"Mercy triumphs over judgment."
Text: James 2:13
THE DILEMMA
James highlighted the dilemma of those who thought that they could somehow find a loophole and thus escape judgment. There were probably those who believed that they were right to judge others, thinking that they were more righteous than others.
THE WAY OUT
James offered a way out of the dilemma. His proposal may be found in the following text.
“So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
James 2:12-13
1. “The law of liberty”
a) This is another description of the Law of God.
b) There is “liberty” to be found!
2. Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy
a) This is the practice of the Law where mercy is not applied.
b) Everyone technically is a transgressor of the Law.
c) One or more Laws of God would have been transgressed at some point of time.
3. “Mercy triumphs over judgment”
a) This is certainly the case when God had forgiven Israel time and again.
i) If Israel had been judged by the Law of God without mercy, the nation would have perished.
ii) But Israel had been spared time and again because of the principle of mercy.
b) Hence it is correct to say that “mercy triumphs over judgment”.
i) In mercy, God grants pardon.
ii) In mercy, God can forgive any transgressor not matter how grievously he has sinned.
4. “So speak and so do”
a) The challenge is to practise what we declare as our faith in God.
b) What do we believe about the Lord?
i) That He is merciful and gracious?
ii) That in His law He grants mercy to the poor who love Him.
c) Then it follows that we must exercise mercy.
d) There should be no practice of partiality to anyone!