Digging Deeper James 2:10-11 with commentary

It seems so appropriate the day after we celebrated the Resurrection to be considering a verse that expresses the pervasiveness of sin. When I was a grad student, before I was saved, I remember wondering, "what if there was a cut-off of the number of sins we could commit that determined if we went to heaven or not? What if I'm allowed 1 million sins and I'm at 1 million and 1? What if I'm not allowed any sins? I know I have committed at least one, and many more than one. What hope was there for me?"

This verse makes it clear that it is not a matter of my good outweighing my bad. If the scales tip in my favor when I stand before Christ, I get in. If the scales tip against my favor, I don't get in. That is not biblical, but that's exactly what I thought for many years.

I remember hearing the illustration of the rotten egg. If you make an omelet with 4 eggs, and 3 are great but the 4th is rotten, you have contaminated the whole omelet. The same with sin. If you keep the whole law (which is humanly impossible) but failed at just one point, you are a transgressor of the whole law.

James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Commentary:
accountable for all of it. The law was considered an interdependent whole, and any infraction constituted a breaking of the law as a whole. Jesus said, 'not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished"(Matt. 5:18). This favoritism (James 2:9) makes one "accountable" (Gk. enochos, a legal term for "liable" or "guilty" before God's court) for the whole law. [ESV Study Bible - study notes page 2393]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

Special Project - you're invited!
Calling all cooks! Keswick will be producing its own cookbook (the first new one in many years) and we want YOUR favorite recipes! Please submit your recipes to me by May 15. This can include favorite from the conference kitchen, as well as your own family favorites.

No limitations: appetizers, salads, soups/stews, casseroles, entrees/meats, vegetables/side dishes, breads/muffins/etc, desserts (cakes/pies/puddings/cookies/candy/etc.)

Please submit typed or CLEARLY printed recipes – check your measurements for accuracy. Include your name, and if there is a SHORT personal story about the recipe, include that as well (i.e. something you always have Christmas morning).

So start digging through those recipes cards and find your favorite. Email them to rschmidt@americaskeswick.org