28Feb2014 - The Law That Gives Freedom

How you doin?  So Stacey and I were walking out of CVS yesterday when I saw a special edition issue of News Week.  The cover read "Jesus, what do we really know about Jesus, the greatest story ever told".  I know there's a much better book to read to learn about Jesus.  We thumbed through it but didn't buy it.  Didn't buy it from the CVS nor did we buy it.  The worldly view of Jesus is hard to read or listen to.  In a quick glance of the heading of the articles, the only thing I saw that they had right was, "Jesus was a man".  I know most people refer to Jesus as the God man, but I don't see it that way.  I see it as He was God, then man, then God again.  At least that's what the Scriptures say.  God couldn't offer Himself as a sacrifice for the new covenant.  Bunny trial city.  I know the movie "Son of God" opens today.  I just pray that there is truth in this movie.  I pray that truth comes out in the commentary of this movie.  We all know that the world needs Jesus.  I pray that this movie opens up a can of love and not a can of worms.  Stacey and I will go see it next Thurs on our date night.  James 2 today.

Verse 5, "Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor ^[e]of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"  I'm convinced that the poor in this verse, or in any like it, isn't just a measure of income.  God chose the poor to be rich in faith not in finances.  More then that to be heirs of the Kingdom.  That's what I'm talkin about.

Verse 8, "If, however, you are fulfilling the ^[i]royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well."  There are two laws in the Bible.  The "Law" which leads to death and the "royal law" or "the law of our King".  The law of our King leads to life eternal.  COME ON!!!!!!!  As far as I can tell, the law of our Lord has less laws and they are all come down to love.  This gives me hope, because Jesus is love.  As I'm transformed into His likeness, I'm consequently being obedient to His law of love.  Again, Jesus supplies me with the means to please Him.  I have a huge smile on my face.

Verses 12-13, "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."  These verses lead into the section titled "Faith and Deeds".  I've always been confused by these idea of faith and works.  I'm not confused anymore.  PRAISE JESUS!!!!!!!

Verse 17, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is ^[p]dead, being by itself."  We've all heard this, "faith without works is dead".  Which comes first?  Do works follow faith or does faith follow works.  "Traditionally", I was taught the wrong order, which is faith follows works.  Mark 16:14-18, sheds light on this subject.  Those verses speak of belief and unbelief.  They speak of the signs that will accompany those who belief.  I can't help but to see signs and works as close to the same thing. 

Verses 20-24, "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that faith was working with his works, and ^[s]as a result of the works, faith was ^[t]perfected; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."  Abraham is my favorite example of faith.  Him and the women who touch Jesus' robe.  Abraham's faith was tested by sacrificing Isaac.  Abraham knew that God would raise Isaac from the dead.  He acted on his faith.  It's easy for me to claim my faith without ever stepping out of the boat onto the water.  Without believing God.  As it says in Mark 16:17, "And these signs will accompany those who believe:".  Faith and actions work together.  I get the part that says "faith was made complete by what he did".  Safe faith is incomplete.  My works is a reflection of my faith.  My faith is based on my belief.  Oh Lord, increase my desire to know you.  Increase my belief and the revelation of my full measure of faith.  Speak and act as though you are being "judged by the law that gives freedom" today. 

PS   Belief = faith.  Faith = works, signs, miracles, obedience, and most of all love.  This can really be simplified in verses 12-13, "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."  It's through Jesus' acts (all 3) on the cross that make all this possible.