Skip to main content

James 2:11: He Who Said, "Do Not Commit Adultery, Also Said, "Do Not Murder."


James 2:11
[11] 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. (ESV)

Many people play games when it comes to sin. They look at the sins that they have not done and ignore the sins they have done. How many times have you heard a person claim to be a good person and follow it up with a claim, "Well, I have never killed anyone." At the same time that person, if they were honest, could list a host of other sins they were guilty of.

I am convinced that one of the evidences of a true child of God is not their willingness to excuse or rationalize sin, but rather their willingness to embrace the sobering reality that their very nature is stained completely with sin. The natural bent of a person who has truly encountered God is still towards rebellion. It is a reality we all have to deal with.

When I think of someone who comes across as one of the most godly people in history I think of the Apostle Paul. Yes, Paul's history before he came to know Christ including persecuting the very church of God. Paul was radically changed by the power of God. He was called to be an apostle. He preached all over the world, performing many miracles. How was his struggle with sin?

Romans 7:21–24
[21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (ESV) 

The struggle is real. Those who truly belong to Christ have given up on this nonsensical game of ignoring their own sins. Rather, they have come to a realization that without the Lord's strength they will continue to be law-breakers. True Christians, like Paul realize that sin is real and deadly. We cannot pat ourselves on the back for sins we have not done. We must seek to kill sin in all of its various forms in our lives. We need the power of God to do that.

Paul responded to his own need mentioned in Romans 7 with these words:  "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" God was Paul's hope in conquering sin. He is yours also!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co