DRAWING NEAR
June 24
Transgressing the Royal Law
"If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are
convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the
whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of
all. For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do
not commit murder.' Now if you do not commit adultery, but do
commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law" (James
2:9-11).
Many people attempt to justify their sinfulness by categorizing sins
according to their apparent severity. For example, telling a "little
white lie" isn't as serious to them as committing perjury; cheating
on their income tax isn't as serious as robbing a bank. Others see
God's law as a series of detached injunctions, and assume they can
gain credit with God by keeping one law even if they break the
others. In the final analysis, if the laws they don't break outweigh
the laws they do, they think everything will be OK.
Apparently some of those to whom James wrote had the same
misconceptions, believing sins like prejudice, partiality, and
indifference to the poor weren't as serious as sins like murder and
adultery. Or perhaps they believed they could make up for their
favoritism by keeping God's law in other areas.
Both of those views are erroneous and potentially damning because
God's law isn't a series of detached injunctions or a way of gaining
credit with God. It's a unified representation of His holy nature.
Even though all sins aren't equally heinous or damaging, from God's
perspective every sin violates His standard. When you break one law,
you break them all and are characterized as a sinner and
transgressor.
"Sin" in verse 9 speaks of missing the mark and falling short of
God's holy standard. "Transgressors" refers to going beyond the
accepted limits. One says you've fallen short; the other says you've
gone too far. Both are equal violations of God's holiness. You must
see all sin as an affront to Him and never compound your sin by
attempting to hide it, justify it, or counterbalance it with good
works.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Memorize 1 John 1:9 and always confess your sin whenever you
violate God's holy law. Praise God for pitying our plight as
sinners and providing a Savior.
For Further Study:
Read Galatians 3:10-29, noting the purpose of God's law.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Galatians 3:10-29
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse;
for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all
things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is
evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall
live by them."
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a
curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a
tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in
Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith.
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's
covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not
say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed,"
who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty
years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by
God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise;
but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of
transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was
made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For
if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly
righteousness would have been by the law.
22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept
for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we
might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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