one step: James 2.3

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

James 2:12

If we all are guilty of sinning against the Lawgiver (see one step: James 2.2), who has any hope?

James instructs that in light of our sinfulness, we ought to live as those being judged under the law of liberty. What does this mean?

As Douglas Moo explains,

God’s gracious acceptance of us does not end our obligation to obey him; it sets it on a new footing. No longer is God’s law a threatening, confining burden. For the will of God now confronts us as a law of liberty—an obligation we discharge in the joyful knowledge that God has both “liberated” us from the penalty of sin and given us, in his Spirit, the power to obey his will.

God invites us as forgiven children to live a life of obedience that is rooted in gratitude for our freedom! This gratitude is to be expressed in righteous living.* What does that look like?

Righteous living looks like speaking and acting right.* According to the Greek words used, these words can be accurately translated as “be constantly speaking” and “always be acting.”* It’s an ongoing commitment to right living as a response to a wonderful, forgiving Father. Can any of us achieve this on our own? No. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.*

Why does James say, “judged?” Even Christians undergo judgement in the end. We will be judged according to what we did whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).* Thanks to Christ, our judgement takes place before Christ, who already offered us freedom through His grace and mercy.* That’s some good news. That’s something to be grateful for!

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember afresh the grace and mercy that He gave to you. Perhaps today God would have you engage in right acting and speaking in some area of life as an expression of gratitude to Him. Maybe today God would remind you of the good news that righteousness depends upon Christ, and the Holy Spirit empowers you to live right.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, p. 119). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 236–237). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:8-13). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 148-150). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 122-123). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: James 2.2

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.

James 2:10-11

I grew up thinking that I was a pretty good guy. I looked at the “big deal” sins and thought, “I’m doing pretty well!” Unfortunately, and honestly, pride began to find a place in my heart that secretly fueled a judgemental attitude.

In these verses, James isn’t attempting to create a view that all sins are equal in their weight.* Surely telling a lie and taking a life exist on two different planes of consequence. James’ point is this: God’s commands aren’t just a text, they are the words of a person that reflect that person’s heart.* God is that person.

If we break one of God’s rules, we are guilty of breaking the whole of the law because no matter which of them we break, we violate the will of the Lawgiver.* The same God who commanded us not to commit adultery commanded us not to murder and not to lie.* Each of the laws are linked by their source: God.* Each of the laws are connected by the will, action, and authority of the God who gave them.*

There is some debate surrounding what “law” James refers to in these verses as James does not directly define it. Context hints one way or another, but ultimately scholars hold slightly different views. Does the “law” refer to the Ten Commandments? Does the “law” refer to the law-summarizing words of Jesus to “Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ [and]… ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31)? Or does the “law” refer to all of the words of Jesus in addition to the Hebrew Law?*

Whichever the case, the emphasis is not the law, but the Law Giver. It’s about relationship. We cannot allow our own view of sin to determine what we do or do not do. His view is the one that matters, and He says that we are all in need of His grace as expressed through Jesus Christ because we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

It’s hard to see yourself as better than others (like I did) when you understand this.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to repent and turn away from a sin. Perhaps today God would have you come to Him to ask forgiveness. Maybe today God wants you to receive His love and forgiveness right down to your core. Perhaps today God wants you to experience the glory of His grace. Maybe today He would have you stop judging others.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 118–119). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 236). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:8-13). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 145–148). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 112). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: James 2.1

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:1-4

Partiality probably happens more often than we think. In the Greek, the word translated to “partiality” literally means to receive someone according to their face.* It refers to judging someone according to their outward appearance.* In fact, the Greek word used is plural, thus indicating a general application to any outward feature including but not limited to dress, skin color, or general appearance.*

How many times do we look at someone and think, “wow, they look like a nice person”? Or see someone in a hoodie and think, “danger!” Sometimes these thoughts may feel innocent, and they could be, but James warns that such judgements can have applications that are very un-Christlike.

In the time of James, only the wealthy had the means to purchase clothing.* Everyone else made their own clothes.* This made it easy to tell the “haves” and “have-nots”. Shockingly, the prevailing surrounding culture (the Romans) saw the poor as faceless nothings.*

James’ admonition reminds us that a) we are not to be partial to others based upon the outward appearance, and b) we are not to be poisoned by the world around us.* To see all people as precious aligns us with the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of this world.

This is a challenge.

Sometimes out of insecurity, we want to be treated in a special way. This insecurity begs to be affirmed, and becomes frustrated when we are not. In an effort to treat others as we want to be treated, we give those we see as how we wish others to see us special treatment. Meanwhile, we ignore or even mistreat those that we wish to separate ourselves from. Sound complicated? It is.

The word in the Greek for “shabby” in this passage refers to dirt.* Other translations use the word “filthy.”

Do you remember a time when you were confronted with the situation that James presents? Can you recall a time that you came across an individual stood before you in filth? Filth seldom comes without smell. The poor that James experienced included a sensory overload that could be naturally repelling. Similarly, a wealthy, well-groomed, perfumed person, like a flower, invites intimacy.

