"For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment." James 2:13This would be a good point in the study to flip over to the parable in Matthew 18:21-35, on your own.
From the way we perceived two types of people, to the ignorance in our choosing whom to accept, then to the difference between the "Royal Law" and the "Law of Liberty"... now James has us to look at the difference there will be in the "Judgment" between the two.
To help understand what James is saying, we look again at something Jesus said.
"Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!" Matthew 5:7 (please excuse the Amplified version, but I like being reminded what "blessed" really means)
And so, what Jesus says of those whom will be judged, merciful - loving... James says the same, but from the standpoint of those whom will be judged, merciless, or unloving. We'll look at this deeper, later in the study. But why wouldn't we be judged harshly as James suggests here... and like in the parable I mentioned above, when we have received such mercy from God?
How much have we considered the amazing amount of mercy God has set just into the New Covenant we have now, alone... where our focus upon love, works out in the fulfillment of the commandments that were never before met except by Christ.
Oh God is merciful my friends... now let Him be merciful THROUGH US.
Let's pick up with James verse 2:14 next time.
I love you.
"For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment." James 2:13
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