But that is not true on its face. In my example, the man who steals is guilty of theft, not adultery. He has not kept the law against stealing, but he has kept the law against adultery. Would it be just to punish him for violating all of the Law if he only violated one of them?
James is saying that if you are incapable of keeping the law against stealing you are also incapable of keeping the law against adultery. It is your nature to be a law breaker.
If it was a simple matter of making an atonement for a crime or crimes, any man could do this. But it is not; we need to be saved from who we are. We are the ones who need to be washed and covered by the LORD.
Simply illogical. We are finite, and thus are incapable of infinite action. The magnitude of the crime is based upon what we do, not to whom we do it. Murder is murder. It is not a more serious crime to murder a wealthy and powerful person than it is to murder a drug-addicted prostitute. The identity of the victim is irrelevent to the magnitude of the crime.
If you believe you are finite, then when will your eternal end come? Was the LORD the God of Abraham or is the LORD the God of Abraham? Is Abraham finite or is Abraham infinte?
The magnitude of the crime is based upon what we do and therefore a crime against God is a crime of infinite magnitude. A murder against a man, any man, deserves death according to the Law. Likewise attempting to murder God deserves eternal death. When a man executes another man, he kills his flesh; when God executes a man, he kills both spirit and flesh--it is eternal separation from God. I know you don't believe this; it is why you are Jewish and not a part of Spiritual Israel.
Although this phraseology may sound condescending, it is worth pointing out that it is more than what many Christians will concede to Judaism. To them, we are all going to burn in hell for eternity.
Hey, I didn't make the rules. The Lord Jesus says:
- No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.
If you have a problem with that, then I suggest you take it up with Him.
James is saying that if you are incapable of keeping the law against stealing you are also incapable of keeping the law against adultery. It is your nature to be a law breaker. If that is what James is really saying, then James is wrong. Whatever other sins I have committed, I have never even considered committing adultery, and I am perfectly capable of keeping the law against it.
Of course I disagree with the whole underlying premise that we are incapable of keeping the Law.
For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that you should say, `Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, `Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)