Living according to the Kingdom of God requires that we see beyond the outward appearance. Holding onto faith in our Lord Jesus Christ requires it, for it is how He views us. Though we are filthy in our sin, inside and out, He relates and identifies with each of us.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to repent for judging and treating others with preference. Perhaps today God wants you to step into a process of healing to free you from your insecurities. Maybe today God would have you ask Him to help you to treat all equally.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 93–96). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 228–229). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:1-4). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 125–127). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 96–98). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: James 1.12

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:26-27

It takes a lot of work to look good. Entire industries are built around the pursuit of looking good. Most would agree that looking good and being good are two different things. An apple can look good on the outside, but it can be filled with worms on the inside. A tomb can look clean and noble on the outside, but death lives on the inside. How do we know what’s inside?

This is what the tongue does for our souls: it lets out what’s on the inside.

James tells us that while some look quite religious, their tongue betrays them. Religion is an effort to connect to God. No matter how earnest and zealous we may appear for this connection (attending church gatherings, reading our Bibles, attempting to engage in all sorts of spiritual practices), if our words do not align to our displays of religiosity, our religion is meaningless.*

If we want to connect to God, He says, “be like me.” What does that look like? For starters, God says this about Himself:

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
Psalm 68:5

The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Psalm 146:9

God takes care of the widows and orphans. Why? Historically, widows and orphans have been the most vulnerable of society.* Without support, they have no hope. God takes care of them, and as His hands and feet, we must also. This is pleasing to God.

Our attempts to connect to God rest on the reality that He first connected with us through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ related to the needy around Him, instructing us that when we help the “least of these,” we do it unto Him (Matthew 25:40-45).*

Secondly, attempts to connect to God that please Him include serving in the world (especially to widows and orphans as stated), but not living as a part of its ways.* Followers of Jesus are a people on a mission to spread the Good News and make disciples. This is a culture-transforming task that involves influencing our space and not being influenced by it. God has no time for religion that takes on the sins of its culture.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to look for and help “the least of these.” Perhaps today God wants you to reflect on what you attempt to portray versus what comes our of your mouth. Maybe today God wants you to shift from “influenced” to “influencer.”

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 93–96). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 228–229). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 1:26–27). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 125–127). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 96–98). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: James 1.11

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James 1:22-25

When was the last time you took an honest look at yourself? I know that I have recently looked in the mirror and have criticized my imperfections. I have also looked in the mirror and seen myself as better than I am. Neither the self-deprecating assessment nor the ego-stroking approach are honest.

James stresses the importance of living a Christian life that listens first, then acts.* He suggests, in alignment with the words of Jesus, that action should follow true hearing of God’s word.* Jesus says, “blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).* Blessed here means fulfilled or whole. The blessing of God comes not just from hearing, but from responding to God’s words.* Indeed, Jesus shows us that,

both the gracious initiative of God and the grateful response of human beings are necessary aspects of the gospel.*

What does this have to do with a mirror and an honest look? In the time of James, a mirror was made of hammered and polished metal.* Unlike our mirrors today which offer a crisp view of ourselves, the reflection that came back required close examination in order to get an honest assessment of cleanliness.* This examination is not a quick glance, but an investment of time toward proper living. To hear God’s word and then do nothing is like a careful examination of one’s self that results in finding dirt but then doing nothing about it.*

Scholars believe that James refers to seeing oneself as either how one truly is (sinful), or how one truly is (made in the image of God and intended to be).* Regardless, God’s word does both. It serves as a reminder of who God intends for us to be while honestly sharing with us our shortcomings.* To see this and do nothing is nonsensical.

George Stulac tells us that this passage gives us the map of how to allow God’s Word to order our lives:

Looks intently. We will search the Scriptures. We can go beyond a superficial devotional reading. We will bother to learn sound principles of inductive study so that we can dig deeply into the word and feed ourselves from Scripture.

Continues. We will stay in Scripture. We can learn to be regular and habitual, rather than occasional, in our Bible study.

Not forgetting. We will learn Scripture. We can study it so as to know its content and to remember it in our daily lives. Memorizing Scripture passages is an excellent discipline for the practice of this third step.

But doing. We will apply Scripture. We can afford to leave our mirrors behind because our reflections are useless. But Scripture is another matter. We need it in our daily lives. We will take Scripture into our thinking, submit our minds to it and formulate our beliefs by what it says. We will make decisions by Scripture—about how we will respond to trials, what goals we will pursue, how we will spend time and money, how we will use our tongues. We will dare to live by the word of God.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow His Word to give you a proper assessment of yourself. Perhaps today there is some area of your life that God would like you to shift from hearer to doer of His Word. Maybe today God wants you to allow His Word to frame and inform your entire life, even the parts that you don’t want to see in the mirror. Maybe today God wants you to allow His Word to go from head-knowledge to heart-transformation. Perhaps today God wants you to see that the wholeness you are searching for comes from responding to His invitation of love and living.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 89-93). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 226-227). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 1:22–25). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 117-121). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 94). Zondervan Publishing House.