i)
God
requires your heart.
(ii)
Your
heart is the seat of your purposes and intentions and decisions.
(a)
God,
then, requires your purposes, intentions and desires to be in accordance with
His law.
(b)
This
is means by which you obtain excellence.
(c)
Your
purpose becomes completion through faith.
(d)
Your
intentions are towards obey by submission.
(e)
Your
desire is to be with the Lord in Heaven.
(iii) This is what is
meant by giving your heart to God.
b.
In
Life
(i)
God
requires your life.
(ii)
God
demands that all your actions be IAW his commands.
(a)
What
we do comes from the heart.
(b)
If
we pretend to worship God, then we know our hearts are pretending to love God.
(c)
If
we hate to obey God, then we know our hearts are filled with hatred towards
God.
(d)
If
we obey God at all cost, then we know that our hearts are in the right relation
to God's commands.
II)
Sin
Against the Royal Law
A)
Failure
to Keep the Whole Law is Sin
1.
Law
includes loving thy neighbor
a.
James
reveals that loving thy neighbor is well doing according to the royal law.
(i)
Christ
confirms that half the entire law is related to this command to love they
neighbor.
(ii)
Matt
22:39-40.
(iii) Those then that
love thy neighbor are obedient towards their fellow man.
b.
James'
condemns the Christians because they did not keep the whole law.
(i)
These
Christians were trying to justify their actions.
(a)
Their
justification is founded upon the law to love thy neighbor.
(b)
Their
excuse was that they simply loved their neighbor by being a respecter of
persons.
2.
By
their own admission they sinned against God because they did not keep the whole
law.
a.
They
were loving their rich neighbors but hating their poor ones.
(i)
James
says, "You are respecter of persons and are such living in sin."
(ii)
The
Christians say, "No we are just loving our brethren like good Christians."
b.
These
Christians may have honestly loved the rich neighbors but sinned in their love.
(i)
They
were responsible for loving all neighbors not just the rich ones.
(ii)
As
a result James reveals their sin.
B)
One
cannot justify one's actions by obeying one command and disregarding another.
1.
The
example
a.
James
uses adultery and murder to make his point.
(i)
He
shows us that transgression of the law regardless of one's obedience is still
sin.
(ii)
If
you commit no adultery and murder someone you are still guilty.
b.
It
is foolish to think that one can justify one action because they obey in
another.
(i)
The
law is one entity coming from one source.
(ii)
Therefore,
to sin against one part is to be guilty of it all.
2.
This
justification is actually judgment upon God's law.
a.
How
presumptuous are the hearts of man.
(i)
Man
does not have the right to judge which part of God's laws are satisfactory or
not.
(ii)
Those
who keep only such laws as those which they approve, or in which they find
satisfaction, have rejected the will of God, and substituted their own.
b.
It
is absurd to think that one portion of the law is valid while the other part is
disregarded.
(i)
The
laws of God are one.
(ii)
They
are a single expression of His will.
(iii) Therefore, we
must understand the whole law as a single unit from which we must obey.
(iv) We do not get to
approve of what God said or disapprove what God said.
III) Judgment by the
Royal Law
A)
Judged
by our freedom to speak and do.
1.
Speak
and do are habitual activities.
a.
Reword
v. 12 - "Ever speak and ever do as men that are to be judged..."
b.
We
must recognize that we must speak and do according to God's will because one
day we will be judged for those very things.
c.
How
impressed were the Christians at this idea.
(i)
James
reveals to these respecters of persons that their justification will be judged
on Judgment day.
(ii)
Matt
12:36-37 - But I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt
be condemned.
2.
We
will all be judged by the law of liberty
a.
That
law of liberty is a rule of action that frees man from the enslavement of sin.
b.
Submission
to the laws of God does not entail slavery.
(i)
On
the contrary to submit means one possesses true freedom.
(ii)
The
law of liberty focuses on what must be done rather than what is lacking.
(iii) If I could tell
you there were 5 things you could do to be free from debt, then I am giving you
a law of liberty from debt.
(iv) The freedom from
sin and death, then, comes as a result of following God's plan.
c.
Liberty
is restraint to ensure one's life.
(i)
Liberty
is not license.
(ii)
These
two are mutually exclusive.
(iii) As liberty gives
life; license dismisses restraint and protection of life.
(a)
License
is the permission to forbear any law.
(b)
License
is man giving himself permission to disobey God.
(c)
By
doing so puts the life of man in his own hands.
B)
Judged
according to mercy.
1.
Failure
to show mercy in James' readers.
a.
Mercy
is pity for those in distress.
b.
James 2:2
(i)
The
poor man was in distress and the Christians held him with contempt.
(ii)
They
showed no mercy.
c.
These
Christians took license from the will of God.
(i)
They
gave themselves the permission to hold contempt for the poor and distressed who
arrived at their worship service.
(ii)
They
said to God, "I am going to take my salvation in my own hands because I don't
need anything from you."
2.
Mercy
is for the faithful.
a.
No
mercy given by you means not mercy given to you.
(i)
Matt
25:41-45.
(ii)
For
the judgment shall be merciless to him that worketh no mercy.
b.
Mercy
transcends judgment.
(i)
God
teaches us that mercy cancels out condemnation.
(ii)
For
we can take joy that because we show mercy we will be given mercy at the day of
judgment.
(iii) Matt 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
Conclusion:
1.
God is the one source from which the one law came to man.
2.
Accordingly, man must keep the entirety of the law if he expects salvation from
God.
3.
Let us examine ourselves and ask whether or not we seek to justify our actions
by the laws of God while we transgress other laws of God.
4.
That is why when it says to believe we must believer
5.
When it says to repent we must repent.
6.
When it says to confess we must confess.
7.
When it says to be baptized for the remission of sins we must be baptized for
the remission of sins.
8.
When it says to remain faithful until death, then we must remain faithful until
death.
9.
If you have not obeyed all of these commands then you are trying to justify your
salvation by taking your life into your own hands.
10.
I urge you to reconsider the law of liberty that is set before you to come
forward and obey as we stand and sing
Posted in: Book of James, Sermon Outlines