James Royal Law

 

James

Royal Law

When James defines the Royal Law as "Love your neighbor as yourself" 

He is defining love to us

Love is viewing your neighbor just like you view yourself

If we all treated others as ourselves, there would be no favoritism

You will not break any of God’s laws if you do this one Royal Law

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Everything God requires us to do, falls under the covering of this law

As we look beyond Christianity

The world understands the Royal Law as “The Golden Rule”

Even non-believers understand what the Golden Rule says

Love hates what is evil, but it does not use hate to change evil 

Let’s get back to the Royal Law, the Golden Rule, and remove favoritism

 

 

Royal Law

 

I love James’ choice of words when he labels the law of…

 

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

 

He calls it the “Royal Law”.

James 2:8

 

Royalty belongs to kings and noblemen.

 

The word means belonging to the sovereign, the preeminent.

 

This is not complicated or complex.

 

The royalty belongs to God who sits on the throne.

 

The Royal Law does not belong to man,

 who changes laws and interruption.

 

The law of God is “Love”.

 

When James defines the Royal Law as…

 

 "Love your neighbor as yourself."

 

He is defining love to us.

 

Love is viewing your neighbor just like you view yourself.

 

If we all treated others as ourselves,

there would be no favoritism.

 

You will not break any of God’s laws,

 if you do this one Royal Law…

 

 “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Everything God requires us to do

falls under the covering of this law.

 

As we look beyond Christianity…

 

 The world understands the

Royal Law as “The Golden Rule”.

 

Even non-believers understand

what the Golden Rule says.

 

James is writing this because he sees

Christians are not keeping the Royal Law.

 

Christians know what the Royal Law is and

the world knows what the Golden Rule is…

 

 Yet, do not do it.

 

James breaks it down this way…

 

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles

at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

 James 2:10

 

James gives us the obvious…

 

If you do not commit adultery but do commit

 murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

 

And we should see that any form of loving

ourselves or others differently is favoritism,

and that is breaking the law.

 

2020 in America is a year of violence.

 

In our streets is a cry against favoritism,

yet from that cry is a favoritism cry.

 

We will never get back to

 “love your neighbor as yourself”

when we fight injustice with hate.

 

James brings out the obvious when he says…

 

 If you are guilty of breaking one

part of the law, you are guilty of all.

 

Because all God’s laws deal with…

 

 “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

 

This guilt is also obvious in our streets of rioting

and even in the words of, so called, “peaceful protesters”.

 

For all of us, James is reminding

us not to justify favoritism.

 

 Because when you act or speak in a way

that you would not want to be treated

you are guilty of breaking all the law.

 

It is not a little thing to show favoritism.

 

Favoritism destroys love, and most of us

 escalate the problem by being more

divisive rather than in love de-escalating.

 

A lack of showing love in any area breaks the law.

 Think about these words in Romans 12:9-21…

 

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

 Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal,

but keep your

 spiritual fervor,

 serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

13 Share with God's people who are in need.

 Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you;

bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice;

mourn with those who mourn.

 Live in harmony with one another.

 Do not be proud, but be willing to

associate with people of low position.

 Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

live at peace with everyone.

 Do not take revenge, my friends,
 but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:

"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Love hates what is evil…

 

 But it does not use hate to change evil.

  

Let’s get back to the Royal Law

and remove favoritism.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 2:8-11 NIV

 

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.