THE COMMANDMENTS

The law is a mighty weapon of God, bringing conviction of sin. It is like a row of cannons, aimed at the sinner, and each cannon ready to fire. Each cannon, or law, can kill with just one shot, so if we are guilty of even one sin, we are as good as dead.

This is why James says: "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all To bring a complacent, unsaved person to see their need for salvation, the law of God needs to be aimed at them. Conviction of sin will follow. The law of God has never lost its power to make sinners aware of sin.

James tells us that "the royal law" is to "love your neighbour as yourself." Lev.19:18. This means an attitude of love - the ability to see all people as equally lovable. This may sound easy but it in practise it is quite difficult.
But the good news is, when our love begins to fail, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to draw on. 

James points out that we, that is, all Christians, are saved by grace. We are all guilty of breaking God's law, yet God has shown us mercy.Because we are saved by grace, we are only slightly different from all unsaved people. They, like us, need to be shown love and mercy, just as we were.

God will judge all Christians one day. He will reward us in proportion to how we have lived. If God has shown us mercy, we should also show mercy to others.


Christians are like survivors of a sea wreck, reaching out to help other people before they drown.