James 2:1-26
James writes that in keeping the Law but failing in one point a person is guilty of the whole Law. He uses an example: If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (v. 11b) For our 21st-century society that example needs to be flipped: “If you commit adultery but do not murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” Adultery is altogether too common in our society, even among those who claim to be believing Christians. Jesus said “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:5) To me Jesus was ruling out all sexual activity except that between a husband and a wife. This includes heterosexual activity outside of marriage as well as homosexual activity. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but Hollywood and the media have so glorified sexuality that many in society see nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, people living together, homosexual marriage, or any other activities that violate God’s simple standard of marriage between a man and a woman. I truly don’t mean to be personally judgmental, but I am afraid for God’s judgment on our American society.
Faith and works – I comment on that in the second link below.
See also: March 17 / James 2:1-13; March 18 / James 2:14-26