Mercy triumphs over judgement

James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James started Chapter 2, by dealing with the subject of partiality, or showing favoritism, and then gave further in-depth explanation about why it was so wrong to do.

1. God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith.

2. The readers were dishonoring the poor man.

3. It was not the poor man that took the readers to court.

4. The rich were blaspheming the name of Christ.

5. Fulling the royal law of love is a good thing.

6. Showing partiality is sin, and the law convicted them of it.

7. If you keep the whole law, but sin in one area, you are guilty of all.

Then, James appeals to them to speak and do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. To speak and do etc, is to live with the knowledge of the coming judgment upon one's words and actions.

James ends this section by making this sober, glorious and blessed statement. "For Judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement".

What does this mean? I think two things. First of all, in the coming judgement, there will be no mercy shown to the person who has shown no mercy towards others.

Jesus spoke about this in Matt 7:2 "For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use it, it will be measured back to you"

Jesus also said Lu 6:37* “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Secondly, it has to do with how a merciful person will fare in the coming judgement of God. The phrase, literally means that "mercy exults over judgement" That is, Mercy smiles in the face of judgement. So, for the person who is merciless, they will not receive any mercy in the judgement of God.

But, for the person who has been merciful to others here in this life and in this world, in the coming judgement, they will be able to have a happy confidence, they will be able to smile knowing that they will receive mercy, because they have been merciful.

It's the ultimate fulfillment of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount...

Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

So, living and walking in mercy now, means we will stand in a happy and peaceful confidence in the future judgement.

Indeed, it makes all the sense in the world, and in the life to come to right here, and right now be the most merciful people we can be. It will come back to us one day. We will reap what we have sown. God has shown us mercy, and He wants us to show it to others.

Oh Lord, make us like You. You are the merciful God, You have spoken words of mercy to us, and You have shown mercy by Your love and actions in and through Jesus Christ. Make us like You Lord.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. Blessed are the merciful

2. The merciful will obtain mercy.

3. God is the Father of mercies.

4. God’s mercies are new every morning.

5. The NT letters open with prayers for mercy.

6. In this life, let’s be merciful towards others.

7. Mercy means getting what you do not deserve.

8. Let’s speak mercy to others, and show it them also.