James 2:10-13 Mercy

James 2:10-13
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."

Have you ever lied? If you have that makes you a liar. Have you ever killed someone? If you have that makes you a murder. Even if you tell me you have never killed someone I can't believe you because I have already established that you are a liar. What is even scarier is if you have lied, then according to James you are also guilty of adultery, idolatry, murder, and all the other points of the law.

"THAT'S NOT FAIR," you say! Actually it is. If you know scripture then you know that it doesn't matter which point of the law you break the punishment is the same. DEATH! Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death."

The truth is we all have sinned and are guilty of death, but thanks be to God that Romans 6:23 has more to say. Here, read Romans 6:23 in its entirety.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

That is right, you have a get out of jail free card in Jesus Christ (free gift to you, but at a tremendous price to Jesus).

What exactly is that gift? Jesus paid the penalty of death for your sins, so you wouldn't have to. That takes us right back to James. Remember how this section of scripture ends: "mercy triumphs over judgment." The judgment of God is that the wage of our sin is death, but the mercy of God is that He sent His own Son to pay the price of our sin.

I just started learning Pinochle. The key to the game seems to be having trump cards. If you have a trump card you can beat any other card of any suit. For the Christian, Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate trump card. Let's face it, we all are facing an off suit ACE when it comes to sin in our lives. But, if you picked up the Trump card of Jesus Christ you can beat that ACE. Of course in the game of life the Trump is never dealt to you it has to be picked up by you. You have to choose to accept the gift.

It's easy, here's how:

"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans. 10:9)

Two part transaction - confess Jesus as Lord, and believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead (showing He can do the same for you).

So how about it? Why not you?

If you want to talk more about this decision just email me at shaunsells@bresnan.net.