Light And Darkness (Part 2)

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday July 23, 2009

James 4:17 (NIV)
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

This verse defines when a person sins. Does that mean that when we know what is right to do and don't do it, that God is suddenly holding a sin against us? Is our salvation taken away?

Let's look at the full setting of this verse:

James 4:11-17 (NIV)
11. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?
13. Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
16. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

In these verses, James is addressing the church's BEHAVIOR. He's telling them not to slander one another and not to boast or brag. He calls these actions evil (which they are of course), and calls God the "Lawgiver" and "Judge".

Yes, God DID give the law. But the law is now CANCELLED.
Yes, God is the Judge. But He is NOT judging by the law!

It was for judgement that Jesus came into the world:

John 9:39 (NIV)
Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

John 12:31,32 (NIV)
31. NOW is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

Here we see that God's judgement has ALREADY been made upon every person on planet earth. His judgement is simple:

John 3:16-19 (NIV)
16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19. THIS IS THE VERDICT: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

God's verdict of judgement was proclaimed when Jesus arose from the dead. Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned. Whoever does NOT believe in Jesus IS condemned. That is God's judgement.

It is not by our behavior that we are judged. It is by our FAITH! Faith expresses itself through love, so we need to love one another in order to be effectual in our ministry on the earth! James basically told the believers to love one another, and defined what is wrong "sin" clearly to help them straighten out their acts!

We need to live our lives in constant fellowship with God... listening and praying; getting direction and then obeying God's orders. THAT is what our lives on earth are about as believers, NOT sin!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for sending Your Son Jesus to set me free from the kingdom of darkness and sin. Help me understand Your Word so I can let You govern my life more completely.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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