Verse to Abide In
“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:13 ESV
Digging Deeper
From Michael Breece:
They were there when the church prayed for boldness, and the place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. They were of those who believed and were of one heart and soul, not claiming that anything belonging to them was their own, so they sold a piece of property and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet to be distributed to the needy. But they never went back because God judged them, and they, Ananias and Sapphira, dropped dead (Acts 4–5).
Why?
There’s no reason to think they were not genuine believers based on the context. Weren’t their sins fully forgiven?
We say yes, but… God still disciplines (Hebrews 12).
So their sins were forgiven, yet God judged and punished them. We seem to have no problem with this until we place ourselves at the judgment seat of Christ, where suddenly we refuse that both forgiveness and judgment can happen.
It leads to bad theology and dangerous exposition of Scripture.
The truth is the Bible teaches both will happen.
There are two books at the judgment seat. The good news is that Jesus, who has been appointed Judge, is the perfect Judge, having experienced the temptations we have experienced, and will be using the perfect law.
James calls it the Royal Law: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” or the Law of Liberty (James 2:8; 1:25). Paul calls it the Law of the Spirit (Romans 8:2), the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2).
The New Covenant brought about a new law—love God and love others (“…love is the fulfillment of the Law” Romans 13:10). Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Luke 6:31).
The Law of Freedom allows us to make decisions based on our understanding of what love for God and others looks like.
That’s why there’s freedom.
At the judgment seat, believers will be judged accordingly; that is, by the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:2).
That is what James is warning/reminding his readers about. Be careful that you do not show partiality or fail to show mercy.
The best way to be shown mercy by the Judge is to show mercy to others.
Matthew 18:33 “Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Let’s Pray
Dear Jesus, we trust that you are coming!
We trust that you are the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. You are the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:13, 16).
Discipline us to be wise and ready for when you come (Hebrews 12; Matthew 25:1–13).
Help us to show others this mercy that triumphs over judgment, not looking down on or judging others (James 2:13, 1; Matthew 7:2).
Help us to be your disciples, to deny ourselves, and to take up our cross and follow you.
Enable us to be single-minded in losing our life for you so that we can find it in you alone.
Strengthen us to stand firm in the truth that this world has nothing for us to gain that would be worth forfeiting our souls.
Bolster our faith that you are going to come in your Father’s glory with your angels, and then you will reward each person according to what they have done (Matthew 16:24–27; 2 Corinthians 5:6–10).
In your name we ask and pray and praise and take heart, Jesus, who for the joy set before you endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
Amen.
May you receive mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16),
Laura