If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2: 8-13

As we drove to Jackson, Wyoming with some friends today, we briefly discussed how some contrast the teaching of James with that of Paul. Some say that James is too focused on works, while Paul emphasizes grace.

James teaching doesn’t ignore grace, be he does expect that a life touched by the Grace of Christ will reflect the work of Christ in his or her life. In the verses above, James notes that the law of liberty produces-

• Mercy – we are to show mercy to others as we expect to receive mercy from Christ.
• Compassion – we are to love our neighbor as ourself.
• Impartiality – James spent a great deal of energy in addressing the problem of showing favoritism in the church. (James 2:17).

Finally, James reminds us –

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:22

James expected us to apply God’s word in our lives by doing in response to the Grace given us.