Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. —James 2:10
The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “…sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!
We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.
Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Today I’m seeing a truth that you and I hold together. You on a higher level, but me also on a different, lower level. It is the ability to hold two seeming opposites and retain a level of peace. You are much better at it than I, perfect of course, but your example helps guide me in my own struggles. The two opposites that you hold are my sin and my obedience. You are somehow able to observe my sin, and my sometime obedience, and oftentimes failure…all with the backdrop of your Moral Law and commands… and at the same time love me and have compassion on me. Wow! Love and Grace win.
With that as an example, I set out to live a moral life and of course fail. Then I get to hold the two opposites. For me it is trying to do right, knowing that I can never attain it perfectly, knowing the penalty, and knowing and accepting your grace and forgiveness. Seeing my sin and accepting your grace helps me accept shortcomings in others and extend grace to them, rather than anger and judgement. At least that’s how it works on my (our?) best days! I’m still a work in process. Help me walk in peace with your love and my sin without going crazy or drowning in depression and giving up. Only with your grace will it be possible. So thank you for your endless Grace supply and that you totally love me at even my most unlovable points. Double Wow!
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