Conclusion

Linda Rock
1 day ago
4 min read

Having stood at the window and discoursed the understanding of transgressor, we turn to stand at the window of sin. Again, I want us to receive facts of truth from Scripture, but this time, where both transgression and sin are housed in one sentence, as they are housed in our week’s text. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2: 9.

We listen carefully to Saul’s words of confession to Samuel, after he reprimanded him for the evil thing that he had done. I have sinned: I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15: 24b. Saul’s confession includes sin and transgression. I have sinned, I am a sinner. He then goes on to give understanding and clarity to precisely what he has done. I am a transgressor for I have transgressed the commandment of God and I have also transgressed your words, Samuel, which God gave you to speak to me. Is this not heresy? Most simply put, Saul did not agree with what Samuel had spoken to him concerning God’s Way. He chose to favour and go another way, to get to God.

In Isaiah 43: 27, this extremely sad picture is shown. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. What an indictment! This is what God is saying. It is His judgment on His people. Adam, their first father, who knew no sin at all, sinned, so they are the children of sin. However, those who have positioned themselves as their teachers, instructors, mediators and such like, have come with other beliefs and ideas, teaching those different ways, instead of the commands of God. Is this not heresy, to say the least?

This is not different today. We expect God to think more progressively, to become real, keep up with the times, and get with it, as we are trying to do. We expect Him to alter His ways to be as we are. No! That is not true! I can hear many of you protesting. Honestly now! Isn’t it true that we, believers, are being bombarded daily with innovations, inventions and ways that speak to us in more manageable and measurable terms, than what we receive from Jesus? Every idea, every new teaching that shares part of the Word and part of the world, is heretical. It means that when we are commanded not to be partial in our dealings, but to keep face, to be liked, to be popular or any such self-raising works and actions, we are impartial to some and partial to others, we commit sin and we are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Frothy! To say the least! Showing any degree of partiality is nothing but sin in the eyes of God.

To show partiality shares nothing, in small or big part, where God is concerned.

To show partiality is heresy. It is to commit sin and be convicted by the law as a transgressor.

As I came to this point, there was a distinct hearing of our text on the back side or flip side of it. This took me by storm, by complete surprise, to utter the least. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2: 9.

It’s like this. You say to Jesus, “Lord, I'm travelling with You today.” Aren’t you also saying the same thing, when you tell this to Him? “Lord, I am not travelling with another today.” This is the kind of thinking and understanding that was brought before me, with our text. I offer it to you as offered to me, with all its accompanying wisdom, confession and commitment.

But if you show partiality, you do not commit sin, and are not convicted by the law as transgressors.

But if you show partiality or favouritism – Aren’t we all called to favour Almighty God and His Word and not the gods of this world and their commands? Then we are being partial to God and that is good, right and pleasing to God, because we cannot serve two masters. We are to show open and blatant partiality in this matter.

You do not commit sin – Hasn’t Jesus Himself called us to favour Him above all others? Does He ever call us to commit sin? Has He not told all of us who will be His disciples that we are to love Him more than these, whatever and whoever the, ‘these’, may mean for us? Then we are being partial, not just to Jesus but to the Father and to the Holy Ghost, One God. We do not commit sin.

You are not convicted as a transgressor – When you obey the command of Jesus, to leave all for His dear sake, you will never ever be convicted by the law as a transgressor. Has not He who made the Law and gave the Law, said to you that your first obedience, the first command is to love Him with your whole being?

Locked in with the wisdom of God’s efficacious Word, our confession through God’s convincing Word and God’s undeniable commitment to His Living Word, there is hope of change for all sinners and transgressors.

We conclude with two verses of Living commitment.

God’s commitment to you