You Cannot Outrun The Law Series

If our church is strong in worship, in missions, or in evangelism, it is because we have worked to strengthen those areas. By God’s grace, our church can also become strong in caring for the broken about us as we intentionally submit to God’s Word. This is a choice God wants us to make individually and corporately as we follow Christ in his love for all.

My beloved people, we must know that we shall be judged. I do not mean that as Christians it is yet to be determined whether we will be saved or lost—that was determined at Calvary. Having believed, we will never come into judgement to see if we are worthy of life. However, our words and our actions and our attitudes are yet to be judged by the Saviour.

Our words will be judged. James specifically cited the words that were spoken to the visitors to the services of the church [JAMES 2:3]. What we say to people, and how we say it, will come up before God. According to the Master, “people will give account for every careless word they speak” [MATTHEW 12:36]. Of course, the words spoken come from the heart; so when God judges the words, He is examining the heart [see MATTHEW 12:34–37]. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Master taught the need for caution [see MATTHEW 5:21–26, 33–37; 7:1–5, 21–23].

Our deeds will be judged. God’s Word teaches us to “obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality” [COLOSSIANS 3:22–25]. Our sins affect our character and works; we cannot sin lightly and serve faithfully. Though God forgives our sins when we confess them to Him [see 1 JOHN 1:9], He will not change the consequences of our sin.

Our attitudes will be judged. James contrasted two attitudes—showing mercy to others, and refusing to show mercy. If we have been merciful toward others, God will be merciful toward us. This must not be twisted to mean that we earn mercy through showing mercy, because it is impossible to earn mercy. If it is earned, it is not mercy! Nor does it mean that we should “be soft on sin” and never judge it in the lives of others. “I don’t condemn anybody,” people sometimes opine, thus believing that God won’t condemn them. How wrong they are!

Mercy and justice both come from God—they are not in competition. Repentance and faith invite God’s mercy; rebellion and unbelief demand justice. It is the heart that determines the treatment we receive. If we forgive our brothers, then we have the kind of heart that is open toward the forgiveness of God. Thus, we shall be judged “by the Law of liberty.”

There is one obvious message to this section: our beliefs should control our behaviour. If we really believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that God is gracious, His Word is true, and one day He will judge us, then our conduct will reveal our convictions. Before we attack those who do not have orthodox doctrine, we must be sure that we practise the doctrines we defend.