"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:12-13).
In the preceding verse, James points out that even one transgression of the law makes a person guilty of the whole law.
"I've never murdered anyone!" may sound like a plea of innocence.
But committing adultery, even lusting after someone other than your spouse, condemns you.
One sin is enough to condemn you to God's judgment.
But since that judgment has been removed through the work of Christ on the cross, we should speak and act differently. We have received God's mercy, so we should show mercy.
What does that look like?
Showing mercy is not turning the other way and ignoring the sins of others. God does not do that. He couldn't ignore our sins, so He sent His Son to pay the penalty. Christ took our judgment upon Himself. God in His mercy accepted the sacrifice of His Son to remove the condemnation from us.
Mercy deals with the sins of others. That may include confrontation about a sin. Encouragement to walk in righteousness. Accountability to help break the habits.
Mercy chooses to take the burden of the sin. Not seeking revenge from those who have offended us. Not seeking to manipulate the situation to make the other person suffer. Not trying to make the other person look bad so that we look better.
Mercy chooses not to hold those sins against the other. Forgiving sins that others have committed against us is a choice that we make to not bring up those forgiven sins to the offender, to ourselves or to others.
This mercy can only be demonstrated by those who have received the mercy of God through Christ on the cross. Any other attempt at mercy is a temporary show.
We must first experience God's mercy and, as we continue to grasp the enormity of His mercy, we can show mercy to others - even those who have sinned gravely against us.
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